Maya Teotihuacan Zapotec Moche Chavin Wari dates when group was dominant 1800 B.C. TO A.D. 250 AD 300900 1500BC to AD 750, but flourished during 700s ca. AD 100750 900BCE 200 BCE 600CE 1100CE political structure no central governent ruler eachcitystate had its own government and was ruled by its own religious leader theocracy each citystate thought to be governed as a religious center nobles served as military leaders and officials who managed public works, collected taxes, and enforced laws commoners majority population, farmer men cultivated crops while women turned them into food; paid taxes in food in labor to build temples City was divided up into seperate compounds with different rulers for each. However, the fate of the city laid in the hands of an individual leader. The civilization seems to have been divided into several indipendent states. It seems that religious leaders had some power to themselves, as well as the political leaders. The political leaders were in hold of most of the power. Their tombs and palaces sophisticatedness and grandess represent the amount of respect and power they had. In most Zapotee communities, citizens are elected to fill positions in a cargo system. Zapotee Cargos are hierarchically arranged, agegraded religious and political posts in which adult men in the community serve terms of office without pay. The cargo system itself is consistently present in Zapotee communities, Culturally united independent polities there are warriorpriests and lords(have the right to the throne). Warriorpriests lives had much to do with warfare, rituals and their form of government, diplomacy Warrior priests ruled thousands of commoners with only a few warrior priests The lords ruled a small,rich area with far less people than the commoners. there were one or two Royal Courts in each river valley, where they discussed political matters Chavin shamanking was the most influential ruler during civilization. had strong class distinction. After Chavin rule decentralized, the tribe developed powerful military and strong tribe conquered weak tribe. Theocracy (The government is based on religion.) Shamans ruled by a method known as strategic manipulation capital city was Chavin de Huantar, a city built at a crossroads between trade routes. ruling elite, minor officials and artisans. centre area, surrounded by residential blocks in walled compounds.
although variation exists as to details such as how officials are nominated and elected, the number of posts, and the duties of particular positions. Common posts include mayor, judge, and other officials such as treasurer and police captain. It is also noteworthy that the isthmus Zapotee women in particular wield considerable political power. government had elite class consisting of priests, administrators, and wealthy traders. Core religious beliefs polytheism Mayan religion was characterized by the worship of nature gods (especially the gods of sun, rain and corn) a priestly class the importance of astronomy and astrology rituals of human sacrifice building of elaborate pyramidical temples Once thought to be the great religious center of the Toltec. Polytheistic: gods of Sun, Moon, Agriculure, Water, and others. Had humongous temples and pyramids made to honor the deities. The designs that show considerable concern of the cosmological matters indicate that there was a complex regligious system. Zapotec were polytheistic. The two main deities were the rain god and the god of light. The religion has both male and female deities. The main belies originate from the wish of civilians for a prosperous farming year (they were farmers). The religion deities mainly represent the nature. The Moche were a civilization with an extremely organized religion. On their pottery, they have pictures depicting ceremonial sacrifices, religious practices, and scenes of warfare. The priests and warriors of the Moche culture were highly revered, honored, and obeyed polytheistic. remained as mystery. ex. large animal with snakes as hair and long fangs. They believed that it will balance out the opposite energy. deity for food represented through a cayman and etc. Sacrificial burnings and ceremonies Music and dancing contributed greatly to the unique ceremonial traditions They believed in the religion of Viracocha, the religion that most of the Indus people believeed in. The religion if intimately associated with the sea, universe, sun, moon, stars, and time. Viracocha is the main deity of the religion, worshiped as god of sun and storm. Viracocha is believed to have made everything from the beginning, very
similar to the Christianity. Main agricultura l practices slash and burn method: The process involves cutting down the growth in an area, burning it and using the resulting field to plant in, using the ashes as added soil nutrition terracing and a technique : used in more mountainous areas, such as the highlands. Like the Inca, the ancient Mayans who used this method cut terraces into the hillsides to make usable plots. raised field farming They grew crops such as maize, corn, and crops that any other Mesoamerican cultures grew. Since the Zapotec were farmers in the beginning, they relied much on the agricultural practices. Also, since the religious deities were mainly consistant of nature and agriculture god/goddesses, it is safe to speculate that agriculture played a major role in the lives of Zapotecs. Moche agriculture benefitted from an extensive system of canals, reservoirs, and aqueducts, so that the land could support a population of around 25,000. They develop a method of irrigation and used it to farm areas around rivers and lagoons they domesticated animals to gain meat major agriculture: potatoes. Wari culture used agriculture as the driving source of economy. They farmed in the southern hills of the Andes mountains. They mainly grew oca, ulluco, mashwa, beans, lupins, and roots. They also adopted coldtolerant species which could survive in the cold highlands. Trade networks produce all of their own subsistence items Basic agriculture mostly production of corn, beans and squash, fish, potatoes traded materials such as limestone, marble, jade, wood, copper, and gold Had contact with the Mayan, Olmec, and the the Aztecs. The buildings decorations show influence of the Olmec civilization. The artisans of Zapotec designed artifacts for Aztec royals. The religion was similar with the Feathers from the Amazon basin in the Moche sites show that their trading connections led across the Andes and into the rainforests on the other side. Exchange items included pottery, shell, stone resources, wool, textiles, metals, and dried fish. The more unified iconography may be related to this social change. Chavín's location allowed flow of They traded with people all over the Andes valley. They had centralized control trade being done even in the central andes.
paper, books, furniture, jewelry, clothing. Aztecs too. Oaxaca is known for its highly developed market system, and the Zapotee are renowned for their commercial activities. Since prehispanic times, the Zapotee have maintained trade routes through much of Oaxaca. Products were carried by tumpline, a device that is still used by farmers to transport such loads as firewood. Certain localities, for example, the valley community of Mitla, specialized in trading activities. Presently, the Zapotee play a central role in the indigenous marketplace activities in both Oaxaca City and Tehuantepec. and/or control of trade between major environmental zones. Long distance trade fueled Chavín's success and growth. Trade was dependent on llama conveyance. iron use Major strength advanced in writing and communicating with others: they were able to get new ideas and thoughts out to others besides using verbal language. fully developed The building of 2000 single floor compound and the great palaces, plazas, and religious building prove that they had sophisticated and great skill in agriculture. One of the largest The fact that this was the first true city of Mesoamerica with neighbourhoods. Success in architecture such as building huge plazas with pyraids and temples. texts in glyphic texts and evidences of They were masters at goldsmithing, good weavers, magnificent pottery makers. They knew how to survive in the harsh climate and weather. Refine the gold. The melting of metal had been discovered at this point and was used as a solder. They domesticated camelids, such as llamas the enormous trade route that they had. the power and the territory they expanded. They controlled almost the whole Americas.
writing system develop technology and beautiful architecture like temples and palaces for their religious beliefs like the gods cities on earth during the time peirod. Traded with people from distant regions. calendars. artworks that are beyond their time period. major weakness (cause of decline) government was their biggest weakness had numerous civil wars It is said that groups from Oaxaca colonized the city. Sholars speculate that Zapotec leaders lost their people s support. Then, the people of Zapotec moveed from Monte Alban to smaller communities. They did not have a formal system of communication. In that way they could not make a detailed history of themselves the building of monumental centers in the surrounding region suddenly stopped people abandoned the the areas of the large ceremonial centers dramatic change in climate which brought draught and starvation