Innovation SitesCultural Hearths…that are not river valley sites

River Valley TheoryRiver Valley Theory

Early CivilizationsEarly Civilizations

Americas

AmericasAmericasPhysical Map Physical Map

MesoamericaMesoamerica

Early People of MesoamericaEarly People of MesoamericaHow do these dates compare?How do these dates compare?

80008000BCEBCE-7000-7000BCEBCE earliest farming earliest farming Beans, chili peppers, avocados, squash, gourdsBeans, chili peppers, avocados, squash, gourds

40004000BCEBCE - - Maize

30003000BCEBCE agricultural villages agricultural villages Domesticated animals included: turkeys, dogs – no Domesticated animals included: turkeys, dogs – no

draft animals, thus no wheeled vehiclesdraft animals, thus no wheeled vehicles

20002000BCE BCE

elaborate ceremonial centers (pyramids, temples, elaborate ceremonial centers (pyramids, temples, palaces)palaces)

Early Societies South AmericaEarly Societies South America12,000BCE12,000BCE : :hunters and gatherers into South hunters and gatherers into South

America (deer, llama, alpaca)America (deer, llama, alpaca) Mountainous and coastal regionsMountainous and coastal regions Cool, moist climate provided Cool, moist climate provided natural harvestsnatural harvests

(squash, gourds, potatoes)(squash, gourds, potatoes)8,000BCE8,000BCE changing climate led to agriculture, changing climate led to agriculture, 2500BCE – 2000BCE2500BCE – 2000BCE first permanent first permanent

settlements along coastsettlements along coastCultivated beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, cottonCultivated beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, cottonLater settlements in the highlandsLater settlements in the highlands

1000BCE1000BCE some evidence of complex societies some evidence of complex societies

Important Geography Notes Climate: mirror image Sub Saharan Development is different

than Mediterranean Coast Limited Natural Harbors River travel is difficult: cataracts,

reversing and underground currents Uneven distribution of resources Soils for farming only adequate in

certain areas

Who were the earliest, innovative people of Mesoamerica and ofSouth America?

Is Gordon Childe’s 10 point model supported by their beginnings?

Was there an innovative site of civilization?

What does the evidence suggest?

Are they too, a study in the 10 point model?

Uncovering the mysterious beginnings of Mesoamerica, South America and Sub-Saharan Africa

3500 BCE – 600BCE…

What did we discover?

What locations deserve the designation InnovativeInnovative?

AMERICAS

Mesoamerican LegacyMesoamerican Legacy

How do the archeological remains support How do the archeological remains support our understanding (and justification) of our understanding (and justification) of the Mesoamerican innovative site?the Mesoamerican innovative site?

Which group is the innovative people?Which group is the innovative people? How would you organize the details into a How would you organize the details into a

coherent understanding of historical coherent understanding of historical development for the area? development for the area?

Does the evidence pose problems for Does the evidence pose problems for Child’s 10 point model?Child’s 10 point model?

MESOAMERICA

OlmecOlmecssLowland Coast of the Gulf of Mexico Lowland Coast of the Gulf of Mexico

Abundant rainfall – Abundant rainfall – no need for extensive irrigation, no need for extensive irrigation, but but elaborate drainage- chinampas, pot irrigationelaborate drainage- chinampas, pot irrigation Slash and burnSlash and burn

Elaborate temples, pyramids, stone sculptures, Elaborate temples, pyramids, stone sculptures, jade animal impressions, tombsjade animal impressions, tombs

Probably Probably authoritarianauthoritarian Military Force – local chiefsMilitary Force – local chiefs Elite classes in ceremonial center - citiesElite classes in ceremonial center - cities

Impact of Impact of OlmecsOlmecs

After 400BCE?After 400BCE?No written records beyond calendar No written records beyond calendar

inscriptionsinscriptions

Olmec traditions diffused Olmec traditions diffused (possibly through trade)…(possibly through trade)…Rituals, pyramids, calendarRituals, pyramids, calendar

Heirs to the Olmecs…Heirs to the Olmecs…

Development of Development of TeotihuacanTeotihuacan500 500 BCEBCE Valley of MexicoValley of MexicoLakes Lakes

abundant supplies of fish, waterfowl as well as fresh water and opportunities for transportation

Water channeled into fields for agriculture

Thriving metropolisThriving metropolis: Very Urban: Very Urban temples, residential neighborhoods, busy markets,

workshops

Little written records – Little written records – paintings & muralsPOSSIBLE Theocracy- POSSIBLE Theocracy- pyramidspyramids

MESOAMERICA

Teotihuacan SocietyTeotihuacan Society CLASSES: CLASSES: Priests, artisans, merchants, cultivators

TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT: TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT: Obsidian tools, orange pottery

TRADE: TRADE: Extensive networks throughout region – possible colonial arrangements Little evidence of military or conquestLittle evidence of military or conquest

Olmec cultural foundations: Olmec cultural foundations: writing, calendar, sacrifices

Decline after 650Decline after 650CE – CE – purposefully burned

MESOAMERICA

Development of the MayaDevelopment of the Maya20002000bce bce earliest evidence300300BCEBCE Highlands of GuatemalaHighlands of Guatemala– fertile – fertile

soilsoil300 – 900 300 – 900 CECE Mesoamerican lowlandsMesoamerican lowlands

Terrace farmingTerrace farming trapped silt from rivers trapped silt from rivers

Genuine cities developed into Genuine cities developed into City state City state systemsystem (Tikal and Chichen Itza) (Tikal and Chichen Itza)

80 large ceremonial centers80 large ceremonial centersContinuous fighting -Human sacrificesContinuous fighting -Human sacrifices

Chichen Itza (900-1000Chichen Itza (900-1000CECE) loosely ) loosely organized empireorganized empire

MESOAMERICA

Maya Society & ReligionMaya Society & Religion Social Classes Social Classes (Large priestly class, Hereditary

landowning noble class, Merchant class from nobles and ruling elite, Architects, artisans, peasant, slaves)

INNOVATIONS/TRADITIONSINNOVATIONS/TRADITIONSMathematical knowledge (concept of

zero)Astronomy solar year -365.242Maya scribes – hieroglyphics (history,

poetry, myth, administration, astronomical records) only 4 remain

Creation story Popol Vuh

MESOAMERICA

Contact with Mesoamerica?Contact with Mesoamerica?South developed largely independentlySouth developed largely independently

Geography discouraged contact Communication within Andean region difficult

Several Several agricultural productsagricultural products and and technologiestechnologies diffused slowly:diffused slowly: Maize and squash to South America Gold, silver, copper metallurgy to Mesoamerica

ANDEAN ANDEAN REGIONREGION

South America:South America: Andean Region Andean Region

Who is the innovative site?How, and why did they develop

in this mountainous region?What major development center

to our understanding contradicts the 10 point model?

SIPAN, Moche CultureSIPAN, Moche Culture

19871987

Chavin CultChavin Cult Development of agriculture & ceremonial Development of agriculture & ceremonial

centers – 2000centers – 2000BCE BCE in dry coastal regions

Large populations served as stimulus for Large populations served as stimulus for emergence of fertility cultemergence of fertility cult Temple complexes, elaborate works of art Intricate stone carvings (jaguars, hawks, eagles,

snakes) Weavers, metal craftsmenWeavers, metal craftsmen

Increasing complexity – 200BCE large cities Increasing complexity – 200BCE large cities (public buildings, extensive residential districts)

ANDEAN REGION

Mochica StateMochica StateValleys of Western Andes Valleys of Western Andes

Complex society with considerable Complex society with considerable specialization of labor (300 – 700 CE)specialization of labor (300 – 700 CE)

No writing system – evidence through artNo writing system – evidence through art

Regional kingdomRegional kingdom created through force created through force Integrated economic zones (highlands, central

valley and coastal regions) Vertical tradeHighlands (potatoes, llama meat, alpaca wool)Central valley (maize, bean, squash)Coasts (fish, cotton)

ANDEAN REGION

ANDEAN REGION

Was there a civilization that Was there a civilization that developed independently?developed independently?

How should we define How should we define urban? urban?

Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa

EAST AFRICA

Kingdom of Kush

In NubiaCapital at Meroe1700BCE- 500

Kingdom of Aksum

4th cent BCE

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICASUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

KushAksum

Great ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe ““Sacred house”Sacred house” Peak - late 11th Century Peak - late 11th Century (DISC. 19(DISC. 19THTH c) c)

Questions surrounding ability to Questions surrounding ability to sustain sizeable population? (Trade)sustain sizeable population? (Trade)

East African ConnectionsEast African Connections

AFRICAAFRICA

Later development significantly influenced by Trans-Saharan Trade and camel caravans

NokNok culture, city at culture, city at IfeIfe, , YorubaYoruba PeoplePeople

Sahel RegionSahel Region 1000 1000 BCEBCE

Strong cultural Strong cultural traditiontradition

Mythological cities?Mythological cities?

AFRICA

Jenne-Jenne-JenoJeno

Earliest settlement Earliest settlement 33rdrd Century Century BCEBCE

Great interior floodplain of the Middle Niger,Great interior floodplain of the Middle Niger, rich alluvial soil rich alluvial soil well-suited to the cultivation of ricewell-suited to the cultivation of rice

worked iron, fashioning the metal into both jewelry worked iron, fashioning the metal into both jewelry and tools and tools

By 450 By 450 CECE, over 60 acres , over 60 acres Central inhabited area surrounded by a city wallCentral inhabited area surrounded by a city wall 40 smaller additional settlements40 smaller additional settlements 13,000 inhabitants 13,000 inhabitants

The archaeology of Jenne- jeno and the surrounding The archaeology of Jenne- jeno and the surrounding area show an early, indigenous growth of trade and area show an early, indigenous growth of trade and social complexity.social complexity. (Yet, lack of a state?)

Why is this significant in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa ?

Predates Mediterranean and European outside influences!

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/ca/books/bkf3/imaps/AC_06_206_bantu/AC_06_206_bantu.html

Migrations

Language Group1000BCE – 1000CEOut of Central West Africa -to- South and East

Diffusion of ideas, resources throughout AfricaIron MetallurgyAgricultural Knowledge

Plantains, yams, bananas

Bantu Migrations’ Bantu Migrations’ SignificanceSignificance… … to the modern to the modern eraera

The Bantu - 2/3 of Africa's population, (south and east)

language group not a distinct ethnic group.

The most widely spoken Bantu-derived language is Swahili, which is used by up to 50 million speakers on the eastern coast of Africa.