Selected
Pre-ColumbianAmerican
Civi l izations
Glory, Ruin, and Loss
Janet Pareja, Signature School, Evansville, Indiana
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
““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
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!
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
Classical Maya Technology, Art, Intellectual
• Tools, Weapons
• Architecture
• Agriculture
• Writing
• Concept of zeroConcept of zero• Calendar
• Murals
• No metallurgy, wheelNo metallurgy, wheel
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