HISP 225 McGill Cumulative Needs Editing

Andean chronological divisions

- 1) Early Horizon (Chavín) and Early Intermediate Period - 2) Middle Intermediate Period (Mochica, Nasca) and Middle Horizon (Tiahuanaco-Wari) - 3) Late Intermediate Period (Chancay, Chimu, Chinca) - 4) the Late Horizon; Expansion of the Inca

El Paraíso

- 13-14 mounds of collapsed masonry - 1500 people or more - primarily as a ceremonial center - laborers rewarded with gifts from priests or chiefs - seen as earlier system of Mita (labor tax) which would be fundamental to Incan empire later on - collapse of the civilization attributed to intrusion of militarists culture which established its base at Cerro Sechin, lower Casma Valley around 1100.

Copper Age

- 3400 years ago copper tools, copper mining and smelting appeared archeological site of Los Millares near Almeria - sites with fortifications and carefully constructed stone tombs

Acamama

- Ayamarcas (name of the people) - long campaigns against the Incas, only crushed with the expansion of Incas - group that continues to exist - Ayar: wild quinoa - Macca edible root from puna - Kilke: a style of poorly finished pottery associated with Ayarmaca ethnic groups

Chimu

- Chan Chan was center/capital of Chimu empire around 800AD - begins to expand around 1200 Ad but conquered by Incas in 1400 AD - had black ceramics characteristic of their culture - portray figures and faces that bring people to life - very realistic

Rio Grande River

- Flows from south central Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico - Form part of the USA and Mexico border - Total length: 1,896 miles

El Mirador

- Late formative: probably pre-eminent lowland center - construction began around 150 BC, abandoned around 150 AD - covers more than 16 square km: two groups of monumental buildings, connected by a 1km causeway aligned to astronomical positions. - Buildings with civil and religious functions, and elite residences, occupied the western acropolis that was fortified. - Large stucco masks were found on the steps of one of the temples. - very important centre and from there, there were causeways which radiated out from el mirador to other cities (Tintal and Nakbe) - perhaps a religious centre - Pilgrims must have walked along these causeways bearing offerings, tribute or trade goods.

Popol Vuh

- Mayan document, invaluable source of knowledge of ancient Mayan mythology and culture - written between 1554 - 1558 - chronicles the creation of humankind, the actions of the gods, the origin and history of the K'iche' people, and the chronology of their kings down to 1550 - written in K'iche' (A Mayan language) - uses latin alphabet with spanish orthography - because of presence of priests who wanted to evangelize; priests needed to understand it - panels that depict aspects of the Popol Vuh found in El Mirador

Angel Falls

- Waterfall in Venezuela - It is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall

La meseta

- a broad central plateau half a mile above sea level - uplifted fault block crossed and ringed by mountain ranges - average height: 700 meters - Much of the region is traditionally given over to cattle ranching and grain production - tall windmills still in many places

Paleolithic/Old Stone Age

- ancient cultural stage of human development characterized by the use of rudimentary hipped stone tools (3.3 million years ago - mid Pliocene) - in the latter portion (about 70,000 years ago) the hand ax and told made of flakes of stone appeared

Lake Titicaca

- around lake titicaca, villages and towns est. around 1200 BC - llama herders, cultivated tubors and quinoa, fished near the lake

Chavin de Huantar

- considered the center of the Early Horizon, situated on the Mosna valley of the northern highlands at 3200m - site which contains civic centre and residential area - complex terraced platform called the Castillo with sculptures in the walls depicting wrinkled human faces and jugular men - several small buildings upon the summit - inside: niche like rooms arranged in several levels - stelas and carvings with feline human deities, birds of prey, snakes, fish, bats, crabs and crocodilike monsters - in the south, not such strong influence of Chavin

Atacama Desert

- covers 1000 km on the Pacific Coast - between 2 mountain ranges: the cordillera and chilean coast range - very little rain, almost none (driest desert on earth) - principal cities: Arica, Iquique, Copiacó - Chañar: type of tree - used by the populations here - used as medicine sometimes - Vizcacha: little animal, eaten by the populations here - also found in the pampas/basin of rio de la plata - Flora: thyme, llareta, saltagrass, chañar, algarrobo - Fauna: the Atacama toad, iguanas, Humboldt penguins (on the coast), vizcachas, vicuñas, etc

Bronze Age

- first period in which metal was used - the date at which the age began varied with regions - initial use of copper - later, bronze was used - the invention of the wheel occurs (around 4500 - 1000 BCE) - groups from this age appeared 2,200 years ago - two Bronze Age cultures in Spain: one along the Mediterranean and on along the Atlantic

Chilam Balam

- most significant surviving body of pre-columbian maya cultural traditions - named for the 15th century mayan priest Balam who announced the arrival of a new religion - various books, founded in different towns - transcribed from native hieroglyphic texts and kept from eyes of colonizers - however, the books were being used at the time in the towns to guide ceremonies and remember the lyrics of different songs - i.e. instrument in ritual ceremonies - collection of different books that have names of different towns where they were found - 15 books found

Tikal

- one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. - located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. - capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya - peak in 200-900 AD - During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico. - evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century AD. - Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. - These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site's abandonment by the end of the 10th century. - Temple of the Great Jaguar - Larger platforms 4.5 m - stairways with modeled and painted stucco masks, representing probably supernatural jaguars - other deities also represented by stucco masks

Iron Age

- possibility of heat and forge iron (around 1200 BCE) - more permanent settlements - iron weapons and arms in the hands of the masses

Huari

- quite large city, peak around 700AD - center: at least one temple surrounded by a massive wall - Late in the Early Intermediate, Huari had trade connections to the Nazca state -Pikiillqta: Huari admin. center for the region

Jaina

- refers to Jaina island in present day Mexican state - small limestone island on yucatan peninsula - served as an elite Maya burial site, and is notable for the high number of fine ceramic figurines excavated there. - the jaina style: naturalistic and delicate figurines - hollow figurines with a whistle or clay pellets that produces rattle-like sound - Made of orange clay and originally painted, mostly in ochres and blues, the figurines are generally 10 - 25 inches (25 - 65 cm) tall, rarely more. - These figures also represent Mayan practices of scarification and the significance of class in Mayan society. Details such as marks on the figure's face as well as clothing and jewelry can be used to signify social status of the figure. - All the figurines on Jaina Island seem to have been produced specifically as burial accompaniments

Cogul

- rock shelter that contains paintings of prehistoric Levantine art - 7000 - 100 years BCE - extracted minerals/colors from different stones - white, red, and black were predominant colors - the entrance was covered, so the cave was completely preserved - hunting scenes with animals and humans

Neolithic/New Stone Age

- stone told shaped by polishing or grinding - dependence on domesticated plants or animals - appearance of pottery and weaving (around 10,000 BCE) -8000 years ago Neolithic people entered the Peninsula with new tools and techniques of agriculture and animal husbandry. - The pace of the change in human population quickened - Art became increasingly sophisticated

Chavin

- style spread throughout the coast and northern highlands - wide diffusion interpreted as some form of interregional social or political integration: phase as Early Horizon (900-250BC)

Mayan Glyphs

- when discovering in the 18th century, the mayan books were thought of as representation of ideas - thought of as lowest part of evolution of writing system - highest evolution: the alphabet - First thought that they signified only ideas (no phonetics) and dealt only with astronomical calendrical records - discovered later that there were not only pictographic glyphs but also phonetic glyphs - pictographs that signified whole words or concepts - can be found in stele, pottery, stone lintels, on mayan books and codices - in use from 300 BC - end of 17th century - books in mayan hieroglyphs - existed before arrival of spaniards - dresden codex around 11th century but a copy of earlier text

Early Intermediate Period

-200 BC - 600 AD -The Chavin decline was replaced by more localized art styles -Cultural florescence took place: cities and states developed, large scale irrigation systems in coastal valleys, excellent ceramics, textiles, metalwork -Warfare became more common: fortresses and fortified towns appeared

Late Formative Period of the Maya

-300 BC - 250 AD - rapid growth of population - chiefdom centers, distinguished by their monumental structures, surrounded by subordinate satellite villages - theory that population pressure caused more frequent conflicts among other centers/communities in the late formative period - long distance trade involving sea going canoes important in the rising of late formative maya chiefdoms - complex water control systems developed

Middle Horizon

-375AD - 1000 AD - Tiahuanaco art and ideology diffused widely throughout the Central Andes after AD375 - marks the beginning of the Middle Horizon - on the south, Tiahuanaco style fused with Nazca style and extended into the Atacama region of northern Chile. - Colonies were linked by llama caravans (textiles, gold keros, wooden snuff trays, etc) - imperial expansion to the south east west - clear evidences of exchange and expansion to S,E,W

Pukara

-A large city 75 km NW of Lake Titicaca -100BC-100AD - Main structure: a temple built on an artificial terrace - stone sculptures highly developed: flat relief on stella generally depicting animals (felines, lizards, serpents), and portrays of men, wearing or holding trophy heads - style parallels Tiahuanaco

Mayas

-Developed around the jungle of Peten in Northern Guatemala -Also, modern Guatemala, Belize, southeastern Mexico, western parts of Honduras and El Salvador -Trade was a fundamental factor to the development and evolution of Mayan culture -cities of Tikal, Copán, Palenque, Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Uaxactún, El Mirador -Developed elaborate urban centers with large populations -Had writing system -very sophisticated civilization - had highly sophisticated astronomical and mathematical knowledge

Palenque

-Important Mayan site- In the -located in state of Chiapas - southern Mexico - flourished in 7th century - site of Palenque had been abandoned by the Maya people for several centuries when the Spanish explorers arrived in Chiapas in the 16th century - numerous springs and wide cascades found within the site - Palenque was the capital of the important Classic period Maya city-state of B'aakal or B'aak (Bone). - Pascal: reigned at Palenque from 615-683 AD, guided this center to become predominant in the lowlands - the "temple of the inscriptions" was built over his crypt - various objects found in burial site: two heads, a mask of jade

Pit of Bones

-Nearby Atapuerca - an early Neanderthal skull uncovered from the Sima de Huesos Cave - found bones of certain individuals that have sustained different injuries - did not know if it was just a disposal place for bones or if it was ceremonial thing - possible burial site

Mochica Civilization

-Northern coast of Peru -200AD - 700AD -pottery: funeral vases with realistic depictions -Style appeared in Moche and Chicama valley then spread into all coastal valleys, replacing the local styles of pottery (interpreted as an indication of conquest) -probably some full time craft specialists -Some pottery was mass-made with already made molds -Different metal-working techniques -Expanded into neighboring valleys by military conquest - Messengers and goods traveled along internal roads - In each valley a provincial capital was built, with major structures modelled on the Huaca del Sol y de la Luna. - Supposedly provincial governors in charge of each valley

Nakbe

-One of the Mayan ceremonial centres -important around 600-400BC- pyramids and oldest known stela - key of the transition from tribal villages to centralized chiefdoms or states - found: different kinds of pottery and strobes shells, jade and obsidian that speak of an intense exchange in the area - discovery in 1930, study in 1962

Pre-Ceramic Period

-before 1800 BC -earliest monumental structures -mounds: filled stone-walled rooms filled with niches, friezes, wall paintings - Río Seco (2400 or 3000 inhabitants): 5 or 6 mounds - Also mounds at Kotosh in valley of río Huallaga eastern slopes of the Andes - 2 mounds, the largest of which consists of 10 superimposed buildings. - Area suited for the control of exchange or the transhumance route - dedicated to control of route of people and early exchanges

stela

-stones which were incorporated into diff. buildings. Had diff. representations - many think these represent the lives of important chiefs or of mythology of Mayans

3 mayan calendars...

1) Tzolkin (260 days)--Sacred round

When did Méxica/Aztec flourish?

1345-1521AD

Aurignacian culture

45,000-10,000 years ago. During this time, Homo Sapien sapiens settled on the peninsula. - They were representatives of the Aurignacian culture that was widespread in Europe - Used and brought implements like tools made of bone and antler - they sewed skins and furs for clothing - "great diversification and specialization of tools, including the invention of the burin, or engraving tool, that made much of the art possible" (Britannica)

When did the post-classic Maya flourish?

750-1200AD

What is chac mool?

A sacrificial offering stone from the post-classic Maya

Aztec/Méxica Hierarchy

Ahaw (King/Priest), Council (priesthood, royal blood), Nobles, Merchants/Artesians, Farmers/Slaves

What's the significance of Aztlán?

Beginning of Méxica/Aztec culture, God Huitzilopochtli sent an eagle sitting on a cactus to mark where they should start their civilization

Where is Altazán?

Far Northwest of Mexico

Tajo River

From Lisbon, - Toledo - near Cuenca

Duero River

From Porto - Zamora

Cerro Sechin

In this site a stone stelae was found with carvings depicting weapons and human figures, trophy heads, etc. (reminiscents of the danzantes of Monte Alban)

Rio de la Plata

Irrigates the fertile pampas. Argentina, Brazil, a little in Bolivia. Estuary of the parana, uruguay, and paraguay rivers. Some consider it a river, some not. The widest river on earth (13500 sq miles) if considered a river. Flows from subtropical climate to temperate climate south. Mean temp. is 13 C. Frosts are frequent on the south - Flora: to the north: evergreen conifer, pantanal complex, further south: subtropical - Fauna: fishes: surubí, pejerrey, pacú, dorado; caimán, iguana

What does Aztlán mean?

Land of White Herons in the tongue of the Méxica/Aztecs

The Amazon River

Largest river in volume on earth.

Where were Mayans found?

Located at the Northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula of modern Mexico

What was an ahaw?

Main Méxican/Aztec King/Priest

Pampas

Mainly Argentina and Uruguay. The richest large pasture lands in South America. Grains grown here. Used to be home to many cattle and horses (in colonial times).

Who is older? Maya or Méxica/Aztec?

Maya

Orinoco River

Most is located in Venezuela, also a little bit in Colombia. River flows from 2740 km from its source on the Guiana Highlands to the Atlantic Ocean. Flows thru rainforest or savanna (3/5 of the Orinoco basin). Casiquiare Channel: communicates the Orinoco and the Amazon. Can go through the orinoco to the amazon - Flora: Mauritia flexuosa, bunchgrass, scrub oak - Fauna: armadillo, caimans, boa constrictor

Ebro River

NE Spain. Goes through Zaragoza and Logroño.

Are the Méxica/Aztec a continuation of Maya?

No

What's the significance of the Caracol and the Kukulcan Pyramid? Who built it?

Post-classic Maya built them, Represents the influence between cultures because Kukulcan is Quetzalcoatl (Méxica God)

Cave of Altamira

Site of Paleolithic culture. -Realistic paintings produced with pigments from minerals and animal fat -representations of animals (horses, bison, red deer, reindeer, etc -date from around 18,500 - 14,000 years ago -how it was found: In 1879, amateur archaeologist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola was led by his eight-year-old daughter María to discover the cave's drawings. - he was dismissed and the cave was forgotten about for some 20 years - he was correct and people dismissed him, didn't believe him, thought he was a fraud, etc.

Altiplano

Southern Peru and the highlands of Bolivia (Western Bolivia).

Gaudalquivir River

Southern Spain. Near Seville and Cordoba

Nazca

Southern coast of Peru- contemporary with Moche - polychrome painted pottery, exquisite woven textiles, and Nazca lines - Nazca lines - made by removing small stones to expose the bare ground - animal figures resemble those in Nazca pottery and textiles - designs extend for several hundred meters

Was Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire larger than Seville in the 16th century? T/F

T

What was the Méxica/Aztec capital, and where was it?

Tenochtitlán on the western shore of Lake Texcoco

The Amazon Basin

The Earth's largest area of rainforest. Generally low fertility of forest soils. Many rivers go through it. The largest drainage system in the world in terms of volume of its flow and area of its basin. Largest lowland in Latin America: 1 million square km. The basin includes Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, small part of Venezuela. Fauna: Amazon river dolphin, Amazonian manatee, anacondas.

Aconcagua

The highest mountain anywhere in the Andes and in the Americas. In Western Argentina. It is volcanic.

what was the main mayan city?

Tikal was the center politically, militarily, etc.and was the home of the twin pyramids (temple of great jaguar)

What civilization inspired the post-classic Maya?

Toltec

What images did post-classic Maya portray?

War, jaguars, eagles, and feathered-serpents

Toltecs

When the collapse of Teotihuacan became known to them, they decided to 'come back' to the land of their cultural origin (Central Mexico). They wandered until they reached small towns inhabited by people of Teotihuacan origin. They settled finally in Tula, north of Mexico City. Final collapse of Tula around 1150AD. After their collapse, a diffusion of their culture to other groups occurred.

Sierra de Atapuerca

Where the earliest Europeans on the Peninsula were found. In Northern Spain; east of Burgos. Discovered around 1920s - Cave of Gran Dolina:(discovered in 1976) at Atapuerca: inhabitants that lived from scavenging and hunting around 25 species of animals and disposed their bones in the cave - there were also human bones found--> cannibalism?

The Andes Mountains

Young mountain chain. Crossing the andes from argentina to chile. Run for almost 8,000 km. The longest continuous series of ranges on the face of the earth. It is narrow (does not exceed 50 km except in one point). Volcanoes in the Andes

tulum

a city on the coast was a walled city, and was one of the last cities inhabited by the Maya; this city managed to survive 70 years after the Spaniards came to overtake Mexico!

bonampak

a lower pyramid in Chichen Itza that had colorful drawings preserved inside the pyramid

chichen itza

a major focal point of the northern Mayan areas; late classical city; this city had the most diverse population (the architecture was diverse too)

The plains/llanos of the Orinoco basin

a savanna of mixed grassland and trees

Iguazu Falls

between Argentina and Brazil (in Paraguay). The largest waterfall system in the world.

La sistema central

composed of -sierra de estrela -sierra de gredos -sierra de guadarrama

mayan language

k'iche'

jaguar

most civilizations had a relationship with the jaguar

which are the preclassical civilizations

olmecs and tlatico

jaina island

pre-columbian maya archaological site; it is a small limestone island with only a small tidal inlet separating it from mainland (so when tides are low, it is not even an island); important burial site; jaina means temple in the water

mayan blue

the color of Chaac (the rain and human sacrifice god) is an important color in the mayan culture; when the skies looked like the mayan blue, they would sacrifice someone to him in hopes that the god would let it rain (for the crops); the blue is indigo dye with a clay mineral that melded together are INDESTRUCTIBLE; the blue sediment is from the sacred cenote in chichenitza

mayan afterlife

there are 13 layers of heaven and 9 underworld (Xibalba) layers

palenque

this city had less jungle surrounding its monuments; was another area of major mayan civilization

uxmal

this city had the house of the magician and palacio de gobernador; this is a classical, important city of the maya; its buildings are known for carved glyphs; sacbe or roads were built between uxmal, chichen itza, and tikal

jaina figurines

we have found many figurines on the jaina island (jaina figures) that are very ornate, hollow, and have sounds associated-- they are usually of upper class people or ball game players who had the money to commission their creation; there is a mix of blue in these figurines IMPORTANT; some show people IN corn cobs (corn is hella imp)