The People of the Americas

CHAPTER 8The Peoples and Civilizations of the Americas

World Civilizations: The Global ExperienceFifth Edition

Stearns/Adas/Schwartz/Gilbert

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

Chapter 8: The Peoples and Civilizations of the Americas

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Origins of American SocietiesII. Spread of Civilization in MesoamericaIII. The Peoples to the North IV. The Andean World



I. Origins of American SocietiesTheory of migration from Asia

via land bridgec. 20,000 B.C.E. - 8000 B.C.E.

Recent evidence, occupation from 40,000 B.C.E.

Skeletons similar to Caucasians, Polynesians, Australasians

A. The Ancient Hunters Early hunters

Spread through Americas by 11,000 B.C.E.Small groupsLittle specialization

B. The Question of Outside ContactsSimilarities with Asian artIsolated development most likely

Creates weaknesses at time of contact with Old World



I. Origins of American Societies

C. The Archaic CulturesBy 9000 B.C.E.

Climate changeShift to hunting smaller

animals, gatheringBaskets, stone tools

Plant cultivationFrom 7000 B.C.E. in PeruWidespread by 5000 B.C.E.Maize, manioc, potatoes

Central MexicoBy 4000 B.C.E.Maize, peppers, squash, beans

Orinoco, Amazon river basinsManioc dominant

Potatoes in highland areas

Civilizations of Central and South America



I. Origins of American Societies

D. Types of American Indian Societies

Mesoamerica and the Peruvian orbit

Intensive agricultureIntervening areas

probably similar

Hunters and gatherers Sedentary peoples

Villages of 100 to 200Gender division of labor

E. Chiefdoms and StatesHereditary chiefdoms

Urban basesSocial hierarchy

e.g. CahokiaUp to 30,000 inhabitants

Civilizations of Central and South America



II. Spread of Civilization in Mesoamerica

Variety of climatesDomestication of maize and other

crops by 5000 Pottery by 2000 B.C.E.

A. The Olmec Mystery Foundation for later civilizations

From about 1200 B.C.E. San Lorenzo, La Venta

StateMaize cultivation, using

irrigationHereditary eliteUrbanismCalendar, writing systems

365-day year

Origins, end unknownMesoamerican Settlements




B. The Classic Era of Mesoamerican Civilization

150-900 C.E.

Valley of Mexico - TeotihuacanCity of up to 200,000Religion centralIntensive agricultureAbandoned by 8th century C.E.

The Classic MayaSouthern Mexico, Central AmericaDozens of city-states

Tikal, Copán, Quiriga, Palenque30,000 to 80,000 inhabitants

CultureMonumental buildingMathematical systems, calendarWritten language

AgricultureIrrigationSwamps drained

Mesoamerican Settlements




B. The Classic Era of Mesoamerican Civilization

The Classic MayaReligion, Writing, and Society

20-based system, used 0Calendar

260-day sacred cycle365-day solar cycle52-year cycleDating from 3114 B.C.E.

Writing systemReligion

Dualistic

RulersReligious and secular authorityCivil service elite

Elite women could hold public positions

Mesoamerican Settlements




C. Classic CollapseDecline between 700 and 900 C.E.Causes?

Agricultural challengesEpidemic diseasePeasant dissatisfaction

Towns abandonedNew groups emerge

Toltecs, from 1000 C.E.Control of American Southwest,

YucatanFall c. 1200 C.E.



III. The Peoples to the North

A. The Mound Builders

Mississippi, Ohio valleysAgriculture by 2000 C.E.Hunting, agriculture by 700 C.E.MoundsFinds: pottery, pipes, jewelryContacts as far as MichiganPossible spread to New York,

Maryland

Hopewell culture, 200-500 C.E.More elaborate moundsTrade to Gulf, Rocky MountainsSpread through Mississippi, 800-

1300 C.E.e.g. Cahoki



III. The Peoples to the North

B. Desert PeoplesAmerican Southwest, by 300 B.C.E.Anasazi

From 700 B.C.E.VillagesRoadsTrade with MesoamericaDrought, pressure from nomads

led to decline



IV. The Andean WorldVariety of ecosystems

A. Early Developments and the Rise of Chavín

Farming villages 3000 and 2000 B.C.E.

Maize, potatoSophisticated poetry from 2700

B.C.E.

1800-1200 B.C.E.

Ceremonial centersLlamas domesticatedIrrigation used

Chavín de HuantarCenter of cultural diffusion

Andean Societies



IV. The Andean World

B. Regional Cultures and a New HorizonChavín's cultural influence declines

by 300 B.C.E.New centers emerge

NazcaKnown for weaving

MochicaBuildersConquests extend territory

By 4th century C.E., two states:Tihuanaco, HuariDecline by 9th century B.C.E.

C. Andean LifewaysKinship unit (ayllu)

Recognize common ancestorMarriage within the kinshipCommon land, herds, water rightsCould join with other kinships for

warfare, etc.Bound together by reciprocal

obligationsSpiritual world similar

Huari and Tiahuanaco

The People of the Americas

Technology

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