AMIND440 SDSU Tribes And Central/South America Discussions 1) Why might it be important to briefly consider the peoples’ history of the Valley of Mexico, C
AMIND440 SDSU Tribes And Central/South America Discussions 1) Why might it be important to briefly consider the peoples’ history of the Valley of Mexico, Central America, and South America before discussing the first peoples of the modern-day United States based on the textbook chapter?
2) How might the history of the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca encourage us to think differently about the popular narrative/mainstream history of the US?
3) How might this week’s material connect to one of our key terms from last week’s Module 2?
4) What are your thoughts/reactions to Winona LaDuke’s TED Talk, and why might it be significant in our understanding of this week’s material?
5) What were some key points/quotes that resonated with you from this week’s textbook chapter, “Follow the Corn,” and why? Please include specific examples.
Watch this ACTIVE READING
STRATEGIES
READING TEXTBOOKS THOROUGHLY (AND
EFFICIENTLY!)
QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE
TEXTS BEFORE YOU READ:
The class textbook/required texts may be challenging, and
your time is valuable! In order to thoroughly understand the
texts and finish your readings as soon as possible, take a
few extra minutes to ask yourself these questions before
you dive into the material:
1. What can I learn from the title?
2. What do I know about the author?
3. When was the text written?
4. What can I learn from skimming the text?
5. Do I need to do a quick “Google” search to find out
more information about the author, time, place, etc?
WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU READ:
-Write all over the text! Never read without a writing
utensil.
-Write yourself notes/questions in the margins,
underline key sentences or passages, circle words you
don’t know or aspects that are unclear.
Why?
1. It keeps you awake while you read.
2. Active reading–>thinking–>expression in words–>preserves better in
memory–>saves time!
3. Writing while reading helps you remember the thoughts you had, or
the main ideas from the text, which makes tests/assignments easier!
WHAT AN ANNOTATED TEXT SHOULD
LOOK LIKE
WHAT AN ANNOTATED TEXT SHOULD LOOK LIKE
WHAT AN ANNOTATED TEXT SHOULD LOOK LIKE
REMEMBER:
• Write all over the required text! These are your
notes, so make them meaningful to you.
• Ask questions before, during, and after you read.
• Active reading saves time when you go to write!
Follow the Corn
WEEK 3: KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
HEIGHT OF MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
ESTIMATED TIMELINE
Inca
Aztec
Maya
Olmec
Height of empire: 1438 A.D.- 1533 A.D.
Developed in Andes Mountains, Peru
Height of empire: 1200 A.D. – 1521 A.D.
Built their capital in present-day Mexico City
Height of empire: 250 A.D. – 900 A.D.
Built in present-day Yucatan Peninsula
Height of empire: 1200 B.C. – 600 A.D.
First known civilization in Mesoamerican
OLMEC
Along the Gulf Coast of modern-day Mexico in
tropical rainforests and lowlands
Where are they from?
Who governed ancient society?
Sculptures and temples indicate that
kings/priests governed
What did religious centers look
like?
Pyramid-shaped temples and gigantic stone
heads (10 tons, 11 ft tall)
Olmec contributions
Developed forms of writing and a calendar
system
Who did they influence?
Both the Maya and the Aztecs
What allowed the Olmec to
spread their culture?
Through trade networks, the Olmec were able to
spread their culture to the Valley of Mexico and
throughout Central America
OLMEC
MAYA
Where?
How did location benefit
them?
How did they trade?
What did they traditionally
grow?
Mayan contributions
Modern-day southern Mexico and
Central American (Belize,
Guatemala, El Salvador)
Central location allowed them to
trade/interact with cultures to the
north and south
By building large, complex road
systems which connect to other
cities and communities
As an agriculture-based society,
they grew corn, beans, and squash
Created 365 day calendar by
analyzing the stars; used math and
created the concept of 0;
developed glyph writing; first great
cultivators of corn
MAYA
Mayan Rubber Ball Game
AZTEC
Where?
What was their capital?
Valley of Mexico and modern-day
Mexico City
Tenochtitlan
Another name for Aztecs?
Toltec Empire
What were the Aztecs known for?
Strong military power used to build
large empire
What was their early religion like?
Most important god was the Sun-God;
priests highly respected in society
Doctors learned to set bones/dentists
treated cavities; developed calendar;
established schools; engineers created
bridges
Aztec contributions
AZTEC
Approximately 300,000 living in the capital, and 30 million in entire empire
INCA
Where?
Andes Mountains in modern-day
Peru
How was their ancient society
governed?
Emperor with absolute power
Corn and potatoes
Cut terraces into mountainsides
in order to farm on steep land;
built aqueducts for crop
irrigation; built 14,000 miles of
roads (many still used today)
What did they traditionally
grow?
Incan contributions
INCA
TO THE NORTH
In present-day Arizona, communities were
practicing agriculture as early as 2100 BC
Earliest evidence of corn in the area dates from
2000 BC
Likely introduced by migration/trade between
North and South
THE SPREAD OF CORN
CORN’S SIGNIFICANCE
Corn not only important for sustenance and the
development of societies, but also culturally
and spiritually
In Winona’s LaDuke’s TED Talk in Module 3
Folder, consider examples of spiritual, cultural,
and even present-day connections
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