Early Complex Societies Flashcards

I.D.s (Terms to know) of the first four chapters of "Traditions and Encounters: a Brief Global History"

212124668	Austronesian Peoples	People who, by as early as 2000 B.C.E., began to explore and settle islands of the Pacific Ocean., the earliest inhabitants of New Guinea foraged food, like their neighbors to the south. Had remarkable seafaring skills.	0
212124669	Bloodletting Rituals	Rituals practiced by Mayans with the belief that such sacrifices would please the gods who, in turn, would send rain to sustain agriculture.	1
212124670	Cacao	While the Maya did not have a uniform currency, this sometimes served as one.	2
212124671	Chavin Cult	a new religion that appeared in the Andes mountains after 1000 BCE; enjoyed enormous popularity during the 900 to 800 BCE; spread in the area of modern Peru; vanished about 300 BCE; no information survives on the significance of the cults, Mysterious but very popular South American religion (1000-300 BCE)	3
212124672	Chichen Itza	definition: Mayan kingdom that attempted to bring political stability to the region by forcing other city states to subject to its power and rule significance: attempt to create a unified empire, like Sargon	4
212124673	Colossal Heads	large - they weighed tons and there were no draft animals or wheels to help move them, could be depictions of the head of gods or leader; built by the Olmec	5
212124674	Lapita Peoples	named for beach in New Caledonia, occupied Pacific Islands from 1500 to 500 B.C. Earliest to sail out and establish settlements in the pacific islands., Austronesian migrants who settled in Pacific islands. They developed and maintained communication and trade systems with other islands and civilizations.	6
212124675	La Venta	-an Olmec city that was a ceremonial center after the one at San Lorenzo - 900 BCE	7
212124676	Maize	Olmecs cultivated, and it became the staple food of region (its corn)	8
212124677	Maya	Mesoamerican civilization concentrated in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and in Guatemala and Honduras but never unified into a single empire. Major contributions were in mathematics, astronomy, and development of the calendar.	9
212124678	Maya Ball Game	was played without using hands, chest, elbows, or feet. Sometime high ranking P.O.W.s from other tribes would be given the opportunity to play for their life, literally.	10
212124679	Mesoamerica	An area extending from central Mexico to Honduras, where several of the ancient complex societies of the Americas developed.	11
212124680	Mochica	One of the Andean states, located in the valley of the Moche River; dominated the coasts and valleys of northern Peru during the period from about 300 to 700 C.E. Mochica Ceramics: Painted pottery vessels of the Mochican people of the Andean region; contained detailed and expressive depictions of early Andean society in all its variety.	12
212124681	Oceania	Term referring to the Pacific Ocean basin and its lands., the islands of the southern, western and central Pacific Ocean, including Melanesia, Micronesia and	13
212124682	Olmecs	the first know mesoamerican peoples; priests/aristocrats were at the top of society, built a ceremonial center, wroshiped the jaguar and werejaguar, best remains are the stone carved heads at la venta, use of calendar, spread through trade, known for art, most important legacy was priestly leadership and devotion	14
212124683	Popul Vuh	a Maya creation myth, taught that the gods had created humans out of maize and water, the ingredients that became human flesh and blood	15
212124684	San Lorenzo	the first Olmec ceremonial center that arose about 1200 B.C.E.	16
212124685	Temple of the Giant Jaguar	a stepped pyramid that was 47 meters high (154 feet) and was located in Tikal (which had a population of around 5,000)	17
212124686	Teotihuacan	A powerful city-state in central Mexico (100 B.C.-750 A.D.). It's population was 150,000 in its peak in 600 CE; largest city in the Americas; remembered for giant Pyramid of the Sun	18
212124687	Tikal	the most important Maya political center between the 4th-9th centuries. It was a city that had temples, pyramids, palaces, and public buildings.	19
212124688	Tres Zapotes	Olmec site of colossal heads	20
212124689	Yucatan	the peninsula in southern Mexico that is the homeland of the Maya	21