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MESOAMERICA
Early Mesoamerican societies 1200 BCE – 1100 CE
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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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• Staple: maize • Probably authoritarian
in nature • Large class of
conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites
• Ceremonial centers destroyed
• No evidence of warfare
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Maya • Huge cities discovered in 19th c. • 300 BCE-900 CE • 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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Mayan 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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Mayan Language and Religion
• Ideographs and a syllable-alphabet – Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors – Deciphering work began in 1960s
• Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth • Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for
honors and sacrifices • Bloodletting rituals – Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers,
piercing to allow blood flow
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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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• h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0kOyGZxKh4
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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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City of Teotihuacan