Mesoamerica and South America

Similarities and differences of Asia and America Religious shrine centers Shaman- communicated with spiritual world for the community City states- politics, trade, and religion Specific individual cities America- Built by water- lakes or small rivers No metal tools No wheels or animals to pull carts Llamas used as pack animals \ No writing systems/ except the Maya

Origins Migrations Agriculture Migrated from Siberia- land bridge 15000 years ago 5000 BCE grew maize Wild crops, hunting animals 3000 BCE grew beans and gourds

Olmec- 1500 BCE San Lorenza- 1150 BCE -first city of Olmec city 900 BCE San Lorenza was destroyed La Vente- 800 BCE- small island in the middle of a swamp 400BCE the city was destroyed No one knows why either city was decimated

Zapotec 1400 BCE San Jose Mogote- first city Traded with the Olmec Monte Alban 400- 200 BCE population grew to 50,000 Influence of this city peaked to about 700 CE then decline

Teotihuacan Great city of the ancient world 200 BCE -500 CE about 100,000 people lived in the city Nearby lake provided: irrigation, fish, salt, waterfowl They city produced a multitude of pottery, ornaments, weapons, and other necessities By 650 the city was deliberately burned down

Successor States in the Valley of Mexico Toltecs emerged in Valley by 900 C.E. Toltecs honored Quetzalcoatl, god of Teotihuacan Aztecs entered valley after 1170 C.E. Developed civilization of 200,000 Militaristic society Practiced human sacrifice Destroyed by invading Spanish with help of neighbors of Aztecs

The Rise and Fall of the Maya Maya incorporated Teotihuacan and Olmec ideas as well as their own Located on the Yucatan peninsula Classic phase (300-600 C.E.) included cities, monumental architecture, extensive sacrifices, and elaborate burials

The Rise and Fall of the Maya The Great City of Tikal Religious and cultural center with political and economic role Contained 360,000 people at its height Developed calendar combining cosmic and historic events with agricultural cycle Shaman-Kings bridged daily life and spirit world

The Maya Decline Classical period ended in 900 C.E. Suspected reasons for decline include population pressure, climate change, warfare, pressure on resources Some new Mayan towns emerged during decline at core Few Mayan cities remained to greet Spanish arrival

Palenque

Chichen Itza

Comalcalco

Tikal

Urbanization in South America Few ties to Mesoamerican trends Both regions built around religious shrines Both areas developed empires: Aztec and Incan Main South American civilization in Andes mountains at 11,000 feet rather than arid Pacific coast regions of present day Ecuador, Peru, and Chile

South America Coastal Settlements and Networks Moche- 200 bce-600 Pacific coast was a source of fish and cotton Labor brigades channeled river flow from Andes into irrigated fields Moche and Chimu were the major states of the coastal region Moche- 200 bce-600 Chimu- 600 took over when Moche left, lasted until 1470 when conquered by Inca

Chavin Moche

Nazca Tiwanaku

Coastal

Urbanization in the Andes Mountains Trade networks connected mountains and coast Chavin are first known Andean civilization Tiwanaku irrigated high plains and established religious ritual and administrative practices that were preserved by successor states Huari Nazca

The Inca Combined Chimu (coastal), Chavin, Tiwanaku, Huari and Nazca (Andes) cultures into single empire Capital at Cuzco in Andes at 11,000 feet Cusi Yupanqui established hereditary monarchy in 1438 using unpaid labor system (mit’a) Had administrative system for conquered areas

Inca Empire 2000 miles north to south, 200 miles inland 1476-1534 Adapted gods and religious symbols, artwork, ceramics and textiles of earlier states. Capital at Cuzco- 10,000 feet up the mountain Connected rest of empire by 25000 miles of roads, tunnels, causeways, suspension bridges, travel lodges, and storage places Cusi Yupanqui crowned ‘inca’ king emporer Entire empire known as Inca, extremely militaristic