A POLYCENTRIC WORLD

(Americas)

 

 I.  Mesoamerican Urbanization

            A.  Olmec (1150-400 B.C.E.)

                        1.  Where?

                                    a)  San Lorenzo (d. 900 B.C.E.)

                                    b)  La Venta (d. 400 B.C.E.)

                        2.  What?

                                    a)  chinampas

                                    b)  giant stone heads

            B.  Zapotec (1150 B.C.E.-700 C.E.)

                        -- Monte Alban (500 B.C.E.-700 C.E.)

            C.  Teotihuacan (150 B.C.E.-750 C.E.)

                        1.  Where? = Valley of Mexico

                                    a)  trade network

                                    b) "naval of the universe"

                        2.  City = monumental geometric grid

                                    a)  Pyramids (Moon & Sun)

                                    b)  Temple of Quetzalcoatl

                                    c)  Avenue of the Dead

                        3.  Foundations for later civilizations

                                    a)  Toltecs at Tula (950-1170 C.E.)

                                                -- Tolipzin's god Quetzalcoatl

                                    b) Aztecs at Tenochtitlan (1345-1520 C.E.)

                                                -- warfare & human sacrifice

            D.  Maya (300-900 C.E.)

                        1.  How do we know?

                                    a)  cities discovered (1839-1841)

                                    b)  hieroglyphs & script deciphered (1970s)

                        2.  What do we know?

                                    a)  city-states

                                                -- shaman kings

                                                -- single culture, two regions

                                                -- warfare & human sacrifice

                                    b)  achievements:  writings, calendar, math

                                    c)  agriculturemilpa for maize

II.  South American Urbanization

            A.  Coastal Settlements

                        1.  Moche (200 B.C.E-600 C.E.)

                                    a) royal tombs of Sipan

                                    b) warfare & human sacrifice

                        2.  Chimu kingdom (600-1470 C.E.)

                                    -- capital at Chan Chan

            B.  Urbanization in the Andes

                        1.  Chavin (1200-200 B.C.E.)

                                    -- ceremonial centers

                        2.  Tiwanaku, Huari, Nazca (by 200 C.E.)

                                    -- high plains agriculture

                        3.  Inca empire (1476-1534 C..E.)

                                    a)  system of roads

                                    b)  mit'a labor

                                    c)  quipu

                                    d)  terraced agriculture

                                                -- chunu