Transcript pre-columbian 6

By: Ms. Susan M. Pojer
Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Early Human Migrations
The Olmecs
• Food was cultivated from 8000 b.c.e
• Many root vegetables and maize ( corn)
• Ample rainfall along Gulf coast allowed Olmecs to
flourish from 1200 b.c.e to 400 b.c.e
• No irrigation necessary… not founded along a river
• Temples, alters abound
• Traded with neighboring tribes
• Rulers worshipped, immortalized with giant stone ( head)
carvings
• Diversified class strata… women were not equal
• Animist beliefs… jaguar had great significance-
•
Olmecs Head Carvings
Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations
The Mayans ( 300 c.e. – 900 c.e.)
• Large kingdom that encompassed parts of Mexico(
Yucatan), Guatemala( Tikal), and Honduras
• Permanent settlements emerged mostly in lowlands and
jungles…many ceremonial centers in their capital
• Pyramid structures center of religious life …human
sacrifices occurred – large priestly class –
• Advanced skills in math, astronomy – complex script was
one of only early five worldwide
• Great emphasis on athletic prowess– soccer-like ball
game played with great fanfare – losers often killed
Lands of the Mayans
The Yucatan
Peninsula
Chichen-Itza - Ball Court
Mayan Underground Granaries:
Chultunes
Overview of Tikal (Guatemala)
Temple of the Masks
Mayan Glyphs
sky
king
house
Mayan
Mathematics
child
city
Pakal: The Maya Astronaut
Quetzalcoatl:
The God of Wisdom & Learning
Chichen-Itza - Observatory
Mighty Empire in Central Mexico
• Vanquished the Toltec people, also turned other
neighbors into tributary states
• Capital of Tenochtitlan was dedicated to
the god Quetzalcoatl
• Spaniard Cortes destroys Montezuma’s
rule in 1520’s – disease kills multitudes
Lands of the Aztecs
Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the
Americas
Aztec Sun Stone -- Calendar
The Aztecs
Were
Fierce Warriors
Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes
to the Sun God
Heart Sacrifice
on an Aztec Temple Pyramid
Lands of the Incas
Machu Picchu
Andean Cultures
• Adapted to harsh landscape–perfected terraced farming- lived on tubers and fish
• Ruling elite ( Incas) ruled over vast region and halfmillion subjects
• Cotton crop allowed intricate textiles
• Religious cult ( Chavin) flourished. based on corn staple
• Overwhelmed by small Spanish force led by Pizarro in
1530’s
Machu Picchu
Incan Terrace Farming
Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes
Cultivated
by the Incans
The Quipu: An Incan Database
Inca Gold & Silver
Societies of Oceania
• Humans migrated to the islands of the South Pacific
• The large islands of Australia and New Guinea saw
different adaptation– those on Aus. Hunted and
gathered– by 3,000 b.c.e,tribes on new guinea grew
tubers and raised pigs and chickens
• These Lapita peoples would sail-on and establish
communities as far as Hawaii… this sometimes involved
sailing a thousand miles !
• All these societies would be greatly affected by contact
with Europeans