Chapter 6

Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania

Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B.C.E.-1100 C.E.

Olmecs

1200-100 B.C.E. The “rubber people” Ceremonial centers dating from 2000 B.C.E.

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

Agriculture and Herding

Staple: maize Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs

Both food No draft animals

No development of wheeled vehicles

Mysterious Decline of Olmecs

Ceremonial centers destroyed No evidence of warfare Revolution? Civil war?

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

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

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 52 year cycle Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture

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 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

City of Teotihuacan

Area of present Mexico City 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

Andean Societies

Largely independent from Mesoamerica

Highly individualized due to geography

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

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

The Mochica State