2. 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

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

4. Where were they located:

5. ~40 tons 11’high

6. 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?

7. 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.

8. Architecture

9. 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.

10. 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

11. Jade Masks

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. Go to other pp

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

17. Modern day Peru
Chavín

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

20. Archaeological Site: temple

21. Palace at Chavin

22. Chavin as Religious Site
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23. 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

24. 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.

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