Post Classical Period - The Americas

Study Notes

Mesoamerica and Civilizations

Mesoamerica is the geographic region where the Mayan and Aztec civilizations thrived.
The Olmec civilization (ca. 1200-400 B.C.E.) is recognized as the first in Mesoamerica, renowned for its agriculture, trade networks, ceremonial centers, and monumental architecture.
Teotihuacan, an important Olmec city, collapsed around 800 CE and is famous for the Pyramid of the Sun.

South American Civilizations

Chavin was a notable pre-Incan civilization known for its distinct architecture and advanced drainage systems developed in the Andean region of present-day Peru.
The Moche civilization flourished on the northern coast of Peru from 200-700 C.E., noted for its irrigation networks and significant urban centers anchored by brick temples.

Maya Civilization

The Maya established major cities like Chichen Itza and Tikal in the Yucatan Peninsula, relying heavily on agriculture and trade.
Religious practices were polytheistic, involving human sacrifice, and they developed advanced calendars, written languages, and numerical systems.
Key elements included slash-and-burn agriculture for soil enrichment, chinampas (raised fields) for increased yields, and the sacred jaguar.

Cultural Practices and Artifacts

Human sacrifice played a central role in the religious beliefs of both the Aztec and Maya civilizations.
The Maya used hieroglyphs, comprising around 800 symbols, to record significant historical events in codices.
The Popul Vuh encapsulates Maya cosmology, teaching that gods created humans from maize and water.

Incan Innovations

The Inca utilized chasquis, runners who delivered messages across their extensive empire.
Quipu, a system of knotted strings, was employed for recording numerical data.
The mita system required able-bodied citizens to contribute labor to the state periodically.

Key Geographical Features

Lake Texcoco was the site where the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was established, a city later becoming Mexico City.
The Yucatan Peninsula served as the heart of Maya civilization.

Key Deities and Beliefs

Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent deity of the Aztecs, was associated with nature and agriculture, prophesized to return after his disappearance.
Huitzilopochtli was a central god for the Aztecs, integral to human sacrifice and warfare traditions.

Sociopolitical Structures

The Toltecs emerged as a militaristic people establishing Tula; they practiced extensive human sacrifice.
The concept of stratification indicates the hierarchical organization present in these societies.

Agricultural Practices

Slash-and-burn farming involves cutting down and burning trees to enrich the soil for crop cultivation.
Shifting cultivation allows farmers to clear lands for growing crops until soil fertility declines, after which they move to new areas.

Description

This quiz focuses on key terms and definitions from the period of the Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec. Enhance your understanding of significant geographic and cultural developments in the Americas that shaped history. Perfect for anyone interested in the rich heritage of these ancient societies.