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The cultures and civilizations of the “Americas”.

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Presentation on theme: "The cultures and civilizations of the “Americas”."— Presentation transcript:

1 The cultures and civilizations of the “Americas”

2 Where did the Native Americans come from?

3 Migrations from Asia ca. 30,000 – 15,000 yrs ago over Bering strait land bridge; Isolated for at least 15,000 years!

4 Kingdoms and & Empires of the Americas

5 Who was in Meso-America? (“Middle America”) OlmecOlmec TeotihuacanTeotihuacan MayaMaya ToltecToltec AztecAztec

6 OLMEC 1500 -300 BCE; Gulf of Mexico Carved enormous stone heads of volcanic rock Chief god - human-like with jaguar face urban centers; astronomy Kings, elite, merchants, laborers Hieroglyphics; calendar Corn, beans, squash, manioc Former kings?

7 Teotihuacan Temples Quetzalcoatl Chinampas Apartment housing for commoners Obsidian tools Aristocratic govt Military protected long distance trade Decline – violence…

8 Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon Teotihuacan

9 Maya

10 MAYA Yucatan Peninsula City States; hereditary Swidden agriculture; no metal tools Complex religion - 3 layers (heavens, now and underworld); trances Elite, tatoos, human sacrifice (elite capt) Writing, ball playing (pok-a-tok), astronomy, math system math systemCalendar (365) math system (zero) math system Elite women – high; women important demise - war, drought, infighting ** Mayan math computation Mayan math computation Mayan math computation

11 Mayan Calendar first date is actually written 13.0.0.0.0. three possible equivalences: 13.0.0.0.0 = 13 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian) 13.0.0.0.0 = 11 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian) 13.0.0.0.0 = 15 Oct 3374 BC (Gregorian) Assuming one of the first two equivalences, the Long Count will again reach 13.0.0.0.0 on 21 or 23 December AD 2012 13.0.0.0.0 may have been the Mayas' idea of the date of the creation of the world. Ritual “divine” cycle calendar Solar “civil” calendar “long count” calendar

12 Maya / Aztec Calendar

13

14 Palenque

15 Mayan Temples

16 Toltec Transmitted Teotihuacan & Mayan culture to the Aztecs Conquest state; military power Violent culture Rivalries Tula art ----- Decline & invasion by the Aztecs

17 The Aztecs

18 AZTECS Nomads; settled on islands in Lake Texcoco Adopted agriculture; gradually grew into an independent power, then empire Capital city - Tenochtitlan – Ruler chosen by nobility War – religious significance (of course) – legitimized the ruler War also increased holdings of nobles War to get captives for human sacrifice

19 Society - hierarchy with Aztec ruler & nobility at top & slaves/criminals/debtors at bottom; women had rights Tremendous inequalities - nobility vs commoners Elaborate ritual; Huitzilopochtli; war/sun Human sacrifice Political tribute system; pd in food; goods Economic: chinampas; barter Dike in lake: salt/fresh water

20 Who was in Meso-America? (“Middle America”) OlmecOlmec TeotihuacanTeotihuacan MayaMaya ToltecToltec AztecAztec

21 Pyramids of Tenochtitlán

22

23 needed human hearts Huitzilopochtli god of war & sun needed human hearts

24 Tlaloc God of Rain

25 Quetzalcoatl god of wind & knowledge

26 Canoe moving about the chinampas

27 weaving

28 Aztec Society in Transition Increasingly hierarchical Conflict between nobles and growing “middle” Violence Discontent tribute tribes; sacrifice! Empire under Montezuma II conquered by Spaniards (Cortes)

29 Montezuma II Cortes

30 Andean Societies Andean Societies environmental challenges… Moche

31 Andean Cultures Background: Early – small coastal & foothills villages by 2600 BCE cf - Old Kingdom Egypt Chavin Chavin (900-250 BCE) Trade routes; controlled; linked regions Maize quinoa, potatoes, llamas Adobe & stone; 1 st metals; jaguar-man Social stratification: priests, elite, etc.

32 Technologies to meet the needs Environment al challenges: Altitude Frosts Arid / drought Only llamas! Compensations: Calendar New varieties potatoes & grains Terraced farming Freeze-dried vegetables & meat Llama & alpaca wool

33 Andean culture Khipus Ayllu Hereditary aristocracy & kings Mit’a Coca (not cacao) Colonists

34 khipus

35 Moche Ca. 600 CE Maize, quinoa, beans, manioc, sweet potatoes Irrigation, canals, aqueducts Alpacas & llamas Textiles Stratified society; theocratic Women weavers

36 Moche ceramic sculpture

37 The Inca

38 INCA huge empire & strong central gov’t extending length of South America Large professional military Built paved roads & suspension bridges - used running messengers; quipus Pastoralists; men and women Capital Cuzco; sun god; royal family Local rulers/chiefdoms; control by hostage taking

39 Inca terraces; Machu Picchu

40

41 Machu Pichu

42 suspension bridge

43 Atahualpa Pizarro

44

45 Northern Peoples Southwestern desert Aztec influence incl. maize, squash, beans Hohokam irrigation canals Anasazi – kivas; cliff dwellings & canyon “appts”, pottery, weaving Chaco canyon; Mesa Verde

46 Anasazi cliff dwellings

47 Mississippian culture Oldest mounds – 3000’s BCE “mound-builders” Chiefdoms “Hopewell” cultures Towns – central plaza surrounded by mounds; burial mounds, temple mounds Social stratification; trade (not accepted as product of the Native Americans until late 1800’s!)

48 How Mississippian towns might have looked

49 Cahokia mounds city; Illinois Had more inhabitants than Paris at that time (1150)

50 Etowah Indian Mound


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