1. The Americas and Oceania 600 C.E. – 1450 C.E.

2. Learning Targets I can name at least 3 Mesoamerican civilizations
I can describe at least 2 accomplishments for each of the following civilizations: Maya, Aztec, Inca
I can explain why Oceania cultures developed independently from the rest of the world

3. Geographic Isolation
Civilizations in the Americas and Oceania developed independently of those in Afro-Eurasia
Culturally unique – no diffusion
Advanced in many ways though
Trade networks, elaborate art, religions, military, social structures, etc…
No contact or knowledge of “other” world until Columbus

4. Mesoamerica Mesoamerica = shared cultural heritage
Includes lands of Mexico and Central America
Olmecs  Mayans  Toltecs  Aztecs (Mexica)

5. Mayan Civilization Pre-Classic Period c. 2000 B.C.E to 250 C.E.
Classic Period c. 250 C.E. to 900 C.E.
Series of independent city-states with shared culture across Yucatan Peninsula
Trade networks between states
Jaguar pelts, jade, etc…
Advanced mathematicians, astronomers
Accurate calendar used for marking religious observances
First to use the concept of zero
Civilization declines by 900 C.E. as cities are abandoned
Too much warfare?
Environmental degradation due to over-farming?
Collapse of trade routes?

6. Mayan Civilization

7. Aztec (Mexica) Civilization
Migratory people who settle on Lake Texcoco in central Mexico in 1345 C.E.
Legend of eagle, serpent, and cactus
Build capital of Tenochtitlan
Used chinampas to develop agriculture around Tenochtitlan

8. Aztec (Mexica) Civilization
Aztec Chinampa:

9. Aztec (Mexica) Civilization
Continuous empire based on military conquest
Seized land and slaves from conquered lands
Subjects pay annual tribute to emperor in Tenochtitlan
Established trade networks between regions of empire
May have extended north to SW United States

10. Aztec (Mexica) Civilization
Adopted polytheistic religious beliefs
Gods made the world work through personal sacrifice
Blood flow led to the irrigation of crops
Practiced human sacrifice for good harvests, courage in war, and to please gods
Sacrificed humans to appease war god, Huitzilopochtli
Priests carried out sacrifice by cutting out human heart

11. Incan Empire
Carved out in the Andes Mtns. of South America c C.E.
Pachacuti expands empire across 2,500 miles
Gov’t led by military leaders
Capital at Cuzco

12. Incan Empire Never developed writing
Used quipu to track population, taxes, etc…
No cultural diffusion from Mesoamerica
Empire connected through vast system of roads/trails
Used for trade, moving military, and passing information using relay runners

13. Oceania
During the early periods of history (c B.C.E to 600 C.E), Austronesian peoples had slowly settled across the various islands of Oceania

14. Oceania
Used double-hulled canoes or outrigger canoes to sail across open-ocean
Expert navigators, astronomers, sailors

15. Oceania
The extent of Oceania:

16. Oceania
Because of the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, there was limited contact between societies
Some trade networks between islands – axes, pottery, shells, mats, canoes, etc…
Settlements arose in Easter Island (Rapa Nui), New Zealand, Tahiti, the Marquesas Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands
Islanders typically grew yams, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, bananas, coconuts, and taro
Domesticated pigs and dogs

17. Oceania Some evidence of cultural diffusion
Islanders from Easter Island visited South America and adopted the sweet potato
Spread across Polynesia and transformed the environment as more cultures adopted it and began cultivating it

18. Oceania
Over time, populations of the islands of Polynesia and other Oceanic regions rose due to agriculture
Distinct social classes emerge
States often ruled by chiefs in charge of political affairs
Religions varied between islands, but often reflected close ties to the environment and nature

19. Oceania
Pacific island societies do not have access to technologies of continental people until the arrival of explorers beginning in the 16th century
They did manage to exploit their environments and:
Establish productive agricultural economies
Build elaborate and organized societies
Engage in trade with their neighbors when possible
Populate most of the islands ranging from New Zealand to Hawaii