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Chapter 6

Chapter 6. Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania. Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B.C.E.-1100 C.E. Olmecs. 1200-100 B.C.E. The “rubber people” Ceremonial centers dating from 2000 B.C.E. San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes Olmec heads Up to 10 ft. tall, 20 tons

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Chapter 6

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  1. Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania

  2. Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B.C.E.-1100 C.E.

  3. Olmecs • 1200-100 B.C.E. • The “rubber people” • Ceremonial centers dating from 2000 B.C.E. • 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

  4. Agriculture and Herding • Staple: maize • Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs • Both food • No draft animals • No development of wheeled vehicles

  5. Mysterious Decline of Olmecs Ceremonial centers destroyed No evidence of warfare Revolution? Civil war?

  6. Maya • Huge cities discovered in nineteenth century C.E. • 300 B.C.E.-900 C.E. • Terrace farming • Maize • Cotton • Cacao beans • Chocolate • Currency • Major ceremonial center at Tikal

  7. 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

  8. Maya 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 • 52 year cycle • Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture

  9. Maya Language and Religion • Ideographs and a syllable alphabet • Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors • Deciphering work began in 1960s • Popol Vuh: Maya creation myth • Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices • Bloodletting rituals • Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow

  10. 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

  11. City of Teotihuacan • Area of present Mexico City • Lakes in area of high elevation • Village of Teotihuacan, 500 B.C.E., expands to large agricultural city • Important ceremonial center • Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas • Begins to decline ca. 650 C.E., sacked in middle of eighth century, burned city

  12. Andean Societies • Largely independent from Mesoamerica • Highly individualized due to geography

  13. Chavín Cult 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

  14. The Mochica State 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

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