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Ancient American Civilizations

by

Eric V. Evangelista

submitted to Prof. Yuzon HUMANITIES 19

Introduction

Early human migration to the Americas began when land bridges connected Asia and North America via the Bering Strait. Since the ancient landscape permitted such migration many of the early humans spread across the continent towards what is now Central America and South America. Three major areas where the seat of early American civilizations were located in Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. The most recent discoveries early settlements in North America of the Anasazi people has given tremendous information on early settlers of that region that have close ties to via trade with their Aztecs counterparts. These civilizations coexisted during the times of the great pharaohs of Egypt and the Empires of Rome of known to history as the Old world.

MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION The Archaic period of Mesoamerica began with early human settlers migrating from the Asian region towards the Americas. These people were known nomads wandering the vast landscape to becoming agricultural people. The cornerstone of their development during this period was the domestication of corn (Maize), beans, and squash, tomato, chilis, avocado. Since this region did not have huge mammals around. Their sources of animal protein was scarce so they eventually domesticated dogs, and turkeys. Mostly, these early settlers switch from hunting and gathering to farming. Thus, many needed storage to keep grains, and food. They created pottery which were used for storage, and was a medium for artistic expression and played a role in religion and ritual observance. These early settlers were able to adapt quickly and settled in both the lowland and highland regions of Mesoamerica. The Olmecs During the Early Formative period of the most prominent were the Olmecs of the Mexican lowlands. These earliest known Mesoamerican civilization were located along the Gulf of Mexico. Their most impressive artifacts were giant carved stone heads found near religious centers. Their culture flourished from 1500 B.C.E. To 400 B.C.E.. The Olmecs achievements were noted through public buildings they erected, and systems of drainage linked to artificial ponds that brought water to the city centers. One of their great achievements was erecting a 110 foot scalloped pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid. The Olmec society was dominated by an elite authoritarian ruling class of priest, and a labor force for farmers who lived in villages of pole-thatch houses. They had religious figures of Anthropomorphic features Jaguar, half-human and believed in many gods. Their culture declined at about 100 BCE and disappeared around 200 BCE. Although, there are some links to them and the Mayan culture of the classical period.

Teotihuacan The Teotihuacan were the next civilization that came after they Olmecs in the period known as the Classical period. Their people built the first true citystate which strongly influenced Mesoamerican civilization that came after. One their great achievements was building a prominent monument, the Pyramid of the Sun. they were also great engineers and merchants that quarried and traded obsidian goods was the prominent source of wealth. During their hieght of power their population grew to 150,000at its peak. Teotihuacan were ruled by a centralized authoritarian elite. The city that they built was divided with the nobility in the center, manufacturing and artisans in compounds, farmers on the outskirts. They worshiped anthropomorphic gods; an example was a Feathered Serpent God, known to the Mayan's as Kukulcan. As people they drew their own blood as a form of sacrifice to the gods, and a mass burial suggest human sacrifice was practiced. The civilizations decline was thought to have been caused by an internal revolt of the elite and the city-state was destroyed by fire.

MAYAN Civilization Following the Teotihuacan during the same period were the Mayan civilization. This civilization grew out of the Yucatan peninsula which is presentday Mexico and Guatemala (Central America). Their population grew and centered in areas where the rain forest was predominant. They had a social class system composed of; priests and nobles at the top; government officials, & warriors; peasant farmers and slaves at the bottom. Two major cities where their civilization thrived were Tikal and Copan. As far as religion is concerned the Mayans were polytheistic, worshipped nature gods. They practiced divination and human sacrifice rituals. They also erected elaborate temples, where priests were revered at the top of Mayan society. A Maya carving on stone depicted a blood sacrifice. The stone relief shows 2 elites, one standing with a torch, the other drawing a rope through their tongue as a blood sacrifice. The Mayans were also great mathematician and astronomers. They created an accurate 365 day calendar that was so accurate people of today still refer to it. Their form of writing in scrolls had been destroyed by but through archeological research the form of written language was a system of hieroglyphics depicted on temple relief remain. They also developed an advanced number system that show a great deal of accuracy for ancient times. As great engineers just like their predecessors they built huge stone pyramids and cleared the jungle and drained swamps in order to farm. Their civilization collapse happened around 800 and 900 BCE. Some archeologist suggest that due to over farming leading to soil exhaustion, lead to the collapse of city centers, lead to division and migration of their people. Today, nearly 2 million people in Southern Mexico and Guatemala speak the Mayan language.

TOLTEC People During the Post Classical period another civilization grew into power that preceded the Aztecs and came after the Mayans. The Toltecs arouse from the the capital Tula,Hidalgo in Mexico. Their people were Northern Barbarians that began migration during late classical period. During their peak the population grew 35,000- 60,000 Toltec people. Some archeological historians believe that Toltec iconography influenced the Aztecs, Mayans. They showed images which stresses human sacrifice, death, blood and military symbolism, supports warlike reputation.

Aztec Civilization In Central Mexico the Aztec Civilization flourished during the Post Classical period of Mesoamerica. Their civilization built an empire located in swampy, Lake Texcoco. The Aztec culture and society were subdivided in different levels. As a society they were hierarchical, authoritarian, militaristic. They were also morally austere people that valued obedience, respect, discipline, and moderation. They were people who followed a social class system: Emperor and Nobility were at the top;while Priest and warriors were revered; while merchants & artisans did trade; finally farmers and slaves at the bottom. They Aztecs gave women rights inherit and own properties. Aztec women were also allowed to trade in market place and had access to priestly roles. The Aztec capital was known as Tenochtitlan which translates to City of the Gods. Aztec's practiced polytheism. They had priest who performed rituals and ran schools. While the 18 month Aztec calendar was governed by its own god; they sacrificed thousands of prisoners of war to the Sun God each year. Aztec's political features were laws implemented that conveyed strict and severe punishment for crimes. Emperor Itzocatl laid the foundation to imperial ideology of the Aztec people. He presented themselves divinely ordained successors of the

ancient Toltecs. Although they did not exert supreme control over conquered lands but expected tributes to be paid. Aztecs were also great engineers and built causeways or raised roads to connect the capital with the mainland. They also created chinampas (floating gardens) in order to grow crops on the swampland. To protect themselves from enemies they constructed drawbridges that could be raised in case of an attack. In 1519, Montezuma ,the Aztec emperor, welcomed Spanish conquistadors into Tenochtitlan because he believed they were gods. The conquistadors, led by Hernando Cortes, were able to conquer the Aztecs by 1521 and claim the territory for Spain.

Andean Civilizations of South America The South American Civilization can be subdivided into 5 periods. During the Preceramic and Initial period, around 3000-800 BCE a group of coastal people populated the Northern Andes region. Just like their Mesoamerican counterparts they also built monumental architecture, and created pottery as storage. While during the Early Horizon period, 800-200 BCE, the Chavin people flourished with innovation in ceramics, weaving, and metallurgy. Following them in the Early Intermediate period around 200 BCE-600 BCE. The Nazca, and Moche civilization propagated this region and bringing with them political centralization, monumental earthworks, advanced pottery and metallurgy. While during the Middle Horizon, and Late Intermediate period, ca 600-1475 CE, the Tiwanaku, Huari, Chimu civilizations built expansionist empire, sophisticated agriculture.

INCA CIVILIZATION The most prominent civilization that propagated this region were the INCAS. They built and empire that stretched almost 3000 miles along the western (Pacific) coast of South America. Located in the Andes Mountains they were considered largest empire in the Americas. They too had a social class system that were similar to their Mesoamerican counterparts. The Sapa Inca were royal nobility, but the others were considered privileged nobility. While farmers and slaves were at the bottom of the social strata. They built a capitol in the city of Cuzco which had the majority of the ruling elite. Like other civilization around this region the y practiced a religion that was polytheistic. The Incas lined the walls of temples and palaces with sheets of gold to honor the Sun God. They also believed in resurrection after death just like the Egyptians. The emperor was believed to be a descendent of the sun god and controlled all the land and riches in the empire. The Incas rule was very stringent and devised a form of government by moving groups of people to unfamiliar territories. The Incas also had notable achievement by engineering and carving terraces into the mountainside to use for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, they built stone aqueducts which carried water to the terraces from distant rivers and orchestrated highly advanced building techniques. Another achievement of the Inca's was building a complex network of 14,000 miles of roads. They also imposed a version of their language still used today known as Quechua. Their decline as a civilization was brought about by Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro. They captured the Incan emperor Atahualpa and much of his army in 1532. The Spanish controlled much of the Incan empire by 1535.

North American Civilization of The Anasazi Located in the four corners of Arizona, what is now known as Utah,Colorado,New Mexico. The Anasazi civilization thrived by cultivating and adapting corn, beans, squash in high altitude areas of the Colorado plateau. By growing surplus of food they were able to sustain the harsh landscapes of this region of the Americas. They built large dwellings in settlements and had a keen talent for creating exquisite structures with great techniques in masonry. The Anasazi Towns had religious shrines and astronomical observatories. They also built stations for sending signals to neighboring settlements. The Anasazi were also polytheistic, and believed in a Sun and Rain God just like most of the Ancient American Civilizations. Their craftworkers made delicate woven baskets, feather and hide sashes, decorated pottery, and turquoise jewelry which they traded throughout the region and beyond. They built Kivas within their Adobe buildings as a place for worship and to make decisions. They were mainly used for ceremonial and religious gatherings. Their decline happened due to a drought that lasted a decade which forced many to migrate around the region. Summary In studying the vast cultures of the Ancient American Civilization, one thing is prominent and that is the features of each people are woven through intricate social and cultural fabric that is the intersect throughout history just like their textiles and artworks. These cultures share deep ties between religion, and engineering prowess that span centuries. Many of them also unknowingly share the same political and warrior mentality when it came to conquering enemies that would further their vast empires. Finally, these civilizations that flourished in the Americas all were eventually conquered by the Europeans and their decline led to the amalgamation and diversity of the so called New World.

References

Ancestral Pueblo culture (North American Indian culture) -- Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/22804/Ancestral-Pueblo-culture Craig, A. M. (2002). The heritage of world civilizations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Davidson, J. W. (2011). Experience history: Interpreting America's past. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education

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