Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and

Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 1

Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B. C. E. – 1100 C. E. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 2

Early Societies of Mesoamerica n Migration across Bering land bridge q q n n Probably 13, 000 B. C. E. , perhaps earlier Also possibly by sea By 9500 B. C. E. , had reached southernmost part of South America Hunter/gatherer societies q Some turned to agriculture Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 3

Early Agriculture in Mesoamerica n n Cultivation of squashes, manioc, beans, chili peppers, , avocados, gourds by 8000– 7000 B. C. E. Maize a staple after about 4000 B. C. E. q n n Later, tomatoes added Domesticated turkeys, barkless dogs as food No draft animals q No development of wheeled vehicles Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 4

The 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, floating 1, 000 workers per head Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 5

Olmec Society n Probably authoritarian in nature q n Trade in jade, obsidian q n Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites, tombs, temples, drainage systems Knives, axes, small works of art Olmecs’ mysterious decline, fall, 400– 100 B. C. E. q q Ceremonial centers destroyed Traditions influenced later Mesoamerican societies Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 6

Heirs of the Olmecs: The Maya n n n Huge cities discovered in nineteenth century Maya flourished 300– 1100 C. E. Terrace farming q q n Cacao beans q q n Maize Cotton Chocolate Currency Major ceremonial center at Tikal Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 7

Tikal 8

Maya Warfare n n Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers Ritual sacrifice of enemies q q Enslavement Small kingdoms engaged in constant conflict until state of Chichén Itzá began to absorb, integrate captives n n Some nevertheless chose death Center of empire developed Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 9

Maya Society and the Maya Calendar n Astronomy, mathematics, writing system q n Solar year of 365. 242 days (17 seconds off) q q n Invention of “zero” Agricultural cycle of 365 days Ritual year of 260 days Management of calendar lent authority to priesthood q Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 10

Maya Writing and Creation Myths 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 followed after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 11

The Maya Ball Game n n Ritual game Often high-ranking captives, prisoners of war were contestants Execution of losers immediately followed the match Bloodletting ritual for the gods Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 12

Heirs of the Olmecs: Teotihuacan n Highlands of Mexico Lakes in area of high elevation Village of Teotihuacan, 500 B. C. E. , expanded to large agricultural city by 100 C. E. q n n Important ceremonial center Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas Began to decline ca. 650 C. E. , sacked in middle of eighth century, city burned Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 13

Early Societies of South America n n Migration into South America ca. 12, 000 B. C. E. Climate increasingly warm and dry ca. 8000 B. C. E. Largely independent from Mesoamerica Highly individualized due to geography Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 14

Early Societies of Andean South America, 1000 B. C. E. – 700 C. E. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 15

The Chavín Cult n n n New spiritual belief in central Andes, 900– 300 B. C. E. Little known about particulars of belief system Intricate stone carvings Cult may have arisen when maize became an important crop During this era Andean society became increasingly complex Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 16

The Mochica State n n Valley of the Moche River Dominated northern Peru, 300– 700 C. E. Painting survives, largely on pottery One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 17

Oceania n n Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permitted migration Outrigger canoes for open-sea travel Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia Early agriculture in New Guinea Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 18

Early Societies of Oceania, 1500 B. C. E. – 700 C. E. Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 19

Lapita Peoples n n Found throughout Pacific islands Agriculture, animal herding Political organization based on chiefdoms Trade over open ocean declined 500 B. C. E. q Greater independence of settlements Copyright © 2015 Mc. Graw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of Mc. Graw-Hill Education. 20