CHAPTER 2: BEFORE THE FIRST GLOBAL AGE

THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS

Section 1

THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS

Geologist believe the first people to come to the Americas, they did so using a land bridge made of glaciers.

Glaciers- Thick sheets of ice Hunters following large animal herds Over a thousand years these groups

spread out over North, Central, and South America

FIRST CIVILIZATION CONT..

The end of the ice age brought new challenges

+Large animals died out +Adapted by hunting smaller animals +Gathering wild berries, nuts, grains, and fish

The people of Central America learned how to farm Corn Squash beans

OLMEC CIVILIZATION

Farming methods improved More food= population growth+ permanent

villages Surplus- extra of something With a surplus cities soon developed Olmecs were the earliest known American

civilization. (low lands of the Gulf of Mexico) Supplied other cities with food Studied stars and created an accurate

calendar

THE MAYAS

Rainforest in Mexico and Guatemala

Farmed corn, squash, beans

Mayan Social Classes

Priests

Nobels Warriors

Farmers Laborers

Slaves

Government Officals

THE MAYAS ADVANCEMENTS

Priest studied sun, moon, and stars in order to know exactly when to honor the many gods that controlled the natural world

From close observations the priests made advancements in astronomy and math Number line that included the concept of zero 365-day calendar Around AD 900 the Mayas abandoned their cities

THE AZTECS

Settled around Lake Texcoco around the beginning of the 1300’s

Built their capital(Tenochtitlan) on island in the middle of the lake.

Causeways connected city to the mainland

Casueway- raised roads made of packed earth

AZTECS

Used many farming techniques Used mud from cannels

to fill in part of the lake Piled mud on to reed

mats that floated on the water. (chinampas)

Trade and conquests made the Aztecs a large and powerful nation

Emperor

Priests Nobels

Warriors

Merchants

Artisans

Farmers

Slaves

THE INCAS

Largest empire in the Americas Stretched 2,500 miles along the west

coast of South America Cuzco capital of the Empire Very organized empire Stretches of many kinds of roads

connected the are nation.

INCAS

To spread messages and a runner would use a quipu. Quipu- a cord or string with knots that stood for quantities

Bags of grain Number of soldiers

Skilled engineers Massive stone temples and forts Terraces for farming

Terraces- wide steps of land.

EARLY CULTURE OF THE AMERICAS As the population of the Incas, Mayan, and Aztecs as well

as other cities grew so did their culture thanks to trade Culture- the entire way of life of a people People of the Southwest

Hohokams:Present day Arizona. Used irrigation ditches to produce corn, squash, and beans in the desert

Anasazis: Four corner region( area where Colorado,Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona met) Farmed like the Hohokams had roads

Anaszis build homes with stone and adobe. The Spanish called them Pueblos

Mound Builders built large mounds for religious ceremonies and were farmers

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES Section 3

CULTURE AREAS OF NORTH AMERICA Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing

Small game Berries&Nuts Fish, Seals, Walrus, and Whales

Farming Corn( improved size of crop) Beans Squash

Trade Traded to get items not found in the Indians own region

Not only were goods traded so were ideas by diffusion

CLIMATE, RECOURSES, AND CULTURE Climate + Natural Recourses=Culture

Animals hunted Crops grown Clothing worn Shelters built

In harsh climates the Indians traveled in small hunting nomadic tribes

CULTURES OF THE FAR NORTH AND PLATEAU REGIONS

Inuits lived in the frozen and icy treeless plain of the Artic region Limited resources: driftwood, seals(oils and skins) Short summers( collected driftwood from the shore, which

were used for shelter and tools Lived in pit homes Oil from seals kept them warm

Utes and Shoshones lived in the cold dry environment of the Plateau region Resources: hardy plants, moutain sheep, rabbits, pine nuts,

and roots Little possessions besides digging sticks, baskets, tools and

weapons

CULTURES OF THE NORTHWEST

Milder climate Abundant food supply: fish, small game, hardy

plants Used forest for houses and canoes Permanent villages Families gained status by how much they owned Held potlatch dinners to show off wealth

Lasted many days Gave away gifts( more given away the more respect it

earned)

CULTURES OF THE SOUTHEAST

Natchez one of many Had a 13 month calendar(named

after food or animal harvested or hunted during that month

Year begain in March( Lunar month)

Deer, Strawberry, Little Corn, Watermelon, Peach, Mulberry, Great Corn, Turkey, Bison, Bear, Cold Meal, Chestnut, Nut

The ruler of the Natchez was known as the Great Sun. Treated as a god.

Marriage laws ensured that membership in each class kept changing.

This ensured that no one family could control the title of Great Sun forever.

Great Sun

Little Suns(Greats suns Family)

Nobles

Honored People

Stinkards/common people

SHARED BELIEFS

RESPECT FOR NATURESPECIAL CEREMONIES

Close bond to plants, animals, and forces of nature

Prayers and ceremonies were to keep balance between people and nature

Believe world was full of unseen forces and spirits that were thought to act and feel like humans

Farming tribes had ceremonies to ensure good rainfall.

Southwest tribes honored the Kachinas spirits hoping to bring a good harvest

Southeast tribes held Green Corn Ceremonies when the corn rippened. Brought an end to one year and the beginning of a new one.

IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY

Eastern Woodlands (present day New York state.) “People of the Long House” 150 ft long and 20 feet wide 12 or more families lived in one house

Woman owned all property of the household and were in charge of planting and harvesting Had political power (chose the clan leader)

Five Nations Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga,Oneida, Cayuga Formed the League of the Iroquois to stop the fighting

between the 5 groups. Sachems( 50 women) made all the decisions for the League

TRADE NETWORKS OF AFRICA AND ASIA

Section 3

THE MUSLIM WORLD

Arab merchants played a large role in the growing trade in the Middle East.

The Middle East became a major crossroads of the world.

Growth of trade also allowed for the growth of Islam.

Muhammad was the founder of Islam. Followers of Islam are called Muslims The Quran is the Sacred book

RISE AND SPREAD OF ISLAM

Muhammad won many followers Muhammad died in 632 After his death Islam spread rapidly

across North Africa, Spain, Persia, and India

Every Muslim was expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

MUSLIM TRADE ROUTES

Muslim merchants traded across vast areas Had expert knowledge of wind and weather in

the Indian Ocean. Muslim also used overland routes using the silk

road that connected the Middle East with China. The Silk Road was dangerous so the merchants

used caravans for safety. Merchants sold porcelain from China, Cloth

from India, ivory from Africa, and spices from Southeat Asia.

AFRICAN TRADING STATES AND CULTURES

Trade allowed for small villages to turn into busy trading centers.

Africa trading states traded gold, hardwoods and ivory to Asia and India.

Wealth from trade helped East African rulers build strong city-states.

Many of these rulers became Muslims African culture blended with Muslim

culture.

AFRICAN TRADING STATES AND CULTURES

The savanna became rich trading kingdoms.

Timbuktu was one of the major trading centers for the kingdom of Mali and Songhai

Just like in East Africa, West Africa also adopted Islam.

VILLAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

Trading center became rich and powerful. Cities on the outside of the kingdoms where

they made a living by herding, fishing, or farming.

Family was very important to the African culture.

Most people lived in extended families (grand parents, parents, children, and some times aunts, uncles and cousins.)

Kinship linked many families together.

CHINESE VOYAGES OF TRADE AND EXPLORATION

China had a central power centered on the Emperor.

Chinese rulers were weary of outsiders and were very isolated.

Chinese believed they were the center of the Earth and sole source of civilization.

1405 Emperor Zheng He was eager to trade.

THE GREAT TREASURE FLEET

Zheng He’s fleet numbered 300. 1405-1433 made 7 voyages to

Southeast Asia, India, Middle East, and East Africa.

Traded ended because Zheng He didn’t think the outside world had nothing to offer China.

What would have happened if China would have taken longer trips and hit the Americas?

TRADITION AND CHANGE IN EUROPE

Section 4

JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS

JEWISH CHRISTIAN

Jews were known as Israelites.

Believed in one God. History and laws are

recorded in the Torah Every Jew must follow the

Ten Commandments and other law without question.

No one was above God Persecuted

Believed in one God Followed Ten

Commandments and teachings of Jesus.

Believed all people were equal and all could achieve salvation.

Persecuted by Roman Empire.

Set up missionaries to spread the word of Jesus across Europe.

GREEK AND ROMAN TRADITIONS

GREEK TRADITION ROMAN TRADITION

Valued Human reason Important contribution to science and

math. Geometry Pioneered idea of atoms Tried to diagnose disease using scientific

method. Lived in small city-states

Some allowed a monarch ruled each city-state

Some developed a direct democracy (Ancient Athens)

Athenian government allowed all people to attend assembly and make laws.

Only free men of parents born in Athens were citizens.

Woman, slaves, and men from other city –states were not citizens

A few smallcity-states became Rome.

Contributions to law and governement

509 BC Rome overthrew their king and set up a republic.

As Rome expanded the republic suffered and military leaders seized power( Julius Ceasar followed my Octavian)

Rome lasted 500 years. Spread its ideas that everyone

was equal before the law.(Innocent until proven guilty)

Set up rules about using evidence in court

MIDDLE AGES A.D. 500-1400 Kings and Queens ruled and divided

land among nobles in a system known as feudalism.

Life revolved around the manor which might include many villages.

Self-sufficient Peasants had a hard life Roman Catholic Church was the

most powerful force. Owned large amount of land Clergy were the only ones who could

read and write. The Crusades changed Europe

Wars fought to by Christians against Muslims to control the Holy Land.

Lasted 200 years Failed to control Holy Land

Trade grew because of the Crusades

Sailing skills imporved Magnetic compass Astrolabe

King/Queen

Powerful Lords

Lesser Nobels

Peasants

RENAISSANCE EXPANDS HORIZONS Increased trade made Europeans eager to learn more about the

outside world. New books began to be produced thanks to new invention by

Johannes Gutenberg called the printing press. Art Medicine Astronomy Chemistry

Renaissance means rebirth . Lasted from 1300-1600 More trade increased wealth and rulers wanted to increase their

power. European rulers began to look for new trade routes to Asia to

avoid Muslim and Italian merchants. Portugal became early leaders. Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the southern

tip of Africa. Found a route to the East Indies and Southeast Asia.