Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and

Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1

Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B. C. E. -1100 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2

Origins of Mesoamerican Societies n Migration across Bering land bridge? q n n n Probably 13, 000 B. C. E. , perhaps earlier By sea from Asia? By 9500 B. C. E. reached southernmost part of South America Hunter/gatherer societies q Evolve into agricultural societies © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3

Olmecs n n n 1200 -100 B. C. E. The “rubber people” Ceremonial centers q n San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes Olmec heads q q q Up to 10 ft. tall, 20 tons Transported by dragging, rolling on logs 1000 workers per head © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4

Agriculture and Herding n n Staple: maize Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs q n Both food No draft animals q No development of wheeled vehicles © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5

Olmec Society n n Probably authoritarian in nature Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites q Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6

Mysterious Decline of Olmecs n n Ceremonial centers destroyed No evidence of warfare Revolution? Civil war? © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7

Maya n n n Huge cities discovered in nineteenth century 300 B. C. E. -900 C. E. Terrace farming q q n Cacao beans q q n Maize Cotton Chocolate Currency Major ceremonial center at Tikal © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8

Maya Warfare n n Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers Ritual sacrifice of enemies q q Enslavement Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá begins to absorb captives n n Some nevertheless choose death Center of empire develops © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9

Maya Ritual Calendar n Complex math q n Calendar of 365. 242 days (17 seconds off) q q n Invention of “zero” Solar calendar of 365 days Ritual calendar of 260 days Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood q Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10

Maya Language and Religion n Ideographs and a syllable alphabet q q n n n Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors Deciphering work began in 1960 s Popol Vuh: Maya creation myth Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices Bloodletting rituals q Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11

The Maya Ball Game n n Ritual game High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants Execution of losers immediately follows the match Bloodletting ritual for the gods © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12

City of Teotihuacan n Highlands of Mexico Lakes in area of high elevation Village of Teotihuacan, 500 B. C. E. , expands to large agricultural city q n n Important ceremonial center Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas Begins to decline ca. 650 C. E. , sacked in middle of eighth century, burned city © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13

Andean Societies n n Migration into South America ca. 12, 000 B. C. E. Climate improves ca. 8000 B. C. E. Largely independent from Mesoamerica Highly individualized due to geography © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14

Chavín Cult n n n New religion in central Andes, 900 -300 B. C. E. Little known about particulars of religion Intricate stone carvings Cult may have arisen when maize became an important crop During this era Andean society became increasingly complex © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15

The Mochica State n n Valley of the Moche River Dominated northern Peru, 300 -700 C. E. Painting survives One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16

Early Societies of Oceania, 1500 B. C. E. 700 C. E. © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17

Oceania n n Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration Outrigger canoes for open-sea travel Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia Early agriculture in New Guinea © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18

Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 19

Lapita Peoples n n Found throughout Pacific islands Agriculture, animal herding Political organization based on chiefdoms Trade over open ocean declines 500 B. C. E. q Greater independence of settlements © 2011, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20