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Beginnings of evidence of mixed subsistence:

-Decrease on the reliance on hunting

-pre-ceramic

-decreased mobility

-increase in riverine resources

-increase in population

-long distance trade

-increase on the reliance on plants

-Maize is introduced

(Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part I 2009)

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The Maya were able to give birth to a vast, successful society, to the extent where there population began growing at an alarming rate and was unable to support itself (Maya 2007). The overpopulation was also tied to excessive deforestation that created crop erosion, and internal conflict. Combined with the onset of malnutrition and the eventual spread of disease, this empire collapsed on itself. This was discovered through the finding of the last long count recording at Palenque (The Ancient Maya Part IV 2009).

The Maya had very small villages left over, which turned into the the Post-Classic Maya. The Post-Classic Maya were not as large scale as the Classic Maya, however they were still a very significant civilization to the Mesoamerican region. The Spanish conquistadors began arriving with Cordoba in 433 BP, whom drastically made a dent in the population by defeating the Maya. De Ursua would later wipe out the last major Mayan site in 1697 BP (The Ancient Maya Part V 2009).

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Valley of Oaxaca: San Jose Mogote  3500 - 2500 BP

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Valley of Oaxaca: San Jose Mogote  3500 - 2500 BP

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Evidence conflict, social stratification, and occupational specialization. Evidence of conflict was apparent in the remains of burned buildings and defensive structures. Social stratification was observed in the adobe house which were nicer and for higher class, compared to the stick and mud houses that the poor had to live in. The social separation continuous further with the use of jaguar and serpent pottery to represent group the person was from. Lastly, we see the emergence of occupation specialization (Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part IV, 2009).

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During this time, Paso de la Amada illustrated changes is social complexity:

-Ceramics show up

-gardening

-foraging

-beginnings of social differentiation via burials

(Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part II 2009)

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Introduced the feathered serpent which became a a huge component of the ideology practiced by the people in this area, later including the Aztecs (Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part II 2009).

Development of society, including the emergence of the first ball court where an early form of pelote was played. This represented the first ever team sport in history. The ball game was highly ritualized and symbolised an important mythological event. This game consisted of getting a ball through a hoop without using hands or feet (Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part III 2009)

Another huge emergence was integration of the advanced use of writing, calendars, and the implementation of a mathematical system. Essentially they were becoming more educated and coming up with advanced ways to record and evaluate their surroundings (Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part IV 2009)

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First State-Level Society in Mesoamerica 2200 BP

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First State-Level Society in Mesoamerica 2200 BP

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The Olmec's Monte Alban population grew from 0 to 1700 people in just 300 years. Danzante statues were used to keep people in line. The appearance of administrative hierarchy began at this time as well, where there were small political centers for different production types where items would be filtered through before making it to Monte Alban. This system may have been the key to this site reaching its status as the first state-level society. Comals, a kitchen tool for making tortiillas, were introduced at this time, and are still used today for this important food item (Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part V, 2009)

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This was said to be the birthplace of gods and was sacred to the Aztecs. It was in a prime location, at the head of a valley. The Teothiuacanos were able to take outsiders in, train them to perform a skill and send them out to obtain goods to bring back. These variables factored into this state becoming the largest city in the world and becoming the economic powerhouse of MesoAmerica. Teotihuacan had a huge realm of influence to where outside people would try to mix themselves into this society to gain a level of leadership. Additionally this site's influence spread very far throughout the continent (Mesoamerica: Central Mexico Part I).

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Began with wandering groups. Their god told the people to look for an eagle on cactus. After many years, the Mexica finally found an eagle on a cactus at lake Techcoco and began to build their city, Tenochtitlan . Aztecs where able to gain power by intermarrying with Toltec, which was the civilization from which the lineage of leaders in power could be traced back to. Tlatelo was the the location/market place that housed the first market economy, where cacao was used as currency. The currency was enforced to the point where using fake currency consisting of cacao shells and dirt inside, was punishable by death. Furthermore, able to spread reign by sending out pochtecha to establish trade relations. Flourishing civilization that included social classes and widespread education. What stands out about the social levels of the Aztec was that allowed people from lower levels to earn their way to a higher status, which encouraged hard work from the members The Mexica were also advanced in the arts and education systems, to point where specialized schools were created for all members of society (Central Mexico Part IV, 2009).

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Mayan civilization shifts from the highlands to the lowlands of Guatemala, where the the center of Mayan civilization began development. Nak'be was located here and was home to monumental structures that required a re-organizing of social structure. This refers to the presence of someone in charge of directing and commanding large-scale labor, where as before the area was a farming village. Additionally, some of the earliest Mayan carvings were found at this site. This led to the later development of the largest Pre-Classic Mayan site, El Mirador, consist of huge stone monumental architecture built for religious purposes. (The Ancient Maya, Part II 2009)

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10's of thousand people sacrificed; the population was at dispense

Conquest of the Spanish contributed to the end of this society. Cortez played into local legend of the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl and allowed himself to be seen as this deity. This only lasted temporarily, as Cortez and his men's greed gave them away, but the attempts to take over the Aztec land were continual. A lot of people joined Cortez in the siege against Tecnochtitlan because they were also tired of paying their tributes. This lead to lack of essential resources, like water, and large Aztec civilization unable to support itself, contributing to its own demise. (Central Mexico Part V, 2009).

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Content

"Maya." PBS Nova. January 9, 2007. Accessed August 22, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/maya.html.

"Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part I" YouTube video, 8:27. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/DKZWBUInQzk

"Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part II" YouTube video, 10:24. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/3BFB1kDUCio

"Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part III" YouTube video, 8:42. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/cC-0SISde4Y

"Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part IV" YouTube video, 6:23. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/PZkTsu-Zo90

"Mesoamerica: Archaic & Preclassic Part V" YouTube video, 7:28. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/Hpiysw6wyDY

"Central Mexico Part I" YouTube video, 9:46. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/p2kU_CCr-wk

"Central Mexico Part IV" YouTube video, 10:00. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/r0bBGE392wY

"Central Mexico Part V" YouTube video, 9:40. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/rM6foDQTAfU

"The Ancient Maya Part II" YouTube video, 9:10. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/GoZ-N_ACKcY

"The Ancient Maya Part V" YouTube video, 6:. Posted by "tsandea," May 27, 2009. http://youtu.be/71wPTwUue4c

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