The Americas : Hunters and farmers in the Americas Ice Age: before 10,000 BCE Cause Effect Bison and caribou herds search for non-frozen grazing areas Nomadic people cross Beringia (Bering Straits) to follow herds Large animals become extinct Neolithic Revolution begins Advanced societies appear Varied cultures throughout continent

Olmcec “rubber people” of Mesoamerica (1200-400 BCE) Which continent is that?

Where were they located:

~40 tons 11’high

How did the Olmecs move the stone material from the hills to the sites of worship in the rain forest? What kind of labor force would be required?

They rolled in on land logs that rolled to river and onto a raft They rolled in on land logs that rolled to river and onto a raft. It is thought to have required 1,500 people 3-4 months.

Architecture

Insufficient Archeological Remains Archaeologists have only found traces of the architecture. There is evidence of urban design, pyramids for religious purposes, plazas with ball courts.

Occupations Agricultural society, no large animals for domestication or labor. Elaborate drainage systems to control abundant rainfall Cities grew as religious trade centers exchanging salt, cacao, clay and limestone, beans, peppers, maize, tomatoes Undeciphered hieroglyphics Artisan work with: jade for jewelry and ceremonial objects, and obsidian and pottery

Jade Masks

Religious beliefs and Jaguar worship, large heads may religious, ritual ballgames polytheistic Elite priests/kings dominated religious rituals and the cities Astronomy developed for urban and agricultural planning

Legacy Future societies such as the Toltecs, Zapotecs, Mayans and Aztecs copy urban design, ceremonial rituals, ball games, pyramids, calendar, rubber foot wear and balls and plazas Different than Mesopotamia in that there wasn’t competition between city-states and this was not a river valley civilization

Decline ??? No evidence has been found of attack from outsiders, so it is speculated that there was internal conflict that caused abandonment of societies

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Chavín of the foothills of the Andes (900-250 BCE) Which continent is that?

Modern day Peru Chavín

Location: Like Olmec, also NOT a river valley civilization Peruvian coastal plains and foothills of the Andes Little arable land, irrigation was used

Archaeological Site: temple

Palace at Chavin

Chavin as Religious Site Click here for video

Religious Beliefs Polytheistic, like Olmecs jaguars are sacred Priests or shamans (diviners, access to spirit world) Priests used hallucinogenic drugs to connect to the divine As a pilgrimage site and training center, Chavin’s influence spread as a religious cult

Occupations Farming: Little rain, but fish provided food Corn and potatoes were grown Llama helped with traded Artisans develop metallurgical techniques with silver and gold, pottery and textiles.

Legacy & Decline Chavin temples and religious practices spread throughout region Other civilizations replaced Chavin’s influence