Civilizations in the Americas

1. Civilizations in the Americas These societies share a lot in common and are largely building on the traditions of previous inhabitants.

2. Mesoamerica • Mexico, Central America, Caribbean • Similar culture, religion, social structure throughout partially due to influence of ancient Olmecs

3. Areas of the Aztec and Mayan Empires (cultural diffusion?)

4. Toltecs • Central Mexico (influenced by Teotihuacan) • Based on military power and conquest • Practiced human sacrifice

5. Hopewell Mounds, Ohio Toltec heritage: cultural diffusion, commercial influence on the American SW and possibly the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys

6. (What’s happening in Colorado at this time?)

7. Aztec • Toltecs were replaced by the Aztec (Mexica), who took advantage of the Toltec’s decline • They used their fighting skills to take control of the Lake Texcoco region • Adopted political and social organization of Toltec http://www.history.com/videos/mexico-god-gold-and-glory-the-rise-of-the-aztecs#mexico-god-gold-and-glory-the-rise-of-the-aztecs

8. Aztec calendar • Fatalistic view of history-the world had been destroyed before and would be destroyed again (triggered by gods’ anger when human sacrifices were no longer sufficient)

9. Map of Tenochtitlan-possible drawn by Cortez

11. Expanded the ritual of human sacrifice to unprecedented levels

12. Aztecs were also characterized by • Militant warrior tradition • Priestly class to oversee rituals, including human sacrifice • Ritualistic, polytheistic religion • Large urban capital

13. Chinampa system led to increase in agriculture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgl5NBTXZzc (9:30+)

14. The agricultural economy was centered around feeding the people • Conquered people lost their land and had to pay the Aztecs tribute (taxes) with food, luxury goods and slaves • A decentralized network of city-states paid tribute • Defeated in 1521 by the Spanish

15. Aztec marketplace

16. Social classes • Aztec society became more and more hierarchical. Social classes:noblespriesthoodmilitaryscribesartisanshealersworkerscommoners

17. Great divide developed between rich and poor • Elite had special food and dress; elite men were polygamous

18. Aztec hairstyles

19. Ruins of Tenochtitlan

20. Moche • Established in coastal Peru ~600 C.E. • Built canals and aqueducts • Created elaborate textiles using llama/alpaca wool • Priests and warriors ranked highest; wore fancy headdresses and gold jewelry • Declined with natural disasters; influenced Inca

21. Moche

22. Incan Empire • 1350-1540 C.E. • South American Andes Mountain region: difficult environment for civilization, required special adjustments • They conquered a large area of land and absorbed many tribes in central and western South America

23. Domesticated largest available animals (llama, alpaca)

24. Location of Incan civilization

25. Machu Picchu

26. In 90 years the empire grew into a stretch of land that covered over 3,000 miles from north to south • They had a centralized empire with its capital in Cuzco (present day Peru) • Extensive, irrigated agricultural economy that adapted to the rugged terrain of the Andes

27. No writing; record-keeping using quipa, or knotted, colored strings • Used collective, rotational labor system called mit’a for public works (roads, buildings, irrigation, etc) – each clan (allyu) contributed 1/7 of its men for these projects

28. quipu

29. Inca Fort Inca Road Inca Bridge Inca road system

31. Large urban centers • Polytheistic religion centered around worship of the sun • Patriarchal society with few rights for women • Privileged class of nobles, headed by the emperor

32. Royal ancestors were revered and worshiped • Impressive achievements in building with cut stone

33. Temple of the Sun

34. Dress helped establish nobility and privilege • State ran the economy so there was no merchant class

35. Conclusion Aztecs and Incas built on many earlier traditions in these regions – e.g. agricultural systems, religion – while adapting and/or expanding on them

36. What’s the “glue” of these societies? • Their religion: the ceremonies, military conquests, etc. were all shaped by their religion • The leaders of these societies are both civil and religious leaders, so they held tremendous power.