🗽US History Unit 1 – The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492

Key Civilizations and Cultures

• Olmec civilization flourished in Mesoamerica from 1500 BCE to 400 BCE, known for their colossal stone heads and advanced urban planning
• Maya civilization developed in Central America from 2000 BCE to 1500 CE, renowned for their advanced writing system, mathematics, and astronomy
  • Built impressive cities with pyramids and palaces (Tikal, Copán)
  • Developed a complex calendar system based on astronomical observations
• Aztec Empire ruled central Mexico from 1300 CE to 1521 CE, known for their impressive capital city Tenochtitlan and extensive trade networks
• Inca Empire dominated the Andean region of South America from 1400 CE to 1533 CE, known for their advanced engineering and road systems
  • Built the impressive city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes Mountains
  • Developed a complex system of knotted cords (quipu) for record-keeping
• Ancient Greek civilization flourished from 800 BCE to 146 BCE, known for their contributions to philosophy, art, and democracy
• Roman Empire dominated the Mediterranean region from 27 BCE to 476 CE, known for their advanced engineering, legal system, and military prowess

Geography and Climate

• The Americas span from the Arctic to the southern tip of South America, encompassing a wide range of climates and landscapes
  • North America features vast plains, mountain ranges (Rocky Mountains), and diverse ecosystems
  • Central America is characterized by tropical rainforests, volcanic mountain ranges, and coastal lowlands
  • South America boasts the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains, and the Atacama Desert
• Europe is a continent with varied landscapes, including the Alps, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Great European Plain
  • The Mediterranean climate in southern Europe supports agriculture and trade
  • The temperate climate in central and northern Europe influences agricultural practices and settlement patterns
• Africa is the second-largest continent, with diverse geography ranging from the Sahara Desert to tropical rainforests and savannas
  • The Nile River, the longest river in the world, supported the development of ancient Egyptian civilization
  • The Sahel region, a semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara and the savannas, supports pastoralism and trade
• Climate patterns, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), influence weather and agriculture in the Americas, Europe, and Africa

Social Structures and Governance

• Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya and Aztec, had hierarchical societies with ruling elites, nobles, commoners, and slaves
  • The Aztec Empire was ruled by a emperor (huey tlatoani) who oversaw a complex bureaucracy and tribute system
  • Maya society was divided into city-states, each ruled by a king (ajaw) who claimed divine authority
• Andean civilizations, such as the Inca, had a centralized government with a divine king (Sapa Inca) at the top
  • The Inca Empire was divided into four regions (suyus), each governed by a regional administrator (apu)
  • The Inca used a system of labor taxation (mit'a) to support state projects and infrastructure
• European societies in the Middle Ages were characterized by feudalism, a hierarchical system of land ownership and military service
  • Feudal society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners
  • The Catholic Church played a significant role in medieval European society, providing education, healthcare, and spiritual guidance
• African societies varied in their political organization, from centralized kingdoms to decentralized tribal structures
  • The Kingdom of Ghana (c. 300-1200 CE) was a powerful West African state that controlled the trans-Saharan gold trade
  • The city-states of the Swahili Coast in East Africa were governed by a merchant oligarchy and thrived on Indian Ocean trade

Economic Systems and Trade

• Agriculture was the foundation of most pre-Columbian economies, with crops such as maize, potatoes, and quinoa being cultivated in the Americas
  • The Aztec Empire relied on a system of tribute and trade to support its economy, with goods such as cacao, feathers, and precious metals being exchanged
  • The Inca Empire used a system of reciprocity and redistribution to manage agricultural production and distribute goods
• European economies in the Middle Ages were primarily agrarian, with the majority of the population engaged in subsistence farming
  • The growth of towns and cities in the High Middle Ages led to the development of guilds, associations of craftsmen and merchants that regulated trade and production
  • The Hanseatic League, a confederation of merchant guilds and towns in northern Europe, dominated Baltic Sea trade from the 13th to the 15th centuries
• African economies were diverse, with a mix of agriculture, pastoralism, and trade
  • The trans-Saharan trade connected West Africa with the Mediterranean world, exchanging gold, salt, and slaves
  • The Indian Ocean trade network linked East Africa with the Middle East and Asia, facilitating the exchange of goods such as ivory, spices, and textiles
• Long-distance trade routes, such as the Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean trade network, facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies between civilizations

Technological Advancements

• Mesoamerican civilizations developed advanced agricultural techniques, such as chinampas (floating gardens) and terracing, to support large populations
  • The Maya developed a sophisticated writing system using hieroglyphs, which was used to record history, astronomy, and religious beliefs
  • The Aztec constructed impressive engineering works, such as the causeway system that connected the island city of Tenochtitlan to the mainland
• Andean civilizations were known for their advanced textile production, using techniques such as weaving, dyeing, and embroidery
  • The Inca built an extensive road network, the Qhapaq Ñan, which facilitated communication, trade, and military control across the empire
  • The Inca developed advanced agricultural techniques, such as terracing and irrigation, to cultivate crops in the challenging Andean environment
• European technological advancements in the Middle Ages included the development of the heavy plow, the windmill, and the printing press
  • The invention of the magnetic compass and the astrolabe improved navigation, enabling longer sea voyages and the expansion of trade
  • The development of gunpowder weapons, such as the cannon, transformed warfare and contributed to the rise of centralized states
• African civilizations made significant contributions to metallurgy, with West African societies being renowned for their advanced ironworking techniques
  • The development of the camel saddle and the caravel sail facilitated trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade, respectively
  • The invention of the lateen sail in the Indian Ocean region improved the speed and maneuverability of ships, enhancing maritime trade

Religious and Philosophical Beliefs

• Mesoamerican religions were polytheistic, with gods associated with natural phenomena, agriculture, and warfare
  • The Aztec practiced human sacrifice as a way to ensure the continuation of the cosmos and to appease the gods
  • The Maya believed in a cyclical view of time and the importance of ritual bloodletting to communicate with the gods
• Andean religions emphasized the veneration of ancestors and the worship of natural forces, such as the sun and the earth
  • The Inca believed in a supreme creator god, Viracocha, and the divine status of the Sapa Inca
  • The Inca practiced capacocha, a ritual sacrifice of children to ensure the well-being of the empire
• European religious beliefs in the Middle Ages were dominated by Christianity, with the Catholic Church playing a central role in society
  • The Crusades, a series of religious wars aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim rule, had a profound impact on European society and culture
  • The Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the fragmentation of Western Christianity
• African religious beliefs were diverse, with a mix of animism, ancestor worship, and monotheism
  • The spread of Islam in North and West Africa from the 7th century CE onwards had a significant impact on African societies and cultures
  • The Kingdom of Aksum in East Africa adopted Christianity in the 4th century CE, becoming one of the earliest Christian states in Africa

Cultural Achievements and Arts

• Mesoamerican art and architecture were characterized by monumental structures, intricate carvings, and vibrant colors
  • The Maya produced stunning works of art, such as the murals of Bonampak and the stucco facades of Palenque
  • The Aztec created impressive stone sculptures, such as the Calendar Stone and the statue of Coatlicue
• Andean art and architecture emphasized the use of geometric patterns, textiles, and metalwork
  • The Inca built impressive stone structures, such as the city of Machu Picchu and the Sacsayhuaman fortress
  • The Moche culture of northern Peru produced intricate ceramic vessels and gold and silver ornaments
• European cultural achievements in the Middle Ages included the development of Gothic architecture, the rise of vernacular literature, and the growth of universities
  • The Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture produced impressive cathedrals and monasteries across Europe
  • The troubadour and trouvère traditions of poetry and music flourished in France and other parts of Europe
• African cultural achievements included the development of unique artistic traditions, such as the bronze sculptures of the Kingdom of Benin and the rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia
  • The city of Timbuktu in the Mali Empire became a center of Islamic learning, with the famous Sankore University attracting scholars from across the Muslim world
  • The Swahili culture of East Africa produced distinctive architecture, such as the stone houses and mosques of Kilwa and Zanzibar

Interactions and Conflicts

• Mesoamerican civilizations engaged in both trade and warfare, with city-states forming alliances and rivalries
  • The Aztec Empire expanded through military conquest and the imposition of tribute on conquered peoples
  • The Maya engaged in a complex system of alliances and conflicts, with city-states vying for power and resources
• Andean civilizations, such as the Inca, expanded their territory through a combination of diplomacy, marriage alliances, and military conquest
  • The Inca Empire incorporated diverse ethnic groups into its imperial structure, using a system of resettlement (mitma) to maintain control
  • The Chachapoyas culture of northern Peru resisted Inca expansion, leading to a prolonged conflict before their eventual incorporation into the empire
• European interactions and conflicts in the Middle Ages were characterized by the expansion of feudal states, the Crusades, and the Reconquista in Iberia
  • The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 led to the establishment of a new Anglo-Norman aristocracy and the introduction of feudalism
  • The Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453) was a prolonged conflict over territorial claims and dynastic rivalries
• African interactions and conflicts involved the expansion of states and empires, the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade networks, and the spread of Islam
  • The Kingdom of Ghana and the Mali Empire in West Africa engaged in both trade and conflict with neighboring states and the Berber tribes of the Sahara
  • The Bantu expansion, a series of migrations from West Africa to the south and east, led to the spread of agriculture, ironworking, and Bantu languages across much of sub-Saharan Africa
• The Mongol invasions of the 13th century had a profound impact on Eurasian civilizations, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies across the continent