Selected

Pre-ColumbianAmerican

Civi l izations

Glory, Ruin, and Loss

Janet Pareja, Signature School, Evansville, Indiana

North American

HopewellHopewellExchangeExchangeSystemSystem

Long Long Distance Distance TradeTrade

Mississippians: Mound BuildersMississippians: Mound Builders

1. Cahokia: 600 – 1400 CE1. Cahokia: 600 – 1400 CE

Mississippian CultureMississippian Culture•Height: 1200 CE•No written records survive •Strategic location for

trade & manufacture

– Decorative copper – Iron tools (hoes)– Pottery

•Largest settlement north of Mesoamerica

6,000-40,000 population

Traits of Mississippian Culture• CitiesCities: Chiefdoms: Chiefdoms

– Centralized Rule or just Trade

Centers

– Earthwork MoundsMounds – buildings atop

• Economy

– MaizeMaize-based agriculture

– Widespread trade networkstrade networks• Rocky Mts., Great Lakes, Gulf

of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean

• Social inequalitySocial inequality

Man-made Mounds Early Religious / Political Centers?

Fortresses?

““Chunkey”Chunkey”• Huge 47 acre arenas?

• Roll a disc-shaped stone; try to place the spear as close to the stopped stone as possible.

• Gambling?

2. Central & South America2. Central & South America

• OlmecOlmec – Mesoamerica

• 1400 BCE- 400 BCE• ““Rubber People”Rubber People”

• Norte ChicoNorte Chico– Andes Mountains

• 3000 – 1800 BCE

AgricultureAgriculture

• Slash & Burn• Beans, chilis,

avocados, gourds, tomatoes

•Maize!!Maize!!• No evidence of

irrigation.

• No large animals No large animals to domesticateto domesticate

• Dogs, Turkey, Guinea Pigs…

Regional TradeRegional Trade

• Artifacts of jade, obsidian, and jade, obsidian, and magnetite magnetite came from distant locations – for animal skins?

LUXURIES!LUXURIES!• Suggests access to extensive

trading networktrading network: 150 – 250 miles range.

• No evidence of complete writing system… but they started…

• CalendarCalendar later societies copied & perfected

ShamanismShamanism– Shaman was able to assume

powers of certain animals

•Nahuales – spirit guides

– Combining spirituality & intellect of man, w/ ferocity & strength of jaguar

•Birth of mankind/gods from Birth of mankind/gods from undergroundunderground

•10+ distinct gods, including corn god•Corn God •Tree of Life

Olmec Art Olmec Art 17 Monolithic 17 Monolithic Basalt HeadsBasalt Heads

Decorative Objects:

•Jade, Obsidian, Magnetite

•NO NO METALLURGYMETALLURGY•Masks, knives, figures, jewelry

“Olmec Ball Game”Olmec Ball Game”

Balls have been found dating to 1600 BCE

Olmec MathOlmec Math

• Long Count Calendar

(starts on Sept. 3, 32 BCE)

• Concept of Zero

• Base 20

DisappearedDisappeared “MysteriouslyMysteriously”

Systematically destroyed their own ceremonial centers at San Lorenzo & La Venta?

•Deserted the sites.

•Broken and buried

statues.

3. 3. Norte Chico/ Caral-SupeNorte Chico/ Caral-Supe

• 3000 – 1800 BCE – Same time as Egypt and Sumer

were developing– 2000 years before Olmec- why?

• Central Coast of PeruCentral Coast of Peru• Ruth Shady, 1997, Peruvian

Archaeologist

Norte ChicoNorte Chico

• Cities- Small• Some economic specialization

Agriculture: CottonAgriculture: Cotton• Squash, beans, guava grown by inland people in irrigated

river valleys

Trade: Trade: • Sardines & Anchovies from coastal

people for Fishing Nets made of cotton

• No pottery, no writing…

QuipuQuipu• Few sculptures, carvings…Flutes!

4. Maya4. Maya

Change… or Continuity? Change… or Continuity? • Writing

• Calendar from Olmec

• Monolithic Architecture

• Bloodletting

• The Ball Game

• Kingly lines tied to

Jaguar loreProfessional Mayan Scribe Class

Priestly ClassPriestly Class

• Rituals, ceremonies

• Math, Astronomy

• Calendar– Ritual Year– Solar Year– Alignment =

Possible Catastrophe

Monolithic Monolithic Architecture Architecture

• Temples• Palaces• Observatories• City Centers

Chichen ItzaChichen Itza

Lady XocLady XocShield JaguarShield Jaguar

Maya Class System

Classical Maya Technology, Art, Intellectual

• Tools, Weapons

• Architecture

• Agriculture

• Writing

• Concept of zeroConcept of zero• Calendar

• Murals

• No metallurgy, wheelNo metallurgy, wheel

Maya ArtMaya Art

Murals!!Murals!!

Agricultural Economy, Regional Trade

• CORN (maize)CORN (maize)

• Beans

• Squash

• Chili Peppers

• Fruit

• Sweet Potatoes

• COTTONCOTTON

Sea & LandSea & Land

Trade:Trade:•Jade•Salt•Cacao•Obsidian•Cotton•Feathers•Basalt•Ceramics•Tools•Animal Skins•Honey

South AmericaSouth America

Chavin – 700 BCE

Tihuanaco – 1000 BCE;

500 CE

Moche / Mochica – 100 – 800 CE

Paracas & Nasca – 100-800 CE

Huari - 500-700 CE

5. Chavin5. Chavin

1200 BCE : Began

900 – 200 BCE: Height900 – 200 BCE: HeightMosna & Huachesna Rivers

Chavin de HuantarAndean Highlands North of Lima

7. Tihuanaco7. Tihuanaco• 300-1000 CE flourish• Large courts, palaces• Huge blocks of stone • Altiplano of Bolivia

along shores of Lake Titicaca.

• Urban; Stratified Social Hierarchy

• Militarism• Forced to join Inca

Federation

HUARI

Tihuanaco