1. Early Civilizations of the Andes

2. Andes Mountains 4,500 miles from Colombia to Chile
Many peaks over 20,000’
Steep, rocky, poor soil
Hot and dry during the day
Very cold at night

3. Societies in the Andes Settlements on the Coastal Plain
Andes Mountains, climate, environment make travel, farming difficult
Harsh deserts lie along Pacific coast
However, coastal areas with rivers have good soil; are settled BC
Around 3000 BC agriculture starts; by BC communities arise

4. The Chavin
Chavin-first influential culture in South America (mother culture of South America)
Arises in highland region of Peru; flourishes from 900 BC to 200 BC
No evidence of political or economic organization
RELIGIOUS civilization
Gods-part human and part animal

5. Chavin Named for major ruin, Chavin de Huantar
City has pyramids, plazas, and massive earth mounds
Chavin culture spreads over north and central Peru
Influences other cultures
Religious images reflected in stone carvings, pottery and textiles
Religious centers featuring pyramids, plazas and giant earthen mounds

6. Would the Chavin culture have been more influential if it had arisen along the Peruvian coast?
Yes-Travel would have been easier.
No-People made the difficult pilgrimages despite the rugged terrain.

7. Nazca Nazca-culture on dry, southern coast of Peru
Flourishes from 200 BC to 600 AD
They build irrigation systems and make beautiful pottery and textiles

8. Nazca Lines—Discovered in 1927
1,000 puzzling designs on land—images of animals, geometric shapes and mythological beings

9. Nazca Lines

10. Theories About the Lines
1. Please the gods?
2. Lines indicated where surface water entered the plain and marked elevated land between ancient riverbeds?
3. A map that marks the course of underground aquifers?
4. Straight lines may have led to ceremonial sites?

11. How Have the Lines Lasted Over 1,000 years?
One of the driest regions on earth
Ground is flat and stony
Wind rarely carries away the soil
Minimal erosion

12. Nazca—Headhunters?
In ceramic and textile design, Nazca artisans depict the taking of human heads.

13. Moche Moche-culture that thrives on northern coast of Peru
Flourishes from 100 to 700 AD
Images on Moche tombs and pottery reveal how they lived
GOLD and silver jewelry; musical instruments, woven clothing; doctors, soldiers
Neither Moche religion nor fall of culture are understood
No written language

14. Moche
Moche build large irrigation systems to water wide range of crops
Corn, beans, potatoes, squash, peanuts, fish, ducks, guinea pigs, deer, crayfish

15. Moche Tomb

16. What can be inferred from the discovery of Nazca shrunken heads and the depiction of soldiers on Moche pottery?
Both the Nazca and the Moche had enemies; some of their people were warriors.

17. Identify similarities in the Chavin, Nazca, and Moche cultures.
Successfully adapted to a harsh, rugged environment
All built flourishing civilizations known for their art styles and beautiful crafts.

18. Connections Across Time and Cultures
1. Prospering agricultural villages and surpluses of food helped lead to the rise of civilizations. Give some examples from the rise of civilizations in the Americas
Food supply—population growth—settled communities—skill and social classes
Connections Across Time and Cultures

19. Characteristics of Civilizations
2. Advanced Cities:
Monte Alban, San Lorenzo, La Venta
Specialized Workers:
Urban Design, Craftspeople, Sculptors, Weavers, Musicians, Doctors
Record Keeping:
Calendars; Zapotec writing
Complex Institutions:
Trade Networks, Ruling Classes, Ceremonies
Advanced Technology:
Irrigation
Characteristics of Civilizations

20. 3. As the economy becomes more specialized, social classes begin to emerge. Describe the social structure in Olmec culture.
Ruling class (priests to nobles), peasant farmers, artisans and traders (middle class)

21. 4. As populations grew, religion became more organized
4. As populations grew, religion became more organized. Describe some religious traditions that were followed by some of the earliest American civilizations.
Jaguar spirits, nature gods, temples

22. 5. Identify other ways in which the rise of civilization in the Americas parallels the rise of ancient civilizations in different parts of the world.
Learned to control environment; created solutions to environmental problems; used resources to build thriving communities; applied organized cooperation and leadership to massive building projects