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Ch. 16People and Empires
in the Americas500-1500
Section 1North American Societies
Complex Societies• Unlike the
Mesoamerican and S. American natives, the N.A. tribes never build empires
• Tribes in the NW were the first to display their wealth/rank• The potlatch was a celebration usually thrown by the wealthy for the people
Builders• In the west, tribes
adapted to their environment• Irrigation for water• Cliff dwellings (Mesa
Verde)
• The Anasazi would build large, apartment style communities (pueblos) that had up to 600 rooms (Pueblo Bonito)
Mound Builders• From the Mississippi and
East• Around 700 BC• The huge earthen
mounds were like pyramids (tombs for the leaders filled with gifts)
• Could also be used for religious ceremonies
• Trade networks existed between the native groups as far as Mesoamerica
Alliances• While not building
empires, the natives did use alliances
• Best example – Iroquois League• Spoke related languages• Lived in the Northeastern Woodlands• Promoted joint defense and cooperation
Trade Connects Cultures• Trade was the most
common link between native groups• Chinook established a marketplace where people from all over the West brought their goods• The Mississippian had a trade network including everything in the US east of the Rockies
Religion & Family• Nearly all tribes
worshipped nature spirits with one “Great Spirit” above all others
• Most gave great respect to the land• nobody owned the land;
land was sacred
• Society was typically organized around the family• Totems were used to
identify your clan
Section 2Maya Kings and Cities
City-States• As we entered the
AD era, Central America began creating civilizations
• The Mayan people were among the first• Southern Mexico to Central America• By 250 AD, they were pushing forward
Mayan Urban Centers• Mayan Classic Period
250-900 AD• Built huge cities• Each was ruled by a god-
king and was a religious center
• People lived in communities on the edges
• Ruled independently, the city-states were linked only by trade/alliances
Social Structure• Farming led to the
growth of wealth in individuals, which led to a class system• King – passed on to son• Nobles – priests and warriors•Merchants – special skills• peasants
Religion• Plays a significant role
on Mayan life• Polytheistic (based on
nature)• Corn, death, rain, and war• Good and evil
• Lots of different ways of worshipping• Offerings (sometimes
human) and body modification were most common
Math links to religion• Gods ruled on a schedule
(handed it on to another when their time was up)
• Religion led to the development the calendar• 2 calendars that had
different significances that affected many aspect of lives (farming, war, crowning new leaders)• Based on observing the
planets, sun, and moon• 17 seconds off of our calendar
Written Language• Most advanced writing
in the Americas• 800 hieroglyphic symbols
(glyphs) that represented words/sounds• Used to record history,
pass on stories, and make calendars
• Recorded history into a bark-paper book known as a codex (only 3 still exist)• Other books exist, but are
informal accounts
Mysterious Decline• Late 800s, Mayan cities
were suddenly abandoned
• Taken over by warriors (Toltecs) who drastically changed the culture
• Theories• Mayan civil war disrupted
trade, made them weak• Environment was
overworked
Section 3The Aztecs
Valley of Mexico• Preceded by Olmec
and Zapotec• Nestled in the
mountains of Mexico, is has lakes, resources, and fertile soil
• This would be the center of their empire
Early City-State• Teotihuacan will be the
first major city-state• Population reached over
150,000• 1 central avenue with
more than 20 pyramids dedicated to gods
• Teotihuacan was the center of trade for all of central America• Obsidian was their most
valuable item
• By 750, it was abandoned
Toltecs Take Over (900 AD)• Took 150 years for a new
culture to take over• Built pyramids/temples to
their gods• Extremely warlike
• God demanded blood and human sacrifice
• Topiltzin will try to reform the religion using Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent)• This becomes a legend after he
is forced out and will come back to haunt them
• Power is gone by 1200
Aztec Origins• Moving throughout
Mexico, the Mexica (Aztecs) people were poor nomads that made great mercenaries
• They are given a sign from their god on to build Tenochtitlan in 1325
Aztec Empire Grows• They grew steadily• In 1428, they will merge
with the Texcoco and Tlacopan city-states to create the Triple Alliance
• They continued to expand using military force• Pay tribute and not much
changed• Refuse to obey and you
would be crushed
Aztec Social Structure• At its peak, the Aztec
nobility consisted of gov. officials, priests, and military leaders
• Beneath them were the commoners (merchants, artisans, soldiers, and farmers) and the slaves (conquered peoples)
• Above everyone else was the emperor who ruled absolutely
Religion in Aztec Society• Had about 1000
gods• Adopted a lot of
previous cultures gods (Quetzalcoatl)
• Ceremonies were elaborate to win the favor of the gods
Sun God & Sacrifices• Responsible for the sun
rise and set, the Sun God is most important• To be strong enough to rise, he demanded human blood sacrifice• Thousands/year were
sacrificed• Usually used slaves,
criminals, people “offered” as tribute, and mostly conquered peoples
Fall of the Aztecs• 1502, Montezuma II
takes power• Called for more sacrifices as the empire grew larger
• Many provinces rebelled in anger over sacrifices• He tried to limit government/sacrifices, but it was too late. People felt that the gods were angry with the Aztec leaders
Section 4The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
Origins• Built on the
traditions of the Chavin, Moche, and the Nazca
• They had been mountainous but eventually settled into the Valley of Cuzco
Pachacuti• Began his reign in 1438• The Incan Empire will
grow quickest under his leadership• 80 provinces with 16
million people
• Used diplomacy and military strength• Many will give up without
resistance• Incans tried to gain loyalty even of the conquered people
Incan Unity• The empire was
divided into units• Governed by bureaucracy• Roads connected the cities• The Quechua language was spoken by all• Schools educated people about their culture
Government Presence• The Incans built
cities in conquered peoples lands using their style of architecture• Reminded conquered people who was in charge•Master stonemasons
• All roads led to Cuzco
Incan Government• Exercised complete control
• Little private commerce
• Society was like the welfare state (socialism), you provide for the state, the state will provide for you.• This kept people loyal
• People were grouped (ayllu). If a group resisted Incan control, they would be moved
• The greatest demand from the government was the mita (labor tribute)• Farmed, built crafts, built public
works
Public Works• Most important was the
road system• 14000 miles of roads/bridges
through the rocky terrain• Could be paved or just a path• Guesthouses could be found
along the path
• Even had a postal service using a system of runners
• Like the Romans, they were very skilled engineers
Record Keeping• Never had a
writing system• Everything was memorized
• For numbers, they used the quipu (knotted strings)• Colors represented topic, knots were the numbers
Religious Practices• Had fewer gods
than the Aztecs, but gods were still based on nature spirits•Most Important: Creator and sun god (the king is his descendant)
Fall of the Empire• Peaked in the early
1500s with Huayna Capac
• Upon his death, the empire was divided among his sons• They fought a civil war not long after that tore the empire apart