Early Human Migrations By 700 CE humans had

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 • 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.

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 19 th 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

Chichen-Itza - Pyramid

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 1960 s • 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

Chichen-Itza - Ball Court

A Goal in the Ball Court at Chichén Itzá, Mexico

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 8 th century, massive library destroyed

Pirámide del Sol, Teotihuacan

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.

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.

Chavin Cult • • New religion in central Andes, 900 -300 BCE Little known about particulars of religion Intricate stone carvings Cult may have arose when maize became an important crop > cult for fertility and abundant harvests. • During the era Andean society became increasingly complex – Elaborate woven clothing, cotton fishnets, metallurgy for jewelry

The Mochica State • Valley of the Moche River • Dominated northern Peru, 300 -700 CE – Artistic evidence of armed warriors maintaining stability throughout region • Painting survives, mostly on pottery/ceramics • No writing, but complex society with vast job specialization • One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire • 6 th-7 th centuries CE saw climactic shifts with droughts that led to a decline of early Andean civilizations

Early Societies of Oceania, 1500 BCE – 700 CE

Oceania • Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration • Outrigger canoes for open-sea travel • Humans in Oceania at least by 58, 000 BCE • By 8, 000 BCE trade between islands ceased due to the rising seas. • Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia • Early agriculture in New Guinea by 3000 BCE – Yams, taro & raising pigs & chickens

Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe

Early 19 th Century Aboriginal Tribe

21 st century Aboriginal People

Lapita Peoples • Earliest Austronesian (language group of Oceania) migrants to sail into the Pacific Ocean and establish settlements in pacific islands. • Found throughout Pacific Islands • Agriculture, animal herding • Political organization based on chiefdoms – Relatives formed aristocracy • Trade over open ocean declines 500 BCE – Greater independence of settlements