State Building in the Americas (1200-1450)

Mesoamerica

Pre-1200 Context: The Maya Civilization

• Existed from 250 to 900 CE.
• Built large urban centers.
• Developed a sophisticated writing system.
• Complex mathematics, including the concept of zero.
• Political structure: Decentralized city-states often at war.
• Expansion focused on creating tributary states rather than annexing territory.
• Emphasis on human sacrifice for religious reasons (sun deity).

The Aztec Empire (1345-1528)

• Originated from the Mexica people, a semi-nomadic group.
• Consolidated power by 1428, forming an alliance with two other Mesoamerican states.
• Political structure: Decentralized with tributary states.
• Tribute included food, animals, and building materials.
• Human sacrifice was a religious motivation for expansion (sun god).
• Legitimacy claimed through heritage from older Mesoamerican cultures.
• Capital: Tenochtitlan, with a population of 150,000-200,000.
• Economy: Commercialized with vast marketplaces.
• Notable architecture: Palaces, pyramid temples (200 feet tall).

Andean Civilizations

Pre-1450 Context: The Wari

• Significant society in the Andean region that collapsed around 1000 CE.

The Inca Empire

• Established in the mid-1400s, borrowing from older civilizations like the Wari.
• Centralized power structure with a vast bureaucracy.
• Used the Mita system: Labor tax for state projects (e.g., mining, military service).
• Maintained infrastructure, including roads and bridges.

North America

The Mississippian Culture

• Emerged around the 8th or 9th century CE in the Mississippi River Valley.
• Large-scale civilization known for fertile soil and agriculture.
• Political structure: Hierarchical, ruled by chiefs known as the "Great Sun."
• Known for mound-building projects, which served as burial sites and religious ceremony locations.
• Largest urban center: Cahokia.

Chaco and Mesa Verde Societies

• Located in the southwestern region of present-day United States.
• Developed water transportation and storage solutions due to dry climate.
• Chaco: Used sandstone blocks and imported timber to build large structures.
• Mesa Verde: Built housing complexes into cliff sides using sandstone.