People & Civilizations of the Americas 600-1500

Mesoamerican Culture 200-900• Teotihuacan = 150,000

strong city dominated by religious structures

• Growth of the city due to the following factors…– Forced relocation– Agricultural Tech (Floating

Gardens) • Ruled by alliances of

wealthy families• Military used to protect

and expand• Collapsed around 650 C.E.

The Maya• Never formed a unified state / civil war

between competing Mayan City-States• Agricultural productivity increases

– Swamp draining, building elevated fields, irrigation systems

• Religion =– 3 Layers of Cosmos (Heavens,

Humanworld, & Underworld)• Women in Mayan Society

– Participated in rituals but held no power– “Common” women important with

Agricultural & Textile production• Military = Fought for captives not

territory (sacrifice & slavery)• Notable Achievements =

– Mayan Calendar & Writing System– Mathematics

• Declined between 800-900 C.E.

The Aztecs• Originally a Northern, clan-based

people• Founded major cities of Tenochtitlan

& Tlatelolco• Government = Monarchy

– Wealth & Power through territorial conquest

– As empire grew…so did the gap between rich & poor

• Women = – Controlled the household & economic

markets• Chinampas = small, rectangle-shaped

areas of fertile arable land to grow crops on the shallow lake beds

• Trade– Very simple & basic = Barter System

• Religion = Polytheistic– Worshipping the gods required human

sacrifice

Andean Civilizations 600-1500• All shaped by geography• Moche Culture

– Northern coastal Peru 200 C.E.– Political = Structured and

theocratic (society dominated by elites)

– Artisans skilled in metallurgy• Tiwanaku

– Founded in Bolivia after 200 C.E.– Political = Ruled by the hereditary

elite (s)– Construction = Human Powered

• Wari– Near Ayucucho, Peru– Warlike culture / Not as advanced

as Tiwanaku– Declined by 1000 C.E.

The Incas• Started small in Cuzco, but

through military expansion created a large empire

• Controlled empire through local leadership with military garrisons & hostages in Cuzco

• Government = imperial bureaucracy led by a “Proven” King

• Cultural Achievements =– Astronomical observations– Weaving & Metallurgy– Didn’t introduce new technology

but improved existing technology. • Civil War weakened the empire

by 1525 C.E.