Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania 1©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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

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

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Olmecs 1200-100 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

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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 nineteenth century

300 B.C.E.-900 C.E. Terrace farming

Maize Cotton

Cacao beans 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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Maya Ritual Calendar

Complex math Invention of “zero”

Calendar of 365.242 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

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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

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Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices

Bloodletting rituals Human sacrifices follow

after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow

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

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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

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Andean Societies

Migration into South America ca. 12,000 B.C.E.

Climate improves ca. 8000 B.C.E.

Largely independent from Mesoamerica

Highly individualized due to geography

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Chavín Cult

New religion in central Andes, 900-300 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

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The Mochica State

Valley of the Moche River Dominated northern Peru, 300-700 C.E. Painting survives 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 B.C.E.

Greater independence of settlements

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Quiz1) From where do archeologists think the

inhabitants of Mesoamerica came?

2) Give two pieces of evidence that the Olmec were a “civilized” people?

3) Use your textbook to flesh out the explanation for the decline of the Olmec.

4) Give two examples of the Maya as a violent people.

5) What examples show Mayan achievements in math and science?

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Quiz6) What possible explanations are given for the

decline of the Maya?

7) What made the Andean civilizations independent of other Mesoamerican peoples?

8) What may have led to the establishment of the Chavin Cult?

9) Explain how people came to inhabit Oceania.

10) What was one result of declining trade on the Lapita people?

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