Mesoamerican and Andean Civilizations Overview

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Questions and Answers

Why didn't Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations have contact with one another?

Rugged mountainous terrain, everything was cut by mountains and valleys, microclimates created economic and biological diversity.

What did the diverse peoples of Mesoamerica share in terms of culture, despite their differences?

Intensive agricultural technologies, market exchange economy, similar religious practices, common ritual calendar, hieroglyphic writing.

What were the dates for and the achievements of the Maya civilization?

250-900 C.E.; urban centers, elaborate writing system, mathematical system including the concept of zero.

How was the Maya civilization organized politically?

Highly fragmented political system with city-states, local lords, regional kingdoms, and no central authority. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Aztec Empire come to be?

The Mexica, a semi-nomadic group, migrated south and established themselves on a small island on Lake Texcoco. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the city of Tenochtitlan.

Capital city; a metropolis of 150,000-200,000 people, numerous canals, dikes, causeways, bridges, central walled area with palaces and temples, surrounded by floating gardens or chinampas. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the connection between slavery and the religious order of the Aztec civilization.

Slaves were used for bloody rituals central to Aztec life, believed to nourish the gods and maintain cosmic order. Signup and view all the answers

Compare the Inca and Aztec empires.

Look at worksheet Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Inca government and bureaucracy.

Emperor was divine, 80 provinces with Incan governors, state owned all land and resources, local officers with Incan administrators. Signup and view all the answers

What was the mita and how does it compare to the Aztec empire?

Mita was a labor service required from households periodically; similar to labor demands in the Aztec Empire. Signup and view all the answers

What was gender parallelism?

Men and women operate in separate spheres, both enjoying the autonomy of their sphere. Signup and view all the answers

What problems do historians have with the term 'world civilization'?

It implies superiority and suggests inaccurate identities and borders. Signup and view all the answers

What are the contributions of pre-modern civilizations?

Bad: warfare, religious tension; Good: new agricultural/warfare technologies, universities, growth of art and literature. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mesoamerican and Andean Civilizations Overview

Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations were geographically isolated due to rugged mountainous terrain, which divided areas with mountains and valleys, fostering unique microclimates.

Cultural Exchange in Mesoamerica

Diverse cultures shared intensive agricultural practices focused on crops such as maize, beans, chili peppers, and squash.
Economies were based on market exchanges, highlighting trade between different groups.
Religious practices included a pantheon of male and female deities, rites centered around a cosmological understanding of creation and destruction, human sacrifices, and monumental ceremonial centers.
Common elements included a ritual calendar and a system of hieroglyphic writing.

Maya Civilization

Existed from 250-900 C.E.; noted for its urban centers featuring temples, pyramids, and plazas.
Developed a sophisticated writing system combining phonetic and syllabic elements and a mathematical system that introduced the concept of zero and set notation.

Political Organization of the Maya

The Maya had a fragmented political structure comprising city-states and regional kingdoms, characterized by local lords and ongoing warfare without a central authority.

Rise of the Aztec Empire

Originated from the semi-nomadic Mexica, who migrated south and settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, leading to the establishment of the Aztec Empire.

Tenochtitlan

Capital city with a population between 150,000 and 200,000, featuring an intricate system of canals, dikes, causeways, and bridges.
Central area contained palaces and temples, surrounded by chinampas (floating gardens) that enabled increased agricultural productivity.

Aztec Religion and Slavery

Warfare captives became slaves used in vital rituals, as the Aztecs believed that blood sacrifices were necessary to sustain gods, particularly the sun god, in their battle against darkness.
This ideology underpinned the justifications for warfare, aiming to maintain cosmic order.

Inca and Aztec Comparison

In-depth comparison available through supplementary materials; highlights differences and similarities between the two empires.

Inca Government Structure

Governed by a divine emperor overseeing 80 provinces, each managed by an Incan governor.
The state owned all land and resources, with local officers coordinated by an Incan administrator in central regions.

Mita System in Inca Society

Mita was a labor system demanding periodic service from households for state agriculture, military, or construction projects.
Comparable to the labor expectations of conquered peoples in the Aztec Empire, who provided resources for elite projects.

Gender Parallelism in Andean Societies

Concept where men and women operated in distinct, autonomous spheres, reflecting gender roles within society.

Historiographical Challenges

The term "civilization" implies superiority, leading to issues regarding how various cultures are classified and perceived.
Simplistic categorizations may not accurately reflect shared identities or territorial borders.

Contributions of Pre-Modern Civilizations

Negative aspects included frequent warfare and religious tensions among differing faiths.
Positive contributions consisted of advancements in agriculture and warfare technologies, growth in arts and literature, and fluctuating gender roles contributing to societal dynamics.

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Description

Explore the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations. This quiz delves into their agricultural practices, trade systems, religious beliefs, and significant urban developments like the Maya civilization. Test your knowledge on the unique characteristics that shaped these isolated cultures.