1.4 Developments in the Americas

Summary

This lecture delves into the fascinating developments in the Americas between 1200 and 1450, highlighting societies that evolved independently yet strikingly similar to Eurasian civilizations. It covers the Mississippian cultures, known for their mound-building and matrilineal social structure, and the ingenuity of the Chaco and Mesa Verde peoples in arid regions. The Maya's decentralized city-states, the Aztecs' expansionist policies, and the Inca's vast empire with its unique governance and road system are explored. The lecture also touches on the decline of these societies due to environmental factors, European diseases, and internal conflicts, leading to their eventual conquest.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The Americas developed independently of Eurasian societies yet exhibited striking similarities in societal structures and behaviors.
• 🏰 Mississippian cultures, located in the Mississippi River Valley, were characterized by mound-building and a matrilineal social structure.
• 🏔 The Chaco and Mesa Verde cultures adapted to arid environments by using stone and clay for construction, showcasing human ingenuity.
• 🌴 The Maya civilization in Mesoamerica was decentralized, with city-states competing for resources and practicing human sacrifice.
• 🏙️ The Aztecs, north of the Maya, built their capital city Tenochtitlan on artificial islands and had an expansionist foreign policy based on tribute extraction.
• 🌟 The Inca Empire in South America was the largest pre-Columbian civilization, with a complex administrative system divided into four macro regions.
• 🛣️ The Inca are known for their advanced road system, agricultural terraces, and a labor tax system called mita.
• 📜 The Inca used a symbolic system known as quipus, which were strings with knots, to record information.
• 🏰 The decline of these American societies is attributed to factors such as climate change, internal conflicts, and the introduction of European diseases.
• 🧭 The lack of domesticated animals with significant muscle power in the Americas led to innovations like human messengers and chinampas for increased productivity.

Q & A

What is the main similarity between the societies in the Americas and those in the Old World during the period 1200 to 1450?

The societies in the Americas developed independently of the Old World but exhibited striking similarities to other post-classical societies in terms of societal organization and development.

What was unique about the Mississippian cultures' development in the Mississippi River Valley?

The Mississippian cultures developed around artificial mounds that served as urban centers, which were defensible and provided more area for construction, similar to other river valley civilizations.

How did the Mississippian cultures' social structure differ from other river valley civilizations?

The Mississippian cultures were matrilineal, meaning they traced their lineage through the mother's line, giving women more influence socially, culturally, and politically compared to other river valley civilizations.

What challenges did the Chaco and Mesa Verde cultures face due to their environment?

The Chaco and Mesa Verde cultures developed in a desert environment lacking lumber, leading them to use stone and clay for construction and carve structures into cliff sides. They also faced precarious environmental conditions such as droughts.

Why did the Maya civilization develop differently from the Aztecs and Incas?

The Maya civilization was decentralized, consisting of various city-states without a single ruler, which led to competition for limited resources and frequent conflicts among the city-states.

How did the Aztecs' capital city of Tenochtitlan demonstrate their architectural achievements?

Tenochtitlan was built on artificial islands in the middle of a lake, showcasing the Aztecs' ability to control their environment and create defensive structures. They also developed aqueducts and chinampas for water distribution and food production.

What was the Aztecs' approach to governance after conquering other cities?

The Aztecs extracted tribute from conquered cities without imposing their own government directly. They would extract goods, luxury items, and even human sacrifices as part of their tribute system.

How did the Inca empire manage to control such a vast territory?

The Inca empire was split into four macro regions, each with a degree of autonomy under the rule of the emperor. This allowed for more effective governance and response to local issues within the large empire.

What was the significance of the 'mita' system in the Inca empire?

The 'mita' was a labor tax system where people were required to dedicate a period of time each year to work for the Inca government on infrastructure projects, such as roads, temples, and irrigation systems.

How did the Inca empire communicate and maintain control over its large territory?

The Inca developed a road system and used runners, or message deliverers, to quickly transmit information across their empire, allowing for efficient communication and control.