Download The New World

The New World
Civilizations in Mesoamerica and South America
The New World •
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Significance as a term?
Populating the New World?
Theories…
Independent development
Early Civilizations in Central America
• The first civilization in the region appeared in the 1st Millennium BCE—the Olmec.
The Olmec
• Famous site at La Venta.
• Pyramid and Giant Heads.
Pyramid of La Venta
• Representative of a flourishing Olmec
civilization that saw them: • Develop widespread trading networks in the region.
• Development of agriculture
• Development of hieroglyphics
Olmec Civilization
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Skilled artisans were prized and valued
The “Ball Game” and sacrifice
Fell into decline about the fourth century BCE
Theories?
Teotihuacan: America’s First Metropolis
• Capital of a kingdom thirty miles from Mexico City.
• Dominated by the Pyramid of the Sun
• Evidence of expansive trade…in Cacao, rubber, feathers, and foodstuff. As well as alcohol from the agave plant.
• Obsidian was valued and prized more than gold.
• There were 35,000 square foot homes housing hundreds
Decline?
• Shrouded in mystery • Agriculture greatness—declined due to drought
• Principalities emerged and disrupted centralized structure
• “Mini‐Warring States”
The Chinampa
The Maya
Origins
Trace their origin to the Olmec
Modern day Mexico *(Yucatan) and Guatemala
Milpa Farming
More rural than Urban
Golden age Maya saw cities such as Tikal approach 100,000 residents.
Governed 3,000,000 total.
Mayan Culture
Men and women?
Religion based on a supreme god named “Itzamna”
Practice of human sacrifice
Ball court
Mayan Governance
Impressive power in the hands of divinely inspired monarchs.
Built magnificent structures to honor their glory.
Mayan Astronomy and Astrology
Interested in the passage of time.
Codex have been found chronicling planetary time and movement.
Much of their history lost?
2012
Mayan Hiroglyphs
Palenque
Mayan Collapse?
Jared Diamond’s interpretation?
Culture surviving?
Bishop Diego de Landa
Temple of the Inscriptions Collapse
Their population increased dramatically, peaking in the eighth century C.E., but this resulted in the over‐cutting of forests; meanwhile their fragile soils were becoming depleted. A series of droughts turned problem to crisis. Yet kings and nobles, rather than comprehending and responding to the crisis, evidently remained fixated on the short‐term priorities of enriching themselves, building monuments, waging wars, and extracting sufficient food from the peasants to support their ostentatious lifestyles. The population of Mayan cities quickly began a decline that would continue for several centuries, culminating in levels 90 percent lower than at the civilization's height in 700.
The First Civilizations in South America
• Has been inhabited by human beings for at least 20,000 years.
• Human settlements in larger communities dates back to 9500 BCE.
• Irrigate farming as old as 2500 BCE
Civilizations of the Andes
• Marine environment fostered fishing.
• Most well known was the Inca
• Cultures that laid there foundations are captivating.
– Norte Chico
– Chavin
– Moche
Norte Chico
• Arose as a ceremonial center in what was a region wide religious movement.
• Beliefs based on the geography of the region.
Chavin Cult
• Master gold smiths
• Built massive temple complexes.
• Religious and ceremonial centers.
• San Pedro Cactucs
Moche Civilization 100‐800 CE
• Agrarian‐irrigation
• Ruled by warrior priests
• Human sacrifice a component of their culture.
• Gifted metal and stone workers
• Farmed via irrigation canals. • Spectacular culture
Nazca
• Advanced and mysterious culture.
• Performed brain surgeries?
• Skull elongation
• Nazca Lines
The Aztecs
“as sophisticated as Rome”
More warlike (Spartan type war culture)
A city state amongst others, they emerged dominant (Zhou)
Aztec politics
Power of the monarch had both spiritual and secular responsibilities.
Claimed descent from god
Intermediary between the material and divine world.
Advised by a council of lords
Headed by a prime minister and a bureaucracy staffed by hereditary!
Had schools for bureaucracy, competitive
Collected tribute over subject states
Aztec Rigid Social Order
Emperor
Politicians
Religious leaders
Warriors
Calpullis—groups of commoners grouped in 1000, governed by a chief. Commoners
Maintained schools, temples, and lands
Indentured workers
Divided again into families
Slaves
Aztec slavery
Aztec Gender Relations
Enjoyed more legal rights than any other Ancient civilization.
Could own property
Enter into contracts
Insist on monongamous marriage
Aztec Religion
Huitzilopochtli
Supreme God of the Aztecs
Bloodletting
Humans could aspire to a heavenly salvation after purgatory.
Based on proper behavior and a final judgement
End of times and sacrifice
Inevitable but can be forestalled by human sacrifice.
Ripping out heart
Honor to be chosen
Diego Duran Document
• Even jade is shattered …even gold is crushed…even quetzal plumes are torn…one does not live forever on this earth…we endure only for an instant. Aztec demise: Hernan Cortes
• PS excerpt…
The Inca
• Arrived very late to the scene. Becoming prominent during the 1440’s.
• Gradually extended dominion to include nearly all of South America south of Equador and West of the Amazon.
“The World of the Four Quarters”
Words of Pachakuti.
Described his empire.
Each consisted of 10,000 persons
Excessive residents transported
Social order‐rigidly defined.
The Incan Political Universe
Leaders were so powerful and venerated to such a degree that they were mummified and fed ritual meals!
They had awe inspiring power—maybe more than any society in World History.
Public Works
Thousands of miles of roads. Machu Picchu
Suspension bridges
Travel could move as rapidly as 140 miles per day.
Irrigation a necessity
Machu Picchu
Incan culture
Built on war
An army of 200,000
Moved quickly along highway system.
Quipi system, takes place of writing.
Vast tradition of comedic and drama theatre
Incan Religion
Sun venerated as a god and their major deity whom they called Inti. Recognized the moon, stars, planets, and other natural forces adivine.
Sacrifice was offered—in the form of livestock and agriculture. No people
Incan religion had a concept of sin and moral order and punishment beyond death.
Incan Social Universe
Stratified societies
Chief ruler a descendant from the sun. He governed as an infallible representation of god who owned everything in the “four quarters of the world”
Ruling elites and priests
Commoners by birth
Aristocrats lived privileged lives
“Big ears”
Incan Gender Relations
Incan Demise
• Document from Guns, Germs, and Steel.