Chapter 6. Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania. 2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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1 Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania 1

2 Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B.C.E C.E. 2

3 Origins of Mesoamerican Societies Migration across Bering land bridge? Probably 13,000 B.C.E., perhaps earlier By sea from Asia? By 9500 B.C.E. reached southernmost part of South America Hunter/gatherer societies Evolve into agricultural societies 3

4 Olmecs B.C.E. The rubber people Ceremonial centers San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes Olmec heads Up to 10 ft. tall, 20 tons Transported by dragging, rolling on logs 1000 workers per head 4

5 Agriculture and Herding Staple: maize Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs Both food No draft animals No development of wheeled vehicles 5

6 Olmec Society Probably authoritarian in nature Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems 6

7 Mysterious Decline of Olmecs Ceremonial centers destroyed No evidence of warfare Revolution? Civil war? 7

8 Maya Huge cities discovered in nineteenth century 300 B.C.E.-900 C.E. Terrace farming Maize Cotton Cacao beans Chocolate Currency Major ceremonial center at Tikal 8

9 Maya Warfare Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers Ritual sacrifice of enemies Enslavement Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá begins to absorb captives Some nevertheless choose death Center of empire develops 9

10 Maya Ritual Calendar Complex math Invention of zero Calendar of days (17 seconds off) Solar calendar of 365 days Ritual calendar of 260 days Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture 10

11 Maya Language and Religion Ideographs and a syllable alphabet Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors Deciphering work began in 1960s Popol Vuh: Maya creation myth Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices Bloodletting rituals Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow 11

12 The Maya Ball Game Ritual game High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants Execution of losers immediately follows the match Bloodletting ritual for the gods 12

13 City of Teotihuacan Highlands of Mexico Lakes in area of high elevation Village of Teotihuacan, 500 B.C.E., expands to large agricultural city Important ceremonial center Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas Begins to decline ca. 650 C.E., sacked in middle of eighth century, burned city 13

14 Andean Societies Migration into South America ca. 12,000 B.C.E. Climate improves ca B.C.E. Largely independent from Mesoamerica Highly individualized due to geography 14

15 Chavín Cult New religion in central Andes, B.C.E. Little known about particulars of religion Intricate stone carvings Cult may have arisen when maize became an important crop During this era Andean society became increasingly complex 15

16 The Mochica State Valley of the Moche River Dominated northern Peru, C.E. Painting survives One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire 16

17 Early Societies of Oceania, 1500 B.C.E C.E. 17

18 Oceania Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration Outrigger canoes for open-sea travel Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia Early agriculture in New Guinea 18

19 Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe 19

20 Lapita Peoples Found throughout Pacific islands Agriculture, animal herding Political organization based on chiefdoms Trade over open ocean declines 500 B.C.E. Greater independence of settlements 20

The Mesoamerican cultures (1200BC- AD 1519)

The Mesoamerican cultures (1200BC- AD 1519) Central America before the arrival of Europeans Click for Video There were many different cultures between 1200BC and AD 1519, but they share some important