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http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
What were the most significant characteristics of Olmec and other pre-Aztec Central American societies?
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Pre-Aztec Central American societies
There were many pre-Aztec people/societies that existed in Central America such as:
Olmec (c 1750-400 BCE)
Maya (c 200-850 CE)
Mixtec & Zapotec Toltec (c 900-1250 CE)
http://www.freeworldmaps.net/northamerica/mexico/mexico.jpg
http://famouswonders.com/wp-content/gallery/teotihuacan/pyramid-of-the-sun-from-pyramid-of-the-moon.jpg
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Agricultural-based Economy
c 15000-13000 BCE Small hunting and gathering tribes migrated to North America.
Within a few thousand years people had spread to the southern-most tip of South America.
c 8000 BCE Food became scarce due to climate change and over-hunting, forcing people to either fish and hunt smaller game or take up agriculture.
c 2000 BCE The bulk of the Mesoamerican economy rested on the cultivation of basic crops.
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~rkwok/photos/2003_Mexico/Teotihuacan_mooon_pyramid01.jpg
Agricultural-based Economy
Basic produce cultivated by pre-Aztec Mesoamericans included:
Maize Chili peppers Squash Beans Avocados Tomatoes Gourds Possibly fruit trees
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~rkwok/photos/2003_Mexico/Teotihuacan_mooon_pyramid01.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2489191297_826bd78015.jpg
Olmec Agriculture
One of the first cultivation techniques used by the Olmec people was milpa or slash-and-burn
Allowed farmers to grow enough produce to sustain large communities
Required large amounts of land
Exhausted the soil quickly leaving it infertile within 2-3 years
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http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Environment/Images/Global_Warming/maniocplants-671395-lw.jpg
Milpa / Slash-and-Burn
Olmec Agriculture
Small manmade islands constructed around lakes and marshland
Provided constant supply of fresh water and soil to crops
Waterways allowed convenient transportation of produce by boat to and from market places
Irrigation and drainage of lakes also reduced the impact of flooding on crops and cities
http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/DSC04190op.JPG
Chinampas / Floating Gardens
http://web.educastur.princast.es/proyectos/grupotecne/archivos/investiga/111foto.jpg
Mayan Agriculture
Many of the Maya lived in poorly drained areas
Manmade terraces allowed effective drainage
Terraces also collected sediment from the many rivers that flowed through the area
Trapped sediment from rivers and other waterways maintained soil fertility
http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/DSC04190op.JPG
Terraces
http://perceptivetravel.com/images0107/northam_terraces4.jpg
Mayan Agriculture
In addition to the basic crops grown by most Mesoamericans, the Maya and some others also cultivated cacao and cotton
Cacao was considered a precious commodity and was sometimes even used as currency
Cotton was woven into valuable items of clothing
Both of these enhanced the strength of agricultural-based trade in Mesoamerica
http://biology.uta.edu/herpetology/DSC04190op.JPG
Additional Produce
http://www.fiery-foods.com/images/ed/chocolate/maya.jpg
Scientific Agriculture
In addition to the chinampas and terraces, civilisations such as the Olmec and Maya began to use science in order to more effectively cultivate crops. This was done by applying accurate knowledge of the seasons in order to devise effective yearly planting cycles.
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~rkwok/photos/2003_Mexico/Teotihuacan_mooon_pyramid01.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2489191297_826bd78015.jpg
City-States and the Centrality of Religion
Sustainable agriculture lead to further population growth triggering
the development of large cities and
city-states centralised by
religion
http://www.travelblog.org/Gallery/47467/l/29787.jpg
http://2012istheend.com/images/mayan_city.jpg
Olmec Cities
The three main Olmec cities
San Lorenzo (c 1200-800 BCE) La Venta (c 800-400 BCE) Tres Zapotes (c 400-100 BCE)
Were not true city-states but they were run religiously and centred around main religious pyramids and temples just as later city-states were
http://www.travelblog.org/Gallery/47467/l/29787.jpg
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/egipto/fingerprintgods/images/finger21.gif
Teotihuacán
Teotihuacán (c 200 BCE – 800 CE) was one of the largest and most successful city-states to have ever existed
At its peak it was estimated to have had a population of around 125, 000 – 250, 000 and to have covered over twelve square miles of land
http://www.travelblog.org/Gallery/47467/l/29787.jpg
http://latravesia.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/teot51.jpg
As it was a city-state its citizens were not only elites but those of the middle and sometimes lower classes
Its main focal points were two massive religious structures: the Pyramid of the Sun & the Pyramid of the Moon
The construction of the city was largely directed by priests and overseen by professional architects and sculptors
Teotihuacán contained a main thoroughfare – the Avenue of the Dead – many alleyways, a large marketplace, numerous temples and residential buildings
http://www.travelblog.org/Gallery/47467/l/29787.jpg
Teotihuacán
http://www.geocities.com/linksatlantis/teotihuacanmoon.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/gomexico/1/0/I/3/-/-/sun_pyramid.jpg
http://www.travelblog.org/Gallery/47467/l/29787.jpg
Teotihuacán
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Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Moon
Marketplace
Temples and residential blocks
Main thoroughfare
Hierarchical order, social classes and gendered labour division
Strict hierarchical structure and social classes were established in order to manage large city-states such as Teotihuacán
As with most civilisations there were upper, middle and lower classes
Within these classes there was clear-cut labour division between men and women
http://earthacupuncture.info/teotihuacan.jpg
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Upper Classes / Elites
The upper classes in Mesoamerican city-states were known as elites
They consisted mainly of kings, ruling families and hereditary nobles, as well as ‘political’ merchants who originated largely from the nobles and ruling families
Elites generally held the most power, owned the most land and were wealthier and healthier than most people of other classes
http://earthacupuncture.info/teotihuacan.jpg
http://www.arthistory-archaeology.umd.edu/ARTHwebsitedecommissionedNov32008/webresources/courses/ARTH250/FA04/zapotec%20xipe%20totec.jpg
Middle Class The middle class consisted of
priests, warriors, architects, sculptors and specialised artisans
Priests were highly educated and ruled the middle classes
Professional architects and sculptors oversaw the construction of buildings and monuments
Specialised artisans created valuable items of clothing, pottery and jewellery for the upper classes
http://earthacupuncture.info/teotihuacan.jpg
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Lower Class
The lower class consisted mainly of farmers, peasants and slaves
These were the people who supplied food and other produce for the city and its economy as well as the bulk of labour required to construct buildings and maintain farmland
http://earthacupuncture.info/teotihuacan.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Tepantitla_mural,_Ballplayer_A_(Daquella_manera).jpg/220px-Tepantitla_mural,_Ballplayer_A_(Daquella_manera).jpg
Division of Labour
Within the classes, among the lower and middle classes in particular, there existed gendered labour division
Households often had separate work areas where women would prepare food and sometimes make pottery and where men would craft weapons and hunting equipment
This clearly suggests that the role of women in Mesoamerica at the time was to cook for and look after their families while the men were hunters or warriors
http://earthacupuncture.info/teotihuacan.jpg
Smith, ME & Masson, MA, The ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica: a reader, Blackwell Publishers, Oxford, 2000, p. 36.
Mathematics, Astronomy & Writing
One of the most defining characteristics of pre-Aztec Mesoamerican culture was the intense study and advanced application of mathematics and astronomy
These two subjects were studied mostly by highly educated priests and mainly for religious and divining purposes
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
http://www.azteccalendar.com/images/aztec_calendar_small.png
Many have suspected that the Maya were responsible for the first concept and representation of zero, however, there was evidence of its use by the Olmecs before them
Zero was significant as it allowed the use of large numbers and made it possible to work with difficult calculations
The Olmecs also devised the beginnings of a writing system as well as an astrologically based calendar
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
Mathematics, Astronomy & WritingThe Olmecs
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While the Maya were not the first to study Maths and Astronomy, they certainly did improve upon it
The Maya created a system of writing that was more advanced that that used by the Aztecs
They also created an extremely accurate calendar that was even more precise than any calendar system used by Europeans at the time
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
Mathematics, Astronomy & WritingThe Maya
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The Mayan writing system was one of, if not, the most advanced writing systems used in Mesoamerica in pre-Aztec and Aztec times
This was due to the fact that its hieroglyphs were both ideographic and phonetic
Mayan hieroglyphs also became more phonetic over time
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
Mathematics, Astronomy & WritingThe Maya – Mayan Writing
http://www.utlm.org/images/newsletters/107p11mayanwritingsample.gif
Mayan calendar was one of the most accurate calendars in existence until about the 17th century CE
Based on a 365 day solar year and a 260 day ritual year which were repeated and renewed in fifty-two year cycles
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/literature/world_literature/classprojects/mexico/mayat4.jpg
Mathematics, Astronomy & WritingThe Maya – Mayan Calendar
http://www.recklessreality.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/mayan.gif
Neolithic Technology Despite advanced knowledge of
math, astronomy and written language, pre-Aztec technology was relatively neolithic
The wheel was used in things like pottery but not used in any methods of transport or agriculture
Some metals were utilised but only decoratively and not in any practical way e.g. to make weapons or tools
Most tools and weapons at the time were either made of obsidian and other types of stone and sometimes animal bone
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~rkwok/photos/2003_Mexico/Teotihuacan_mooon_pyramid01.jpg
http://www.the-book-of-mormon.com/mayan-pottery-chama-valley.jpg
http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t025/T025099A.jpg
Mesoamerican Engineering
Neolithic tools and transport without the wheel did not seem to stop Mesoamericans from achieving amazing feats of engineering
They managed to transport huge blocks of stone and other materials across water on rafts
They then manoeuvred these objects into position using clever engineering devices in order to build solid stone structures up to 230ft high
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What were the most significant characteristics of Olmec and other pre-
Aztec Central American societies?
Scientific agriculture and an agriculturally-based economy
Large religiously centralised cities and city-states Strict social stratification and gendered labour division Advanced use of mathematics, astronomy and written
language The use of neolithic technology and the creation of
engineering marvels
http://famouswonders.com/wp-content/gallery/teotihuacan/pyramid-of-the-sun-from-pyramid-of-the-moon.jpg