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Early Societies in the Americas & Oceania. Early Human Migrations. By 700 CE, humans had established communities in almost every habitable part of the world. Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations. Early Mesoamerican societies 1200 BCE – 1100 CE. Origins of Mesoamerican Societies.
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Early Societies in the Americas & Oceania
Early Human Migrations By 700 CE, humans had established communities in almost every habitable part of the world.
Early Mesoamerican societies 1200 BCE – 1100 CE
Origins of Mesoamerican Societies • Melting glaciers 18,000 years ago began a rise in ocean waters. • Migration across Bering land bridge? • Probably 13,000 BCE, perhaps earlier • By sea from Asia? • By 9500 BCE reached southernmost part of South America • Hunter/Gatherer societies • evolve into agricultural societies
Olmecs • 1200-100 BCE • The “Rubber People” • Ceremonial Centers • San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes • Olmec Heads • Up to 10 ft tall, 20 tons • Transported by dragging, rolling on logs • 1000/workers per head
The Olmec heartland where the Olmecs reigned from 1400 - 500 BCE
It is now generally accepted that these heads are portraits of rulers, perhaps dressed as ballplayers. 17 heads have been unearthed so far!
Agriculture and Herding • Abundant rainfall, so no need for irrigation • Drainage systems to divert waters • Staple: maize • Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs • Both food • No draft animals • No development of wheeled vehicles
Olmec Society • Probably authoritarian in nature • Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites • Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems
The Olmecs • The first major American civilization who built ceremonial centers around pyramids. • Had an elaborate calendar, writing system and widespread trading network. • There is evidence that the Olmec practiced ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.
The Olmecs • The first major American civilization who built ceremonial centers around pyramids. • Had an elaborate calendar, writing system and widespread trading network. • There is evidence that the Olmec practiced ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.
Mysterious Decline of Olmecs • Ceremonial centers destroyed • No evidence of warfare • Revolution? • Civil war?
Lands of the Maya The Yucatan Peninsula
Maya • Huge cities discovered in 19th c. • 300 BCE-900 CE • Terrace Farming • Maize • Cotton • Cacao beans • chocolate • currency • Major ceremonial center at Tikal (500,000) • Chichen Itza & Palenque b/w 10-30,000 people
Temple I (also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar) in the Plaza Mayor
Maya Warfare • Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers • Ritual sacrifice of enemies • Enslavement • Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá begins to absorb captives • Some nevertheless choose death • Center of empire develops
Mayan Ritual Calendar • Complex math • Invention of “Zero” • Calendar of 365.242 days (17 seconds off) • Solar calendar of 365 days • Ritual calendar of 260 days • Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood • Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture • Devise written language • Compile astronomical knowledge
Mayan Language and Religion • Ideographs and a syllable-alphabet • Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors • Deciphering work began in 1960s • Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth • Humans created from maize & water > flesh & blood • Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices • Bloodletting rituals • Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow
The Maya Ball Game • Ritual game • High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants • Execution of losers immediately follows the match • Bloodletting ritual for the gods • Most Maya ceremonial centers, towns and cities had courts
Social Hierarchy • Most Maya were farmers who supplied resources for an elaborate trading network. • Each city had a ruling chief, followed by nobles, who served as city officials and military leaders.
City of Teotihuacan • Highlands of Mexico • Lakes in area of high elevation • Village of Teotihuacan, 500 BCE, expands to become massive city • Important ceremonial center • Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas • Begins to decline c. 650 CE, sacked in middle of 8th century, massive library destroyed
The End of the Maya • Around 900, the Maya abandoned their cities. Historians speculate that war or overpopulation made have led to famine or class warfare. • Today, millions in Guatemala and Southern Mexico speak 28 Mayan dialects.
Mayan Glyphs sky king house child city Mayan Mathematics
Aztec Writing Aztec Math
Andean Societies Early Societies of Andean South America 1000 BCE – 700 CE • Migration into South America c. 12,000 BCE • Climate improves c. 8000 BCE • Largely independent from Mesoamerica • Highly individualized due to geography
Food Supply • Those who migrated into the Andes Mountains hunted deer, llama, alpaca and other large animals not found in Central America. • Cultivation of maize and squashes spread from Mesoamerica, while gold, silver and copper metallurgy spread from the Andes north. • By 2500 BCE, the earliest Andean cultivators relied on peanuts, beans, and sweet potatoes.
