Overview
This lecture covers the diverse cultures and societies of the Americas before the arrival of Europeans, focusing on key Native American civilizations and their regional adaptations.
Major Civilizations of Central and South America
- Aztecs (Mexica) developed a large capital, Tenochtitlan, with 300,000 people, written language, and religious practices including human sacrifice.
- Maya civilization was based in the Yucatan Peninsula, known for large cities, complex irrigation, and stone temples for divine rulers.
- Inca empire in the Andes controlled up to 16 million people, using advanced irrigation to farm potatoes in mountain valleys.
- All three civilizations relied on maize (corn), which was vital for nutrition and societal development.
Maize Cultivation and Its Impact
- Maize spread northward, supporting economic growth, settlement, advanced irrigation, and social complexity in North American societies.
Native Peoples of North America
- Pueblo people in the Southwest practiced sedentary farming, building adobe and masonry homes and organizing complex societies.
- Great Plains and Great Basin peoples, such as the Ute, were nomadic hunter-gatherers living in small kin-based bands.
- Pacific Northwest peoples, like the Chinook, lived in fishing villages and built large cedar plank houses; the Chumash in California combined hunting-gathering with permanent settlements.
- Mississippi River Valley societies, including the Hopewell and Cahokia, established large, complex, farming-based towns with extensive trade networks and centralized leadership.
- Iroquois in the Northeast lived in villages, practiced agriculture (maize, squash, beans), and resided in communal longhouses.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Maize — A cornlike crop essential to Native American societies for nutrition and societal development.
- Sedentary — Settling in one place, usually involving farming.
- Nomadic — Constantly moving, typically for hunting and gathering.
- Irrigation — Artificially supplying water to crops for agriculture.
- Kinship Bands — Small groups based on family relationships.
- Chieftain — Centralized leader of a tribe or settlement.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the main Native American societies and their regional adaptations for upcoming assessments.