HIST 201: Outline 1 Native Americans

The route where the Paleo-Indians crossed over from Asia during the last ice age to inhabit the Americas.

The people who crossed over from Asia to inhabit the Americas for food (nomadic) -didn't practice agriculture (weren't a lot of plants/shorter growing season) -only hunted, gathered, and sometimes fished [lived through Paloic Period].

Moved around (to find food, etc.)

???

Middle of America

Worship many gods

-first city builders (40 cities on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico) -religion: Polytheistic -had all the characteristics of a civilization -practiced animal/human sacrifice (religion) -were the first to build temples/pyramids (dirt)

In 900 BCE, the Olmecs moved and this became their new capital.

-(100 BCE) urban center after Olmec's civilization fell-inspired by the Olmecs?--pyramids out of stone/temples: designed to elevate important buildings -had roadways/trade and ALL the characteristics of a civilization -a large city that practiced agriculture (corn, tools/pottery; more advanced techniques--drained swamps/irrigation systems) -religion: Polytheistic/Theocracy -had a big army (traded with people in Mexico)

-most advanced (50+ cities--never been found?) -in Mexico/Highlands -didn't have a centralized empire--patron gods assigned to city-state -built into Central America (north) -cities ruled independently (fought) -practice agriculture/irrigation systems (no rivers?)--advanced -had a large urban population -were good builders (prevent erosion/draining systems) -religion: Polytheistic (human sacrifices)

-later/last civilization (formed around 1200 BCE) -a true empire -builders came from Northern Mexico--Mehecas -had a powerful army (formidable) -conquered --> tribe had to pay every year--stones, feathers, corn/food products, slaves, etc. (how they got most of their tributes) -agriculture

-the capital of the main city (in Central Mexico on a lake) -large and complex -had canal systems [usually had canoes if there was a body of water] -had a central Plaza/Palace that was ruled by an emperor 'chosen by the gods' -had canals -well-populated (about 300,000) -had floating islands (chinopas) to grow crops on -became powerful/wealthy

-last Aztec ruler (1519: when the Spanish landed) -had a larger army than Hernan Cortez

-found a translator (Malikae: mistress) -got allies -lucked out that Aztec gods would show up around that time--men showed up on horses with cannons (pale compared to Native Americans) -had more advanced fire arms/spears (brought diseases: Plague/Small Pox) -led Spanish expedition and didn't take long to take over Aztecs ("died in heaps")...claimed the Aztec Empire for king & queen (borders stretched)-only had about 400 men (disadvantage against Moctezuma II)

-(South America) true empire--emperor/central temple-population was about over a million-the center of it was in Peru, and the capital was Guzco -emperor carved out a huge empire--mountainous-had a powerful/large army--had military outposts-knew to keep outer people loyal by taking kids and treat them like family ('hostages')-was conquered by the Spanish (led by Pezaro)--brought diseases [at the time, Incans were undergoing a Civil War of the royal families] *Had a longer fight that Hernan Cortez*-string and knots record keeping