Societies of the Americas

Transcription

1 Societies of the Americas One American's Story Many Native Americans tell stories that describe the origins of their people. Some are very detailed and explain how the gods created their ancestors. Others describe ancient events and early travels from distant lands. Montezuma, who ruled the Aztecs between 1502 and 1520, shared one such story with the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes. PRIMARY SOURCE " We have known for a long time, from the chronicles of our forefathers, that neither I, nor those who inhabit this country, are descendants from [its original people], but from strangers who came to it from very distant parts. " --Montezuma While some historians debate the accuracy of this account, most agree that it provides useful insight into the background of the early Americans. Aztec emperor Montezuma The First People in America ~ KEY QUESTION What kinds of societies emerged in the Americas? Who were the "first Americans"? Where did they come from? How did they live? These are questions historians have been struggling with for decades. The Mystery of Migration Although there remains some disagreement among expe~, most historians believe that the "first Americans" were men and women from Asia. They migrated, or moved, eastward between 15,000 and 35,000 years ago by crossing a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska. It is likely that they made this journey in search of food and shelter. As the first Americans spread throughout the continent, groups of people / often split off from one another. This process created many different societies, or groups of people with common interests, customs, and ways of life. Over

2 Social Organization As you will see in the next section, similar patterns of social development occurred in Africa. time, three basic types of societies developed throughout and South America. (See chart on next page.) North, Central, sedentary societies created permanent towns or villages. These towns were densely populated and included wide streets, large farms, markets, and hundreds of dwellings. semisedentary societies built towns or villages, but moved them every few years in search of migrating animals and new land for farming. nonsedentary societies did not construct permanent villages or towns but created small, temporary camps that could be easily moved in a continual search for large game, fish, and edible plants. Ji. CATEGORIZE Describe the early societies of the Americas. Perhaps the most recognizable pieces of Olmec art are the colossal heads carved of stone. Some are over ten feet tall and weigh thousands of pounds. The Rise of Civilizations :!? KEY QUESTION What led people to form complex civilizations? Around 1200 B.C. the first Americans began to form larger communities. This occurred when several small societies joined one another through political alliance or military takeover. Over time, some of these communities grew into vast civilizations-complex societies in which people share important characteristics such as language, religion, art, dress, and political structure. The Growth of Complex Societies The first great American civilization emerged in Mesoamerica, a region that stretches from modern-day Mexico to Nicaragua. Between 1200 B.C. and 400 B.C., the Olmec people dominated the region by creating large farms on the region's rich soil. There they grew enough maize, or corn, to feed thousands of people. After the Olmec, Mesoamerica was ruled by the Maya peoples. During the period from A.D. 250 to 900, the Maya made many advances in art and architecture that endured through the centuries. They constructed large cities that included giant temples, numerous shrines, vast marketplaces, and even ball courts for games and contests. Early Civilizations Fall Living in a complex civilization had many advantages. With more workers available, it became possible to build bigger cities, cultivate larger farms, store extra food, and form immense armies for protection. But despite these advantages, each of these early civilizations declined before Europeans reached the Americas in No one knows why the early civilizations fell. Some historians blame major environmental changes such as rivers drying up or volcanic eruptions. Others suggest that catastrophic weather, disease, warfare, widespread famine, or internal political revolt are more likely causes. :&' SUMMARIZE Identify the advantages and disadvantages of living in complex civilizations.

3 EARLY SOCIETIES OF THE AMERICAS By 1500, Native American societies displayed a variety of customs, languages, cultures, and ways of life. These societies can be categorized into three major groups. Source: Adapted from lockhart and Schwartz, EarlyLatin America: A History of Colonial Spanish America and Brazil Hunter-gatherers wandered from place to place. no permanent or farms settlements populations smaller than one hundred no political taxes leader, laws, or 500 1,000 miles 500 1,000 kilometers Equator c:;;>: '":...: ";, I.. Large-scale farming was basis of life. permanent cities with roads, markets, and many dwellings Populations number in the millions. Political leaders create laws and enforce taxes. I SEMISEDENTARY combination hunting Tupians, Iroquois 15 5 of farming and small villages; people moved frequently to follow food supply Populations number in hundreds and thousands. some political leadership to enforce laws and taxes $ PACIFIC OCEAN 105 W 90 0 W CRITICAL THINKING Compare and Contrast What characteristics distinguish sedentary societies from nonsedentary societies? A product of the Chaco culture (A.D ) that developed in what is now New Mexico

4 (top) Inca earrings, A.D. 200 (bottom) Macchu Picchu ruins can be visited today, high in the Andes. (inset) close up of typical Inca stonework Pre-Contact Societies ~ KEY QUESTION How did the environment affect the way native peoples lived? When the great civilizations declined, native peoples broke apart into small, self-governing societies. But these groups faced difficult times. Often they had to fight one another for land, crops, and valuable trade goods. Once again, people sought the advantages of living in larger communities. Aztec and Inca Empires Between 1300 and 1500, two great empires dominated Mesoamerica. In what is now Peru, the Inca people created a vast civilization that included as many as ten million inhabitants. Originally these people were part of smaller, independent groups. Over the years, the Inca united the population under a single government and a new set of laws. In addition to creating a new political system, the Inca created many important cultural and scientific advances. Inca achievements include an accurate calendar, an early clock, and a system of paved roads that ran most of the length of South America's Pacific coast. To the north, in what is now Mexico, the Aztec people also created a major civilization. The capital, Tenochtitlan, was an island in Lake Texcoco. The city was built upon logs and mud and served as a natural fortress for a population of more than 140,000 people. Like the Inca, the Aztecs united many small communities under a single government. They did this by using military alliances and warfare to control their weaker neighbors. Upon defeating their enemies, the Aztecs enforced new laws, collected taxes, and demanded a share of crops and labor. Native North Americans Societies to the north were not as complex as those in Mexico and Peru, but their populations were larger. Some historians believe that by 1400, as many as seven million Native Americans lived in what is now the United States. Throughout North America, a diverse range of native societies developed as various groups adapted to unique environments-whether arctic ice fields, scorching deserts, muddy swamps, or dense forests. In each case, the land, plants, and local animals influenced how native peoples lived. In the far north, near present-day Alaska, the Inuit (IHNeyooeiht) peoples lived on frozen tundra by building homes made of ice. They hunted whales, seals, and walrus and used these animals for food, fuel, and clothing.

5 Toward the southwest-in modern-day Arizona and New Mexico-the Pueblo people made their homes. Pueblo people used irrigation to build large farms in the valley regions near the desert. In addition, they constructed multi-storied mud-brick houses under steep mountain cliffs. This design provided both shade from the sun and protection from enemies. In the Northeast, between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, lived the Iroquois and Algonquin peoples. In this region, Native Americans built large villages and farms using slash-and-burn agriculture, a process of chopping down trees and burning the land to clear it. Often, this method was repeated annually-clearing large tracts of land for only one season of farming. Native American religions were also influenced by the environment. Native Americans worshipped many gods whom they believed controlled the sun, moon, sky, crops, rivers, and animals. An Isolated World Although Native Americans interacted extensively with their neighbors, and sometimes traveled great distances, they remained isolated from the rest of the world. As a result, before the 1400s, people throughout the Americas had no experience of European technology, warfare, culture, or disease. Built by the Pueblo people, Mesa Verde stands in present-day Colorado. ~ SYNTHESIZE Explain why the natural environment was so important to early societies r ~ONLINE Section Assessment QUIZ For test practice, go to Interactive ClassZone.com TERMS & NAMES 1. Explain the significance of sedentary societies semisedentary societies nonsedentary societies Mesoamerica Maya Inca Aztec USING YOUR READING NOTES Pueblo 2. Categorize Complete the diagram you began at the beginning of this section. Early American cultures KEY IDEAS 3. How did ancient people migrate to the Americas? 4. How did the natural environment affect the development of early societies? CRITICAL THINKING 5. Analyze How did sedentary societies differ from semisedentary societies and nonsedentary societies? 6. Causes and Effects How did warfare and military alliances affect early societies? 7. What are the advantages of living in a mo ern civilization? 8. flit Research the civilizations that developed in the Americas. Then draw a picture representing some aspect of an early Native American civilization.