Nubia and The Americas Nubia and The Americas byby

Izzie Giacomangeli Izzie Giacomangeli &&

Taryn SmithTaryn Smith

Politics- Nubia (3100 B.C.E.- 350 Politics- Nubia (3100 B.C.E.- 350 C.E) C.E)

  After 1200 B.C.E, Egypt's reign over Nubia endedAfter 1200 B.C.E, Egypt's reign over Nubia ended   In the 8th century B.C.E a powerful native civilization In the 8th century B.C.E a powerful native civilization

emerged, known as the Kingdom of Meroeemerged, known as the Kingdom of Meroe This civilization lasted for over a thousand years and is This civilization lasted for over a thousand years and is

most commonly split into two different partsmost commonly split into two different parts The early years (from around 712 to 660 B.C.E) politics The early years (from around 712 to 660 B.C.E) politics

were almost identical to the Egyptian societywere almost identical to the Egyptian society By the 4th century the center had shifted to Meroe, where By the 4th century the center had shifted to Meroe, where

sub-Saharan influence took oversub-Saharan influence took over Women in the royal family had an important role in Meriotic Women in the royal family had an important role in Meriotic

politicspolitics Nubians adopted the matrilineal system where the king was Nubians adopted the matrilineal system where the king was

succeeded by the son of his sistersucceeded by the son of his sister Nubian queens sometimes ruled by themselves or were co-Nubian queens sometimes ruled by themselves or were co-

rulers along side their husbandsrulers along side their husbands

Economics- Nubia Economics- Nubia Rich in natural resources such as gold, copper, and Rich in natural resources such as gold, copper, and

other semi-precious stonesother semi-precious stones Irrigation played and enormous role in the survival of Irrigation played and enormous role in the survival of

Nubian agriculture due to the very little rainfallNubian agriculture due to the very little rainfall Trade and travel were made possible by boats along Trade and travel were made possible by boats along

the Nile and caravan tracks alongside the river or the Nile and caravan tracks alongside the river or across the desertacross the desert

4th century, the transition from a hunter-gatherer 4th century, the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to small agricultural villages was madesociety to small agricultural villages was made

Long distance trade was used even before 3000 B.C.E.Long distance trade was used even before 3000 B.C.E. Giant reservoirs were built to catch the precious Giant reservoirs were built to catch the precious

rainfallrainfall major center for iron smeltingmajor center for iron smelting

Religion- NubiaReligion- Nubia The people of Nubia were polytheistic like many The people of Nubia were polytheistic like many

of the other civilizations of this time.of the other civilizations of this time. Nubian religion was greatly influenced by that of Nubian religion was greatly influenced by that of

the Egyptians during the fourth century B.C.E. the Egyptians during the fourth century B.C.E. Nubians picked up two important gods from the Nubians picked up two important gods from the

Egyptians, Amon and Isis. Egyptians, Amon and Isis. However these gods still had to share the stage However these gods still had to share the stage

with certain Nubian deities like the lion-headed with certain Nubian deities like the lion-headed god Apedemak and animals like elephants who god Apedemak and animals like elephants who also had religious significance.also had religious significance.

Many members of royal families had significance Many members of royal families had significance in the Nubian religion as well. One particular in the Nubian religion as well. One particular member of the king’s family was titled “God's member of the king’s family was titled “God's Wife of Amon”.Wife of Amon”.

Social- NubiaSocial- Nubia

In Nubian society women had much more In Nubian society women had much more power then in many other parts of the power then in many other parts of the world at that time. world at that time.

Because women could play important roles Because women could play important roles in royal families and the government, they in royal families and the government, they were given much more power.were given much more power.

There was a large gap between the There was a large gap between the common people and the kings or royal common people and the kings or royal families in this culture, as in many other families in this culture, as in many other cultures of this time period.cultures of this time period.

Intellectual- Nubia Intellectual- Nubia

  When the shift from Napta to Meroe When the shift from Napta to Meroe occurred, Egyptian hieroglyphs gave occurred, Egyptian hieroglyphs gave way to a new set of symbols for way to a new set of symbols for writting.writting.

Artistic-Nubia Artistic-Nubia

Art was greatly influenced by religionArt was greatly influenced by religion Statues and other metal carving Statues and other metal carving

were made for or to represent the were made for or to represent the godsgods

Near? - Nubia Near? - Nubia

the 1,000 mile area within the Nile Valley, the 1,000 mile area within the Nile Valley, between Aswan and Khartoumbetween Aswan and Khartoum

also around modern day Egypt and the also around modern day Egypt and the northern part of Sudannorthern part of Sudan

  Climate was extremely hot and in some Climate was extremely hot and in some areas almost no rainareas almost no rain

The landscape consisted of rocky desert, The landscape consisted of rocky desert, grasslands, and some fertile plaingrasslands, and some fertile plain

  The Nile River is the main geographical The Nile River is the main geographical feature of Nubiafeature of Nubia

Politics- The Americas Politics- The Americas

Olmec Civilization-1200-400 B.C.E.Olmec Civilization-1200-400 B.C.E. Political elites used their power to push the population to Political elites used their power to push the population to

develop more advanced irrigation systems and build large-develop more advanced irrigation systems and build large-scale religious/civic buildingsscale religious/civic buildings

Little is known about the political set upLittle is known about the political set up Lavish decorations and housing suggests the separation of Lavish decorations and housing suggests the separation of

classes and a kingship was in placeclasses and a kingship was in place   Chavin- 900 -200B.C.E.Chavin- 900 -200B.C.E.   the huge scale of the capital dispersal of culture suggests the huge scale of the capital dispersal of culture suggests

some sort of political integration with neighborssome sort of political integration with neighbors   Local chiefs, more powerful chiefs, or a king dominated the Local chiefs, more powerful chiefs, or a king dominated the

politicspolitics   Not sure of what caused the collapse, but probably Not sure of what caused the collapse, but probably

increased warfare disrupted the trade and undermined the increased warfare disrupted the trade and undermined the governing bodygoverning body

Economics- The Americas Economics- The Americas

OlmecOlmec   Very early advances in agricultureVery early advances in agriculture Original settlements were dependant on the rich plant Original settlements were dependant on the rich plant

diversity and fishingdiversity and fishing by 3500 BCE, corn beans and squash were domesticatedby 3500 BCE, corn beans and squash were domesticated Surplus led to social stratification and craft specializationSurplus led to social stratification and craft specializationChavinChavin   Location was the center of many trade routes, so they Location was the center of many trade routes, so they

controlled most of the tradecontrolled most of the trade Introduction of Maize surplus led to urbanizationIntroduction of Maize surplus led to urbanization Llamas were the only domesticated animals and were used Llamas were the only domesticated animals and were used

for a great variety of reasons, the were crucial to the for a great variety of reasons, the were crucial to the development of the civilizationdevelopment of the civilization

Textiles and advanced metallurgy have been foundTextiles and advanced metallurgy have been found

Religion- The AmericasReligion- The Americas

Olmec:Olmec: The Olmec elite used elaborate religious rituals to control The Olmec elite used elaborate religious rituals to control

their complex society.their complex society. They were polytheistic and worshiped an extremely large They were polytheistic and worshiped an extremely large

variety of deities and gods. There were both male and variety of deities and gods. There were both male and female gods, and both animal and human gods.female gods, and both animal and human gods.

Rituals and ceremonies were also a very important part of Rituals and ceremonies were also a very important part of the Olmec society. These rituals often involved blood-the Olmec society. These rituals often involved blood-letting and human sacrifice.letting and human sacrifice.

An important class of shamans and healers attached to the An important class of shamans and healers attached to the elite organized religious life and provided advice about the elite organized religious life and provided advice about the periodic rains essential to agricultural life. periodic rains essential to agricultural life.

The Olmec had a fixation with the stars and astronomy so The Olmec had a fixation with the stars and astronomy so they directed the planning of urban centers and temples to they directed the planning of urban centers and temples to reflect astronomical observations.reflect astronomical observations.

Religion- The AmericasReligion- The Americas

ChavinChavin:: The religious beliefs of the Chavin people The religious beliefs of the Chavin people

greatly paralleled those of the Olmec people.greatly paralleled those of the Olmec people. Chavins were also polytheistic and Chavins were also polytheistic and

worshiped many gods and deities.worshiped many gods and deities. Their most potent religious symbol was a Their most potent religious symbol was a

jaguar deity. In one part of Chavin it was jaguar deity. In one part of Chavin it was found dispersed over a broad area of land found dispersed over a broad area of land which leads archeologists to believe that which leads archeologists to believe that Cavin de Huantar served as a pilgrimage Cavin de Huantar served as a pilgrimage site. site.

Social- The AmericasSocial- The Americas

OlmecOlmec:: Social classes were not as complex during this time period Social classes were not as complex during this time period

then in many of the other societies, however there was then in many of the other societies, however there was some distinctions.some distinctions.

Priests and kings or chiefs had an obvious show of more Priests and kings or chiefs had an obvious show of more power then the common people. power then the common people.

ChavinChavin:: During this time social distinctions began to emerge.During this time social distinctions began to emerge. A class of priests directed religious life. It is also believed A class of priests directed religious life. It is also believed

that local chiefs and kings dominated Chavin’s politics. that local chiefs and kings dominated Chavin’s politics. One way the chiefs are distinguished from the commoners One way the chiefs are distinguished from the commoners

is in burial. Kings and authority figures were buried with is in burial. Kings and authority figures were buried with ornate objects while common people were not.ornate objects while common people were not.

Intellectual- The Americas Intellectual- The Americas

OlmecOlmec Developed specialized technologies that exploited Developed specialized technologies that exploited

native plants and animalsnative plants and animals Shamans and healers directed planning for the Shamans and healers directed planning for the

urban centers  urban centers  From their astronomy observations they created a From their astronomy observations they created a

calendar to organize religious and agricultural lifecalendar to organize religious and agricultural life astronomical observations were also responsible astronomical observations were also responsible

for developing a form of writing that may have for developing a form of writing that may have later influenced the Mayanslater influenced the Mayans

  

Artistic- The Americas Artistic- The Americas

OlmecOlmec Large heads sculpted from bouldersLarge heads sculpted from boulders of basaltof basalt    are are

recognized as the legacy of Olmec culturerecognized as the legacy of Olmec culture 16 heads have been found16 heads have been found archeologists believe the are carved to represent important archeologists believe the are carved to represent important

figures in Olmec society (kings, warriors, etc...)figures in Olmec society (kings, warriors, etc...)ChavinChavin Architecture is the Chavin signature Architecture is the Chavin signature Complex multi leveled platforms made of packed earth or Complex multi leveled platforms made of packed earth or

and adobe and adobe Complexity based on social class and purposeComplexity based on social class and purpose Almost all buildings decorated with carvings of symbolic Almost all buildings decorated with carvings of symbolic

animals animals Largest building measured 250ftLargest building measured 250ft

Near?- The Americas Near?- The Americas Mesoamerica: covered a wide area with many different Mesoamerica: covered a wide area with many different

climates and landscapesclimates and landscapes Consists of Mexico all the way down to Southern AmericaConsists of Mexico all the way down to Southern America Extremely active geologically, has earthquakes and Extremely active geologically, has earthquakes and

volcanoes as well as rain forests and mountainsvolcanoes as well as rain forests and mountains The center of the Olmec civilization was located near the The center of the Olmec civilization was located near the

Atlantic coast in MexicoAtlantic coast in Mexico Used the flood plains for agriculture  Used the flood plains for agriculture  Capital: San Lorenzo/La Venta/ Tres ZapatosCapital: San Lorenzo/La Venta/ Tres Zapatos Chavin civilization located in the Andes at 10,300ftChavin civilization located in the Andes at 10,300ft north of the modern city of Limanorth of the modern city of Lima Stretched across the Peruvian coastal plain and the Andean Stretched across the Peruvian coastal plain and the Andean

foothills foothills