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Chapter 6
Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania
1©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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?
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21
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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