State-Building in THE AMERICAS and AFRICA (1200-1450) [AP World History Review, Unit 1 Topics 4-5]

Summary

This video explores state-building in the Americas and Africa between 1200-1450. In North America, the Mississippian Culture, notably the Cahokia, built mounds and had a class system, but declined around 1450. The Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations in the Southwest thrived until climate change led to their extinction by 1300. In Central America, the Aztecs, or Mexicas, established Tenochtitlan and expanded via a tribute system. In Africa, societies like the Hausa Kingdom formed kin-based networks and participated in the trans-Saharan trade, leading to Islam's spread. The video also touches on the roles of men, women, and griots in African societies.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The Mississippian Culture, prominent in North America, was known for constructing large mounds for various purposes.
• 🏰 The Cahokia civilization, located in present-day southern Illinois, had a hierarchical class system and a ruler known as the Great Sun.
• 🌧️ The Cahokia settlement was mysteriously abandoned around 1450, possibly due to environmental disasters like floods.
• 🏜️ The Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations in the southwestern part of North America adapted to arid conditions by building cliff dwellings.
• 🌡️ By 1300, the Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations declined due to increasingly dry climates, leading to their eventual extinction.
• 🏛️ The Aztecs, or Mexicas, established the impressive city of Tenochtitlan, which featured ziggurats and thriving marketplaces.
• 🌳 The Aztecs expanded their empire through a tribute system, allowing them to govern without direct local involvement.
• 🌾 In sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture was widespread, but centralized governments were not; instead, societies were organized into kin-based networks.
• 👑 The Hausa Kingdom exemplified the African state-building approach, with seven states connected by kinship ties but no central authority.
• 📚 African societies valued oral literature, with griots playing a crucial role as custodians of history, narratives, and lineage.
• 🏞️ The trans-Saharan trade system significantly benefited the Hausa Kingdom and facilitated the spread of Islam in West Africa by the 1300s.

Q & A

What was the first large-scale civilization in North America?

The first large-scale civilization in North America was the Mississippian Culture.

What were the significant structures built by the Mississippian Culture?

The Mississippian Culture built huge monumental mounds for religious, ceremonial, or elite residential purposes.

Who were the Cahokia and where were they located?

The Cahokia were a significant group within the Mississippian Culture, located in what is now southern Illinois.

What was the social structure like in Cahokia?

Cahokia had a rigid class system with a ruler called the Great Sun, followed by priests, nobles, and then everyone else including farmers, hunters, merchants, and artisans.

Why was the Cahokia settlement abandoned around 1450?

The exact reason for the abandonment of Cahokia is unknown, but historians speculate it could have been due to an environmental disaster such as a flood.

How did the Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations adapt to their environment?

The Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations, living in an arid and treeless region, built homes and towns in the sides of cliffs using bricks and other building materials.

What happened to the Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations by 1300?

By 1300, the climate in the region became drier, leading to the extinction of both the Chaco and Mesa Verde civilizations.

What was the Aztec's capital city and what was it known for?

The Aztec's capital city was Tenochtitlan, known for its ziggurats and bustling marketplaces. It was located roughly where Mexico City is today.

How did the Aztecs expand their empire?

The Aztecs controlled their subjects through a tribute system administered by a local governor, which allowed them to exercise political dominance over distant lands without direct local involvement.

How did sub-Saharan African societies typically organize themselves?

Sub-Saharan African societies often organized themselves into kin-based networks, led by chiefs, and groups of villages were connected in loose federations.

What was the role of griots in African societies?

Griots were the storytellers in African societies, housing the history, narratives, and lineage of their tribe. They had a prophetic presence and were believed to be able to sing about one's destruction or prosperity.