american societies

1. The AmericasThe Americas
2500 BCE-1500 CE2500 BCE-1500 CE
HI 101
Origins of Civilization

2. Review Questions:Review Questions:
1. The early societies in the Americas were
quite diverse. What are some of the key
physical, social, and intellectual features you
can use to differentiate between cultures and
civilizations?
2. How did Mesoamerican and North American
peoples develop prosperous and stable
societies?
3. What were the geographic locations and
some of the key cultural features of the Olmec,
Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations?

3. I. The First Peoples of the AmericasI. The First Peoples of the Americas
A. Describing the Americas and Their Peoples
 1. The “Americas”= the geographic area that includes
North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean
Islands. This area is also known as the “western
hemisphere”
 2. c. 1502, A letter sent to the Medici rulers in Italy by
explorer Amerigo Vespucci described a “new world.”
After the letter was published in numerous languages,
the land was identified after this explorer and was
called America.
 3. In 1492 Christopher Columbus had actually reached
the New World first but thought he was in the East
Indies. Thus, Columbus identified the native population
as “Indians.”

4. I. The First Peoples of the AmericasI. The First Peoples of the Americas
B. Settling the Americas
• 1. During the Ice Age, a natural land bridge joined Russia to North
America.The emergence of this formation across the Bering Strait
allowed people to migrate eastward onto the continent. The area of the
land bridge is known as Beringia
• Early populations followed migrating herds for survival. Eventually, the populations began to
migrate southward to warmer climates.
• As the ice melted c. 13,000 years ago people moved into the interior of N. America (see
map, next slide)
• II. Humans also traveled a coastal route down the Pacific coast
• ***Once humans moved into the Western Hemisphere—melting of ice
glaciers separated them from the Eastern Hemisphere and caused human
civilization to develop in isolation from Africa, Europe, and Asia

6. I. The First Peoples of the AmericasI. The First Peoples of the Americas
C. The Development of Agriculture (Agricultural Revolution)-about
8000 BCE people began to plant crops
 1. Although a variety of crops were produced by native peoples,
maize (Corn) was the most important. Maize emerged in Mexico
Different types of maize were bred for a variety of purposes. The
plant was considered to be the source of human life and had a
religious and symbolic meaning, being associated with the corn
god.
◦ It was the most important crop in the Americas! Maize cultivation spread
from Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico and Central America) into North
and South America.
.
 2. Dogs were domesticated to assist in hunting. In the Andes
(modern Chile and Peru), llamas and alpacas were used as pack animals
carrying goods through the mountains. There were no native species of
animals that could be used as draft power—(no horses, cows, oxen were
on this side of the world before Columbus’ voyages in the 1490s)

7. ““Maize god”Maize god”
Miaze was often
associated with a corn
god in native
civilizations, with
regular ceremonies
honoring this god
during which people
asked for good
harvests
(Maya Maize God,
200-900 CE)

8. Early American SocietiesEarly American Societies
Advancements in agriculture had social &
political consequences
◦ Careful cultivation of food crops brought
steady and reliable sources of food & a high
fertility rate
◦ Population growth led to the creation of
urban societies

9. II. Early SocietiesII. Early Societies
A. Mounds, Towns, and Trade in North and South America
 1. c. 2500 BCE Some North American tribes, mainly those along the Ohio
and Mississippi Rivers, constructed earthworks for a variety of reasons.
Many of the earthworks were in a serpentine form or in a pyramid shape.
 2. c. 2500 BCE In a region of Peru called Norte Chico, stepped pyramids
more than ten stories high were built for religious & political purposes. The
region benefited from agricultural irrigation technology, which helped to
provide squash, beans, and many other types of crops. Caral, the largest city
in Norte Chico, became a major center for production and trade.

10. Pyramid at Caral, PeruPyramid at Caral, Peru

11. Khipu found at CaralKhipu found at Caral
Oldest known Khipu
found at Caral, Peru
—a collection of
knotted strings that
were used to collect
information such as
census and tax
records

13. Questions for Incan Khipu (Quipu)Questions for Incan Khipu (Quipu)
 Inca Khipu, ca. 1400 CE (p. 305)
 1. The caption identifies a number of ways these strings and the knots in them could have encoded information
– form and position of knots, color and spin of the strings. Examining the photograph, can you find any
characteristics that might have been used to encode information?
 (Answer: The strings are of different lengths and thicknesses. Both of the characteristics could have encoded
messages or information. They are also arranged around a central, semicircular string. Position around the
string could also have been used as a code. )
 2. Why might cotton string have been a particularly good material for communicating data and messages in pre-
Colombian Peru?
 (Answer: Cotton was an exceedingly common cultivated plant in the area, and had been so perhaps as far back
as 2500 BCE. Using it was economical, and the medium was more durable than some alternatives (leaves, bark).
 3. Why were such complex methods of transmitting information necessary in the Andes at this time?
 (Answer: The Inca Empire was huge, 350,000 square miles at its height, with a population of 16 million (see the
section on the Incas at the end of this chapter). Although the Incas constructed an excellent network of roads for
foot traffic, travel across the empire by messengers could take weeks. Moreover Inca administration was
complex. The Inca emperors extracted forced labor duties from the population which required a census; they
collected taxes throughout their lands; they had to keep records of the properties of the emperors and their
clans; and they engaged in the construction of large-scale irrigation projects, roads, and bridges. All of this
required complex record keeping. As the Incas did not have a writing system, some detailed system of
accounting was needed. The khipu provided that. )

14. B. Olmec Agriculture, Technology, and Religion
 The Olmecs created the first cities in Mesoamerica,
1500-300 BCE
 Olmec people cultivated maize, squash, and other types of
produce. They traded rubber, cacao (source of Chocolate), and
various crafted products such as pottery or figurines. Evidence
shows that Olmec trade reached as far away as Mexico.
 They made weapons from obsidian (black, volcanic glass)
 Most Olmecs lived in small villages. Rulers lived in lavish cities with
palaces, large water reservoirs, and sewage removal systems
 The Great Pyramid was the center of their religion. Huge stone
slabs were used to construct the pyramid, which may have been an
attempt to gain closeness with the gods.
 Olmec writing was deciphered in 1993—opening up the culture to
intense study by historians.

16. Olmecs were the earliest known Pyramid
Builders
◦ Despite the towering reputation of Egypt’s Great
Pyramids at Giza, the Americas actually contain more
pyramid structures than the rest of the planet
combined.
◦ Civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca all
built pyramids to house their deities, as well as to
bury their kings.
◦ In many of their great city-states, temple-pyramids
formed the center of public life and were the site of
much holy ritual, including human sacrifice.

17.  The earliest known pyramid
in the Americas now stands
at La Venta in Tobasco,
Mexico. Built by the Olmecs
between 1000-400 BCE.

18. The best known Latin American pyramids
include the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid
of the Moon at Teotihuacán in central Mexico,
the Castillo at Chichén Itzá in the Yucatan, the
Great Pyramid in the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan, the Pyramid at Cholula and the
Inca’s great temple at Cuzco in Peru.

19. III. Classical Era MesoamericaIII. Classical Era Mesoamerica
and North America, 300–900and North America, 300–900 CC..EE..
A. Maya Agriculture and Trade
• 1. Maize and other vegetables were traditional crops,
but the Maya included groves of fruit trees in their
agricultural development.
• 2. In an effort to avoid crop failure, the Maya built
raised agricultural fields to avoid seasonal floods. The
raised-field system helped to support the Maya
population.
• 3. A network of waterways, including swamps, served
as transportation thoroughfares. Large canoes carried
cargoes to other populations.
• 4. agricultural achievements led to great population
increases—the entire Maya region held as many as 14
million inhabitants.

21. III. Classical Era MesoamericaIII. Classical Era Mesoamerica
and North America, 300–900and North America, 300–900 CC..EE..
B. Maya Science and Religion
 1. A book of mythological narratives survived the Spanish attempts to
destroy all records of the Maya religion. The Popul Vuh provides a view
of the Maya interpretation of world creation and the concepts of good
and evil.
 2. Maya religious rituals included human sacrifice. Human sacrifice was
conducted to honor the gods and demonstrate the king’s military
strength.
 3. Mathematics was based on the vigesimal (20) system and included the
use of the number zero—which allows for more complex calculations
 4. The Maya mathematical system improved their system of astronomy
and the development of their calendar.

22. C. The Maya civilization lasted about
1,000 years
It collapsed between the 8-10th
centuries
as a result of agricultural failures, drought,
overpopulation, disease, and constant
warfare

23. Mayan PyramidsMayan Pyramids
The Maya made temple-pyramids in the center
of their cities.
The most famous is the carved Temple at
Palenque (Mexico)—a funerary monument of
King Hanab Pakal, 7th
century
The tallest Maya pyramid was at Tikal,
Guatemala, 8th
century
Pyramid of the Magician or Sorcerer, 9th
-10th
centuries, built by the god of magic, Itzamna, as
a training center for shamans, healers, and
priests.

24. Maya temples at PalenqueMaya temples at Palenque

25. Maya Pyramids at TikalMaya Pyramids at Tikal

26. Maya, Pyramid of the Magician, UxmalMaya, Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal

27. III. Classical Era MesoamericaIII. Classical Era Mesoamerica
and North America, 300–900and North America, 300–900 CC..EE..
C. Growth and Assimilation of the Teotihuacán and Toltec
Cultures
 1. Zapotecan-speaking peoples in southern Mexico developed a large
religious center that featured elaborate tombs and temples.
 2. The city of Teotihuacán in central Mexico was a large urban center
(over 200,000 people) consisting of a variety of neighborhoods and
tradesmen. Agricultural laborers lived outside of the city. Inside the city
were several large pyramids at which people worshipped various deities.
 3. The Toltec confederation was heir to Teotihuacan and existed as a
loose union of strong states. The Toltecs extended their power
throughout the region of Central America. Their capital city was Tula.

29. Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, 1-Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, 1-
250 CE250 CE

30. Ancient TulaAncient Tula

31. III. Classical Era MesoamericaIII. Classical Era Mesoamerica
and North America, 300–900and North America, 300–900 CC..EE..
D. Hohokam, Hopewell, and Mississippian Societies
• 1.The Hohokam people used irrigation and terrace
agriculture.They also built platforms for ceremonial events.
(300 BCE)
• 2.Along the Ohio River, the Hopewell built extensive
mounds as tombs for priests, leaders, and other important
officials.They also built mounds shaped like animals or
geometric figures.
• 3.The settlement of Cahokia along the Mississippi River
included the largest mound of any of the mound-building
cultures.An agricultural society, Cahokia at its peak was the
largest city north of Mesoamerica. (present-day St. Louis)

34. Questions for Great Serpent MoundQuestions for Great Serpent Mound
 Great Serpent Mound, Adams County, Ohio (p. 311)
 1. The Hopewell Culture and other Mississippi valley cultures were
influenced by the Mesoamerican civilizations to the south. Do you see
any possible evidence of that influence in this photograph?
 (Answer: The feathered serpent was a common deity in Mesoamerica. It
is possible, though hardly provable, that the serpent mound was
influenced by the cultural importance of the feathered serpent to the
south. )
 2. Why might one conclude that this mound had a religious, ritual, or
artistic significance?
 (Answer: Simply put, it is hard to imagine a “practical” use that the
mound could have had. )

35. IV. The AztecsIV. The Aztecs
A. Religion and War in Aztec Society
• 1. The creator deity Quetzalcoatl was one of many
gods worshipped by the Mexicas. Quetzalcoatl, a
feathered serpent god, was revered as a source of
knowledge.
• 2. The warrior god Huitzilopochtli symbolized the
sun, which needed precious fluids to keep moving. The
precious fluid usually was blood; human sacrifice was
an important part of Mexica religious identity.
• 3. Most of those sacrificed were war captives seized in
battle. Conquered states were forced to provide a
tribute of people to be used as human sacrifice.

37. IV. The AztecsIV. The Aztecs
B. Social Distinctions Among Aztecs
• 1.The Aztec aristocracy included warriors who had
distinguished themselves on the battlefield. Generals, judges,
and governors were among the warrior aristocracy.
• 2.The macehualtin were the ordinary citizens and the largest
segment of the Aztec population.This class performed
agricultural, military, and other domestic services.This group
possessed certain rights of citizenship.
• 3.The poorest class of citizens was the tlalmaitl, meaning the
landless workers.These individuals depended on the security
provided by the upper classes and existed in a peasant-type
environment.
• 4. Slaves were the lowest social class. Many were prisoners of
war, but others were criminals from the Aztec society itself.
Most slaves eventually gained their freedom.

39. Questions for Aztec AdolescentsQuestions for Aztec Adolescents
 Aztec Adolescents (p. 317)
 1. How does this scene reflect the importance of Tenochtitlan’s location in the middle of a
lake and the city’s extensive canal system?
 (Answer: Boys are learning both to paddle or pole cargo canoes, and apparently to fish using
nets, indicating a close familiarity and use of waterways. )
 2. What activities are the youths learning to do? Are they basic activities necessary for daily
life, or are they more specialized and arcane (for example manufacture of luxury items,
religious ritual, and so on)?
 (Answer: The boys are learning to fish, to carry cargo on their backs, and to move cargo by
boat. Thus, they obtain food and transport goods. The girls pound corn kernels into meal and
weave cloth for clothing. Food, clothing, and simple transport of goods are all activities
integral to daily life, not arcane specialties. )
 3. Based on your answer to question two above, what social class do these youths seem to be
from?
 (Answer: The scene and the activities presented suggest that they are common people, not
from families of warrior aristocrats, merchants, or priests. )

40. IV. The AztecsIV. The Aztecs
C. The City of Tenochtitlán
 1. Tenochtitlán included nearly 60,000 households and
a population of about 250,000. The Aztec Empire at
one point could claim a population of 5 million people.
 2. The city was surrounded by stone and adobe walls.
Wide streets and canals crisscrossed the city.
 3. Markets featured butchers, artisans, seamstresses,
and a wide variety of services and merchandise.
 4. The great temple of Huitzilopochtli was located in
the central part of the city. It was approached by three
flights of stairs and rose nearly one hundred feet high.

41. V. The IncasV. The Incas
A. Earlier Peruvian Cultures
 1. Located along the northern coast of Peru, the Moche people built cities around
large plazas with temples and stone masonry. The Moche agricultural system
provided enough food for the people and the military.
 2. Moche civilization consisted of numerous small city-states that were not unified as
an identifiable group. Warfare was common among them.
B. Inca Imperialism and Its Religious Basis
 1. Each ruler’s corpse was mummified and placed in a sacred chamber. His
descendants managed his land and income to pay for the upkeep of his mummified
remains and to support themselves and his cult.
 2. A desire for conquest created an opportunity to gain new territories but also to
improve one’s place within society.
 3. Conquered peoples were forced to adopt the Inca language. This created a level of
unity. Incas stressed government by means of imperial unification. Their religion was
also required to be accepted by the conquered populations. This was an effort to
prevent rebellion in subject territories.
 4. Inca society enjoyed an infrastructure that included excellent roads, which were
built to ease military transportation and communication.

43. V. The IncasV. The Incas
C. The Clan-Based Structure of Inca Society
• 1. Clans were granted lands by authorities, and individual
families worked those lands for generations.
• 2. Every family had to provide crops for the Inca elite. The
families were also expected to supply members for military
service.
• 3. The state required everyone to marry and at times
identified when and whom a person should marry. Marriage
was sometimes used as a symbol of conquest, as Inca elite
married the daughters of elite families of conquered states.
• 4. Ordinary people worked in the fields and mines to make
the life of the nobles comfortable.