Unit 1 - The Americas (State Building) 1200 - 1450 Flashcards
Maya Civilization
Mesoamerican civilization (was before 1200) created a very sophisticated writing system, had a good math system and urban centers. Their state structure was a decentralized collection of city states that were frequently at war with one another. The Maya Civilization fought to create a vast network of tributary states among neighboring regions. They also emphasized human sacrifice because they thought the sun was a deity that needed energy by blood.
Azrec Empire
Mesoamerican civilization made in (1345 - 1528) and had a lot of territory but started by a humble Seminomatic group called the Mexica people that migrated around the 14th century that was busy building up military prowess and marrying into more powerful families. Were able to consolidate more power in the region, alliance with other groups to form the Aztec empire ruled similarly to Maya Civilization, political power was also decentralized with a tributary system, and also indulged in religious sacrificing and used that as a motivation to expand.
How did the Mexica people secure their legitimacy as rulers when growing as an empire?
The Mexica claimed heritage from older, more renowned Mesoamerican people to see more revered.
Aztec World Building
Had large city building projects like the capital city of Tenochtitlan, hosted around 200K people with many markets set up, having commercialized markets. Also had pyramids and temples for rulers.
Andean civilizations
Series of civilizations in South America created near the Andean mountains, one of the most significant was the Wari in the 1000, then replaced by the Inca empire that’s established nearby later on. The Inca took many inspirations from these older empires. Established their empire like the aztecs, with military power. Their power structure was centralized with a massive bureaucracy influence from religion. Had a Mit’a system instead of a tributary system. Also had social/public work projects and places made.
Mit’a system
Similar to a tributary system, the Inca state required the labor of all people for a period of time each year to work on state projects like mining or military service.
Mississippian Culture
Established in Mississippi valley, first north american civilization. Very fertile soil, had a society built around agriculture. Political structure dominated by chiefs called great Sun, which ruled each town extending political power over smaller settlements. Hierarchical society. Had large mound building projects used as burials and religious centers.
Chaco and Mesa verde societies
Chaco and Mesa verde societies – Societies in North America with very dry land, had to develop ways of transporting and storing water and getting timber. The Chaco made their builds out of large carved sandstone blocks instead of timber, building some of the largest structures in north america. The mesa verde people solved this problem by building housing complexes in the side of cliffs using sandstone.
