Transcript MESOAMERICA
Chapter 6
Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania
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Early Mesoamerican societies, 1200
B.C.E.-1100 C.E.
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Origins of Mesoamerican Societies
Migration across Bering land bridge?
Probably 13,000 BCE, perhaps earlier
By sea from Asia?
By 9500 BCE reached southernmost part of South
America
Hunter/Gatherer societies
evolve into agricultural societies
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Olmecs
1200-100 BCE
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
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Agriculture and Herding
Staple: maize
Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs
Both food
No draft animals
No development of wheeled vehicles
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Olmec Society
Probably authoritarian in nature
Large class of conscripted laborers to construct
ceremonial sites
Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage
systems
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Mysterious Decline of Olmecs
Ceremonial centers destroyed
No evidence of warfare
Revolution?
Civil war?
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Maya
huge cities discovered in 19th c.
300 BCE-900 CE
Terrace Farming
Cacao beans
hot chocolate
Currency
Major ceremonial center at Tikal
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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
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Mayan Ritual Calendar
Complex math
Calendar of 365.242 days (17 seconds off)
Invention of “Zero”
Solar calendar of 365 days
Ritual calendar of 260 days
Management of calendar lends authority to
priesthood
Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture
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Mayan Language and Religion
Ideographs and a syllable-alphabet
Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors
Deciphering work begins in 1960s
Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth
Importance of bloodletting rituals
Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers,
piercing to allow blood flow
Self-mutilation of penises, earlobes
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The Maya Ball Game
Ritual form of ball game
High-ranking captives, prisoners of war
contestants
Execution of losers immediately follows the
match
Bloodletting ritual for the gods
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City of Teotihuacan
Highlands of Mexico
Lakes in area of high elevation
Village of Teotihuacan, 500 BCE, expands to
become massive city
Important ceremonial center
Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding
areas
Begins to decline c. 650 CE, sacked in middle of
8th century, massive library destroyed
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Andean Societies
Migration into South
America c. 12000 BCE
Climate improves c. 8000
BCE
Largely independent from
Mesoamerica
Highly individualized due
to geography
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Chavin Cult
New religion in central Andes, 900-300 BCE
South America, contemporary Peru
Little known about particulars of religion
Intricate stone carvings
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The Mochica State
Valley of the Moche River
Dominated northern Peru, 300-700 CE
Painting survies
One of many states in region, none able to
consolidate into empire
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Early societies of Oceania, 1500
B.C.E.-700 C.E.
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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
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Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe
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Lapita Peoples
Found throughout Pacific Islands
Agriculture, animal herding
Political organization based on chiefdoms
Trade over open ocean declines 500 BCE
Greater independence of settlements
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