Download Chapter 7: Civilizations of the Americas

Chapter 7: Civilizations of the
Americas
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Geography: The Americas
– 30,000 years ago, small family groups of
Paleolithic hunters and good gatherers reached
North America from Asia.
– Great Migration…last ice age
• Water froze…sea level dropped exposed a land bridge
between Siberia and Alaska.
– 10,000 BC…Earth grew warmer..ice
melted…covering the land bridge
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Geography: The Americas
– North America
• The Rocky Mountains
– Middle (Central) America
• East Sierra Madre
• West Sierra Madre
– South America
• Andes
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Agricultural Revolution
– Farming may have been a response to the
disappearance of large mammals.
– Had to cultivate the land and domesticate the
animals.
– Farming people settled into villages…population
expanded and developed into cities.
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Legacy of the Olmecs
– Tropical forests along the
Mexican Gulf Coast
1400-500 BC
– Very little known…but
rich tombs and temples
point towards a
powerful class of priests
and aristocrats.
– Built ceremonial centers
– Giant carved heads
– Calendar
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• The World of the Mayas
– AD 300-900
– Farmers cleared the
forests and built raised
fields that caught the
rain.
– Tikal (Present-day
Guatemala)
• Wealth was gained from
trade
• Largest structures in the
Americas until 1903
(Flatiron building)
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Social Classes
– Each Mayan city had its own ruling chief.
– Surrounded by nobles who served as military
leaders and officials who managed public works,
collected taxes, and enforced laws.
– Priests held great power
• Elaborate ceremonies to ensure good harvests.
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Advances in Learning
– Hieroglyphic writing system
– Scribes kept their knowledge in books made of
bark
– Developed two calendars
– Developed a numbering system that included
zero.
– Mayan Ball Game (Pg. 161)
• Video
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• The Decline
– A.D. 900 the Mayans abandoned the cities.
– Not sure on the exact reason but maybe…
• Frequent warfare
• Overpopulation…over farming the land
• Heavy taxes…peasant revolts
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• The Valley of Mexico
– Teotihuacān (A.D. 100750)
• Well planned, wide roads,
massive temples, and
large apartment
buildings.
• Citizens worshipped a
powerful nature goddess
and rain god.
• Eventually fell to invaders.
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Arrival of the Aztecs
– Moved in from the North
– Tenochtitlān (Presentday Mexico City)
– Chinampas: Artificial
islands made of earth
that would float on
water.
• Video
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Conquering an Empire
– Expanded their territory
– Over most of Mexico (Gulf – Pacific)
– By 1500: 30 million people
– Tribute: Payment from conquered peoples.
• Helped the Aztecs turn their capital into a magnificent
city.
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• The World of the Aztecs
– Spanish reached Tenochtitlān in 1519 and Cortēs
was awestruck with its magnificence.
– Geography & History (pg. 163)
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Government and Society (Aztecs)
– Had a single ruler who was chosen by a council of
nobles and priests to lead in war.
– Below the ruler, nobles served as officials, judges,
and governors of conquered provinces.
– Warriors could rise to noble status by killing or
capturing enemy soldiers
– Commoners farmed the land
– Slaves (criminals or POW) could buy their freedom
and land.
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Religious Beliefs
– Were a class apart
– Performed rituals needed to please the man Aztec
gods.
– Chief Aztec god was Huitzilopochtli (sun god)
• Giant pyramid
• Battled forces of darkness each night and was reborn
each morning.
• Legend of the Five Suns (pg. 158)
– Human Sacrifices
Section 1: Civilizations of Middle
America
• Education and Learning
– Priests were the keepers of Aztec knowledge
• Recorded laws and historical events
• Ran schools
• Illness was a punishment from the gods
Section 2: The World of the Incas
• Read aloud in class
• Group guides (Due FRIDAY!)
– Geography
– Government
– Communication
– Economy – Religion
– Chosen Women
Section 3: Peoples of North America
The Desert Southwest: Anasazi
• 4 corners
• AD 900-1300
• Built large villages (later
called pueblos)
–
–
–
–
Complex with 800 rooms
Terraces served as roads
Center was the plaza
Kiva: Large underground
chamber used for religious
ceremonies.
• Attacked by Navajos &
Apaches
• Traditions survived among
the Hopi & other Pueblo
Indians
Section 3: Peoples of North America
The Mound Builders
• Mississippi & Ohio Valleys
farming cultures emerged
as early as 700 BC
– Adena & Hopewell (Ohio
Valley)
• Build mounds
– Mississippians built clusters
of earthen mounds
• Cahokia (Illinois)
• Left no written records
Section 3: Peoples of North America
• Diverse Regional Cultures
– Iroquois League: An alliance of five nations who
spoke the same language and shared similar
traditions.
Group Assignment
• Culture Pamphlet
– Tri-fold
– Pictures & Information
– You will be graded on how it looks!!
– Imagine that this pamphlet will be handed out at a
historical Native American Indian site.