Before the First Global Age

Before the First Global AgeChapter 2

America’s First Civilizations—Theories of Arrival

• First bands of hunters reached Americas across a land bridge linking Siberia to eastern Asia to Alaska

• Another theory: by boat• Hunters cross arctic waters and got to North America by sea

• New adaptions—planting crops, built permanent villages, growth in populations

America’s First Civilizations

• Earliest known North American civilization was the Olmecs• Characteristics of a civilization: cities, government, social

classes, religion, system of record keeping• Olmecs lived in Gulf of Mexico

Olmec Picturesleft—jade maskright—colossal head

Colossal Heads & Sports?

• Colossal heads—most recognized aspect of Olmec civilization

• Heads are now thought to be portraits of rulers dressed as ballplayers

• Mesoamerican ballgame• Olmecs possible creators of this game• Dozen rubber balls found in El Manati in 1600 B.C.• First court found in 1400 B.C.—don’t know if balls were to

go with this game

Mesoamerican ballgame

• Similar rules to racquetball—keep the ball in play; score a goal

• Ball made of a mix of latex producing plants—3-6 pounds• Played by other pre-Columbian cultures• Players struck ball with hips, forearms, rackets, bats, hand

stones (depends on rules/culture)• Human sacrifice• Loss could equal death• Decapitation common—speculation that head was then used as

a ball

Mesoamerica ball field

Ball field in Guatemala

Put ball through hole on wall to score?

Depiction of sacrifice


Mayas• Lived in rainforests of modern-day

Guatemala & Mexico• Became great farmers after moving

from rainforests • Social classes—priests, nobles,

farmers• Educational advances• Astronomy/math• Created first 365 day calendar

• Mysteriously abandoned cities around 900 A.D.

Aztecs• Settled around Lake Texcoco

in central Mexico• Built the capital Tenochtitlan• Religion• Worshipped the sun god• Human sacrifice

• Eventually ruled an empire of millions, spanning from Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific

Theory of Mayan Abandonment

• Many theories as to why the Mayans just left are out there, including:• Overpopulation• Environmental disaster• Epidemic disease• Drought • Exhausted agricultural potential/overhunting megafauna

(large animals—white tailed deer, red kangaroos)

Mayans—note craftsmanship…they didn’t have cranes/modern technology to build this stuff

Uxmal Nunnery Quadrangle

North Acropolis in Tikal

Mayan calendar

More on the Aztecs

• Aztec human sacrifice• Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan rededication—sacrificed 84,400 prisoners

over 4 day period (now we think 2,000)• Sometimes cannibalistic

• Primary enemies—the Spanish• Conquest by Hernan Cortes• Had early battles; then became allies with Aztec enemy—confederacy of

Tlaxcala• Arrived at gates of Tenochtitlan in November 1519• Hostilities break out in June 1520• Destroyed temple and killed Montezuma II (Aztec ruler)

• City destroyed by 1521

Colonial population decrease of Aztecs & others

• 1520-1521• Outbreak of smallpox hits Tenochtitlan• 10-50% of population died from smallpox• Ultimate fall of city

• Two more epidemics hit Mexico • Smallpox again 1545-1548• Typhus 1576-1581

• Over 60 years, the population in the Valley of Mexico

declined by more than 80% because of Spanish conquest

Aztec pyramid at St. Cecilia Acatitlan

Aztec feather headdress

Aztec sacrifice as shown in Codex Magliabechiano (basically a textbook)…Spain had many of these codices published after voyages

Map of Aztec empire in 1519

Hernan Cortes/Cortes w/ Montezuma (famous emperor)

Cortes


• Incas• Capital was Cuzco; empire stretched over west coast of S.

America• Center of Cuzco included the emperor’s palace, called Sapa

Inca (title given to emperor—like President Obama)• Emperor used governors to rule over vast lands• Incas=engineers• Built forts and temples (could move 200 ton rocks with

manpower and ropes!)• Created terraces in mountainsides for farming

Incan empire

Cuzco

Incan Claim to Fame

• Machu Picchu• 50 miles northwest of Cuzco• Built as an estate for Pachacuti (ruled from 1438-1472)• Started building around 1400 for the Incan rulers• Unknown by Spanish—therefore, very intact ancient and

highly significant cultural site• Has been reconstructed to modernize it

Machu Picchu—1911 @ time of discovery

• Statue of Pachacuti in Peru—manfor whom Machu Picchu was built

Terracesgraduated steps used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrainIncan empire was focused in western South America, near Andes Mountains

Sacsayhuaman—Incan fortress


• Mayan and Aztec cultures had an effect on early North American cultures• A culture is a way of life of a group of people

• Hohokams and Anasazis were two groups that emerged• Anasazi built houses that formed pueblos (villages)

Anasazi settlementMesaverde Cliff Palace in Colorado

• Pictures of villages

Pueblo Bonitol in Chaco Canyon (New Mexico)

Native American Cultures


• Columbus thought he landed in the Americas in 1492…not even close!• Called the people living there

“Indians”…thought he was near East Indies (Asia)• Indian term is misleading—hundred

of tribes; all different

Christopher Columbus Bio

• Not the guy we all think he is…• Very selfish…went on

voyages for riches and glory

• His initial exploration brought over many diseases…responsible for deaths of many as an direct result of that


• Culture Areas of North America• Each area had different tribes, ranging

from coast to coast• Nat. Americans met basic needs by

hunting, fishing, farming, and trading between tribes


Far North and Plateau Regions• Far North• Icy and cold climate

(Canada/Alaska)• Popular tribes—Inuits, Nez

Perces• Nomads—roamers

• Plateau region• Cold and dry climate• Popular tribe—Utes

Northwest Region• Better climate=more

complex culture• Those in Pacific

Northwest built permanent villages

• Had good harvests; able to fish


• Southeast Region• Cherokee

(right)/Natchez were renown tribes

• Warm climate; hunted, fished, farmed along Gulf Coast


• Had many shared beliefs, including:• Respect for nature• Believed in the power of spirits and

mother nature• Special ceremonies•Held ceremonies to ensure good

rainfalls (for harvesting)

Ceremonial Pictures

• Green Corn Ceremony • Kachina doll—given to children as teaching tool


• Iroquois Confederacy• Group in Eastern Woodlands region (New York)• Lived in long houses• Women harvested and planted, men moved in with wife’s

family; also held some political power by choosing clan leaders

• Iroquois had five nations: Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga

• Five nations joined forces in 1570 forming the League of the Iroquois


Pictures of Iroquois

Long house—up to 150 feet w/ 12 families

Trade Networks of Africa and Asia


• First global age began when people started trading goods and services from distant places

• Arab merchants played huge role in growing trade• Spread their religion=Islam (through trade and conquest)• Silk Road—known for Chinese silks• Trade routes traveled by Muslims • Linked China and the Middle East


• African Trading States• East African trade• Gold in Zimbabwe carried to China/India• $$$ from gold allowed East African rulers to build city-states• Large town that has a govt. and controls surrounding countryside

• West Africa—Timbuktu (major trading city)


• African life was different across the continent• Most people did not partake in trading• Lived in small villages with extended families• Religious beliefs varied• Still a lot like this today

• Chinese Voyages of Trade and Exploration• Emperor suspicious of outsiders (no trust)• The Great Treasure Fleet—1402• Emperor orders ships to leave China and go on voyages to expand

business• Returned with goods/animals

Zheng He—voyage leader of Great Treasure Fleet

Zheng He voyages

Tradition and Change in Europe


• European ships sailed to explore the world in the 1400s• Brought traditions that affected the world• Christianity and Judaism• Judaism—Israelites believed in one God and wanted to obey

his laws• Christianity believes Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to

save all people• Belief in 10 commandments and some Jewish laws


Greek government• Greece enters golden age

around 500 B.C.• Lived in small city-states,

ruled by monarchs• Created first direct

democracy• Ordinary citizens have power to

rule• People think/act for themselves

Roman government and law• Absorbed ideas from places

conquered, including Greece • Overthrew king in 509 B.C.

and formed a republic• Citizens choose representatives

to rule for them• Faced opposition from Julius

Caesar and Octavian• Empire lasted 500 years

BOTH FORMS OF GOVERNMENT WOULD SHAPE AMERICAN HISTORY

Julius Caesar

• Dictator for life• Political reforms• Relieved debt• Increased Senate size to

help with representation• Ides of March• Concern over gaining too

much power by others• Assassinated on March 15th • Was to present himself to

the Senate, but killed by friends

• Organized by Brutus and Cassius

• Pic of Caesar

Greek ruins (Parthenon—upper right)

Map of Roman Empire


• The Middle Ages• Period from 500-1400 A.D.

• Feudalism• Form of government where kings and queens divided land

among lords• Social rankings• Lords• Nobles• Peasants/serfs


• Daily life in feudal society• Revolved around the manor• Included lord’s castle and surrounding lands• Included multiple villages

• Manors=self-sufficient• Roman Catholic Church• Powerful force—influenced nearly everything• Owned tons of land• Source of education (clergy often only could read/write)

Feudal Cycle

Manor Layout


• The Crusades• Series of wars fought by

Christians (vs. Muslims)• Fought over the Holy Land

(Jerusalem)• Multiple wars lasting over

200 years (1100-1300 A.D.)• Christians won small

victories, but not control of Holy Land

• Results of the Crusades• Growth of trade• New navigational

knowledge• Europe acquires sailing

skills & magnetic compass

• Astrolabe—helped sailors determine latitude at sea

Map of Holy Land (green)

Crusaders (red cross)

Crusades Map


• Renaissance (French word for “rebirth”)—late 1300s-1600s• Rebirth in literature, art, education, etc…

• Credited as being the bridge between Middle Ages and the modern era

• Word about discoveries quickly spread with invention of the printing press• Johannes Gutenberg

Gutenberg/Printing Press

What led to the Renaissance?

•A newly discovered vigor for life•Questioning of the Church•Change from the medieval way of

thinking, and a want for classical ideas

Origins and Why it Prospered

• Began in 1300 in Northern Italy• Eventually spread to northern Europe

• Reasons it prospered• Thriving cities• Wealthy merchant class• Important classical heritage

Secularism vs. Medieval Life

Secularism (worldly values)• Renaissance life was

more…• Materialistic• Self-indulgent• Concerned with the

present• Luxurious

Medieval Life (classical values)

• Medieval Life was more…• Religion based• Church had a lot of

power• Conservative lifestyle• Afterlife was of the

utmost importance

Art

• Renaissance brings along revolutionary changes in art

• Two key figures:• Leonardo da Vinci• Michelangelo Buonarotti

• Perspective style comes back (from one main point)

Perspective

Leonardo da Vinci

• Famous Renaissance painter and inventor

• One of his most famous works was the Mona Lisa

• Inventions• First “flying machine”

(helicopter)• Hydraulic pumps• Finned mortar shells• Steam cannon

Mona Lisa/Flying Machines

Michelangelo Buonarroti

• Renaissance architect, artist, and sculptor

• Architecture• St. Peter’s Basilica

• Artist• Sistine Chapel

• Sculptor• Statue of David

St. Peter’s Basilica

Sistine Chapel (ceiling)

Statue of David

Portuguese Voyages

• Portuguese voyages• Henry the Navigator—trained sailors; invented caravel—

triangular sails/steering rudder—could be sailed into wind• Stopped along coast of West Africa—found riches of gold,

ivory, and slaves• Vasco de Gama• Rounded the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)—not the first

to do it• Ends up in East Indies

Caravel

Henry the Navigator

de Gama’s route

Cape of Good Hope

Documents

Before the First Global Age