"Before Columbus" Flashcards
What is the “New World”?
It is the Eurocentric reference to the Americas, implying that the hemisphere’s development began when the European colonizers arrived.
Mesoamerica?
Geographical area between North and Central America comprised of the cultures of the Olmec, Teoitlauacanos, Mayans, and Aztecs; as well as modern Latin America countries.
Who were the Olmecs?
(1500B.C.-500B.C.) one of the earliest MesoAmerican to exist in present day Veracruz, Tabasco, and Central America.
Known for:
1. organized small villages and governmental type associations
2. Maize production and domesticated agriculture, along with pottery.
3. San Lorenzo which was an early settlement with drainage systems, ball courts, temples, and public buildings.
4. Male centered socities and had colossal heads.
Mayans!
(1000B.C-1200A.D.) cohort of MesoAmerican societies living in South Mexico, Guatemala, and North East point of Central America.
- Tikal- largest Mayan center with 3000 buildings and five hundred thousand inhabitants.
- Ball games that was for religious beliefs and took place of war instead.
- Mathematics and Hieroglyphics.
Why did the Mayans go downhill?
Due to nobles living in a life of luxury and warfare between Mayan cities due to droughts and a reduction of food supply.
Teotihuacan?
(300 AD-950 AD) significant Central Mexico city predating Aztecs.
Nahuatl?
indigenous language first spoken by the Tio and adapted later by the Aztecs.
Chichimecas?
Nomadic tribe to control Central Mexico after Tio collapsed in 700 AD.
Toltecs?
Chichimeca tribe to establish city of Tula.
Zapotecs and Mixtecas were indigenous groups to settle in Valley of Oaxaca.
Aztecs?
(1200-1520) Pre-Columbian Mexica society to occupy central Mexico.
- Legend had it that they were nomadic Chichimeca tribe to travel to central Mexico to establish a city where an eagle ate a serpent.
- Tenochitlan- major city located in present-day Mexico City, surrounded by Lake Texcoco.
- Acamapitchtli- First King of Teno, son of a tribal marriage between Mexicas and Colhuas.
- Believed in fifth sun.
Huitzliopochtli?
God of war who was believed to have raised the sun and guided the people (Aztecs) to the capital.
Tlatoani was who?
Aztec King with skills in oration and general of war, commanded respect.
What were the Flower Wars?
They were organized combat between Mexica and neighboring tribes where soldiers fought to secure more captives.
Stratification?
Social distribution of resources, privlidges, and pwoer based off of their membership to a particular group.
What is dominant stratification?
Dominant stuff.
