Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: a Reader, M
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What Makes a Complex Society Complex?
What Makes a Complex Society Complex? The Dresden Codex. Public domain. Supporting Questions 1. How did the Maya use writing to represent activities in their culture? 2. What did the Aztecs do to master their watery environment? 3. Why were roads important to the Inca Empire? Supporting Question 1 Featured Source Source A: Mark Pitts, book exploring Maya writing, Book 1: Writing in Maya Glyphs: Names, Places & Simple Sentences—A Non-Technical Introduction to Maya Glyphs (excerpt), 2008 THE BASICS OF ANCIENT MAYA WRITING Maya writing is composed of various signs and symbol. These signs and symbols are often called ‘hieroglyphs,’ or more simply ‘glyphs.’ To most of us, these glyphs look like pictures, but it is often hard to say what they are pictures of…. Unlike European languages, like English and Spanish, the ancient Maya writing did not use letters to spell words. Instead, they used a combination of glyphs that stood either for syllables, or for whole words. We will call the glyphs that stood for syllables ‘syllable glyphs,’ and we’ll call the glyphs that stood for whole words ‘logos.’ (The technically correct terms are ‘syllabogram’ and ‘logogram.’) It may seem complicated to use a combination of sounds and signs to make words, but we do the very same thing all the time. For example, you have seen this sign: ©iStock/©jswinborne Everyone knows that this sign means “one way to the right.” The “one way” part is spelled out in letters, as usual. But the “to the right” part is given only by the arrow pointing to the right. -
ICONS and SIGNS from the ANCIENT HARAPPA Amelia Sparavigna ∗ Dipartimento Di Fisica, Politecnico Di Torino C.So Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy
ICONS AND SIGNS FROM THE ANCIENT HARAPPA Amelia Sparavigna ∗ Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Torino C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy Abstract Written words probably developed independently at least in three places: Egypt, Mesopotamia and Harappa. In these densely populated areas, signs, icons and symbols were eventually used to create a writing system. It is interesting to see how sometimes remote populations are using the same icons and symbols. Here, we discuss examples and some results obtained by researchers investigating the signs of Harappan civilization. 1. Introduction The debate about where and when the written words were originated is still open. Probably, writing systems developed independently in at least three places, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Harappa. In places where an agricultural civilization flourished, the passage from the use of symbols to a true writing system was early accomplished. It means that, at certain period in some densely populated area, signs and symbols were eventually used to create a writing system, the more complex society requiring an increase in recording and communication media. Signs, symbols and icons were always used by human beings, when they started carving wood or cutting stones and painting caves. We find signs on drums, textiles and pottery, and on the body itself, with tattooing. To figure what symbols used the human population when it was mainly composed by small groups of hunter-gatherers, we could analyse the signs of Native Americans. Our intuition is able to understand many of these old signs, because they immediately represent the shapes of objects and animals. It is then quite natural that signs and icons, born among people in a certain region, turn out to be used by other remote populations. -
Robert M. Rosenswig
FAMSI © 2004: Robert M. Rosenswig El Proyecto Formativo Soconusco Traducido del Inglés por Alex Lomónaco Año de Investigación: 2002 Cultura: Olmeca Cronología: Pre-Clásico Ubicación: Soconusco, Chiapas, México Sitio: Cuauhtémoc Tabla de Contenidos Introducción El Proyecto Formativo Soconusco 2002 Análisis en curso Conclusion Lista de Figuras Referencias Citadas Entregado el 6 de septiembre del 2002 por: Robert M. Rosenswig Department of Anthropology Yale University [email protected] Introducción El sitio de Cuauhtémoc está ubicado dentro de una zona del Soconusco que no ha sido documentada con anterioridad y que se encuentra entre las organizaciones estatales del Formativo Temprano de Mazatlán (Clark y Blake 1994), el centro del Formativo Medio de La Blanca (Love 1993) y el centro del Formativo Tardío de Izapa (Lowe et al. 1982) (Figura 1). Aprovechando la refinada cronología del Soconusco (Cuadro 1), el trabajo de campo que se describe a continuación aporta datos que permiten rastrear el desarrollo de Cuauhtémoc durante los primeros 900 años de vida de asentamiento en Mesoamérica. Este período de tiempo está dividido en siete fases cerámicas, y de esta forma, permite que se rastreen, prácticamente siglo por siglo, los cambios ocurridos en todas las clases de cultura material. Estos datos están siendo utilizados para documentar el surgimiento y el desarrollo de las complejidades sociopolíticas en el área. Además de los procesos locales, el objetivo de esta investigación es determinar la naturaleza de las relaciones cambiantes entre las élites de la Costa del Golfo de México y el Soconusco. El trabajo también apunta a ser significativo en lo que respecta a cruzamientos culturales, dado que Mesoamérica es sólo una entre un puñado de áreas del mundo donde la complejidad sociopolítica surgió independientemente, y el Soconusco contiene algunas de las sociedades más tempranas en las que esto ocurrió (Clark y Blake 1994; Rosenswig 2000). -
Cacao Use and the San Lorenzo Olmec
Cacao use and the San Lorenzo Olmec Terry G. Powisa,1, Ann Cyphersb, Nilesh W. Gaikwadc,d, Louis Grivettic, and Kong Cheonge aDepartment of Geography and Anthropology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144; bInstituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico 04510; cDepartment of Nutrition and dDepartment of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; and eDepartment of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada K9J 7B8 Edited by Michael D. Coe, Yale University, New Haven, CT, and approved April 8, 2011 (received for review January 12, 2011) Mesoamerican peoples had a long history of cacao use—spanning Selection of San Lorenzo and Loma del Zapote Pottery Samples. The more than 34 centuries—as confirmed by previous identification present study included analysis of 156 pottery sherds and vessels of cacao residues on archaeological pottery from Paso de la Amada obtained from stratified deposits excavated under the aegis of on the Pacific Coast and the Olmec site of El Manatí on the Gulf the San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán Archaeological Project (SLTAP). Coast. Until now, comparable evidence from San Lorenzo, the pre- Items selected represented Early Preclassic occupation contexts mier Olmec capital, was lacking. The present study of theobromine at two major Olmec sites, San Lorenzo (n = 154) and Loma del residues confirms the continuous presence and use of cacao prod- Zapote (n = 2), located in the lower Coatzacoalcos drainage ucts at San Lorenzo between 1800 and 1000 BCE, and documents basin of southern Veracruz State, Mexico (Fig. 1). Sample se- assorted vessels forms used in its preparation and consumption. -
Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins Jeffrey Benson Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University Digital Commons@WOU Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History) Department of History 2005 Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins Jeffrey Benson Western Oregon University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/his Part of the Latin American History Commons Recommended Citation Benson, Jeffrey, "Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins" (2005). Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History). 126. https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/his/126 This Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of History at Digital Commons@WOU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History) by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@WOU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins By Jeffrey Benson Western Oregon University An In Depth Look at the Olmec Controversy Mother Culture or Sister Culture 1 The discovery of the Olmecs has caused archeologists, scientists, historians and scholars from various fields to reevaluate the research of the Olmecs on account of the highly discussed and argued areas of debate that surround the people known as the Olmecs. Given that the Olmecs have only been studied in a more thorough manner for only about a half a century, today we have been able to study this group with more overall gathered information of Mesoamerica and we have been able to take a more technological approach to studying the Olmecs. The studies of the Olmecs reveals much information about who these people were, what kind of a civilization they had, but more importantly the studies reveal a linkage between the Olmecs as a mother culture to later established civilizations including the Mayas, Teotihuacan and other various city- states of Mesoamerica. -
TCI Chapter 2 – Foundations of World History, Prehistory – 300 CE
TCI Chapter 2 – Foundations of World History, Prehistory – 300 C.E. 1. Introduction About 50,000 years ago, according to a widely held theory, our earliest ancestors began migrating out of Africa. Over many thousands of years, descendants of those physically modern humans spread through Asia, Australia, and Europe. They replaced existing populations of more primitive human beings. Thus, the theory goes, all modern humans originated in Africa. Not all scientists agree on the origins of the human race. But they would all agree with one statement. In nearly every environment that they encountered, early modern humans thrived. Click to read caption Around 10,000 years ago, humans began settling down. They turned to agriculture, raising crops and animals for food and clothing. Populations grew. Some 5,000 years later, the first cities arose, and with them the first civilizations. In time, a few civilizations developed into powerful empires. At each step in this progression, peoples of ancient times had basic features in common. They followed leaders, engaged in economic activities, and developed social structures. Through their accomplishments, these ancient peoples laid the foundations of world history. Theirs is the story of how human beings colonized the continents and went on to develop more and more sophisticated societies that interacted with one another in a multitude of ways. As you will learn in this lesson, their story begins with humans as hunter-gatherers. 1 TCI Chapter 2 – Foundations of World History, Prehistory – 300 C.E. Themes Cultural Interaction The move from hunting and gathering to more complex societies resulted in an enormous increase in the exchange of cultural knowledge. -
The Genetic History of the Otomi in the Central Mexican Valley
University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Anthropology Senior Theses Department of Anthropology Spring 2013 The Genetic History Of The Otomi In The Central Mexican Valley Haleigh Zillges University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/anthro_seniortheses Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Zillges, Haleigh, "The Genetic History Of The Otomi In The Central Mexican Valley" (2013). Anthropology Senior Theses. Paper 133. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/anthro_seniortheses/133 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Genetic History Of The Otomi In The Central Mexican Valley Abstract The Otomí, or Hñäñhü, is an indigenous ethnic group in the Central Mexican Valley that has been historically marginalized since before Spanish colonization. To investigate the extent by which historical, geographic, linguistic, and cultural influences shaped biological ancestry, I analyzed the genetic variation of 224 Otomí individuals residing in thirteen Otomí villages. Results indicate that the majority of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes belong to the four major founding lineages, A2, B2, C1, and D1, reflecting an overwhelming lack of maternal admixture with Spanish colonizers. Results also indicate that at an intra-population level, neither geography nor linguistics played a prominent role in shaping maternal biological ancestry. However, at an inter-population level, geography was found to be a more influential determinant. Comparisons of Otomí genetic variation allow us to reconstruct the ethnic history of this group, and to place it within a broader-based Mesoamerican history. Disciplines Anthropology This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/anthro_seniortheses/133 THE GENETIC HISTORY OF THE OTOMI IN THE CENTRAL MEXICAN VALLEY By Haleigh Zillges In Anthropology Submitted to the Department of Anthropology University of Pennsylvania Thesis Advisor: Dr. -
La Blanca Is a Preclassic Archaeological Site Located on The
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE DIFFERENTIAL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND THE EMERGING ELITE: OBSIDIAN AT LA BLANCA A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology, Public Archaeology By Laura E. Hoffman December 2012 Signature Page The thesis of Laura E. Hoffman is approved: ________________________________ ____________ Cathy L. Costin, Ph.D. Date ________________________________ ____________ Matthew Des Lauriers, Ph.D. Date ________________________________ ____________ Michael W. Love, Ph.D., Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii Acknowledgements This thesis would never have been completed were it not for many, many people who have helped me along the way. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has inspired, encouraged, assisted, and at times cajoled me along this journey: Michael W. Love, Cathy Costin, Matt DesLauriers, The California State University, Northridge Anthropology Department, Hector Neff, The Institute for Integrated Research in Materials, Environments, and Society, Terry Joslin, Kelli Brasket, John Dietler, Benny Vargas, Cara Corsetti, Cheryle Hunt, Clarus Backes, Mom, Dad, Andrea, Norville, and Brad Harris. Without your continued encouragement and understanding I would not have been able to complete this thesis. iii Table of Contents Signature Page .................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... -
THE GHANA EMPIRE West Africa’S First Major State
7 THE GHANA EMPIRE West Africa’s First Major State 1110L BY DAVID BAKER, ADAPTED BY NEWSELA In West Africa, the “human experiment” proceeded independently for many centuries. West Africans developed agriculture and large, complex states before getting caught up in the “unification of the world zones.” THE START OF WEST AFRICAN STATES West Africa had formed large urban centers and small kingdoms. But to the north and east, the Romans had already established a sprawling empire, as had the Greeks and Agriculture arose independently in West Africa, as it had in the Fertile Crescent be- Egyptians before them. The same goes for the mighty Persian Empire in the Middle fore. Around 3000 BCE, West Africans had begun the “energy bonanza” — a food sys- East and the Akkadians, Assyrians, and Sumerians before them. tem that supports many more people in a given land area than foraging. While the rest of sub-Saharan Africa did not begin adopting agriculture until 1000 BCE or later, West The earliest states in the world arose around 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia. At that time, Africa began the process around the same time as the Americas. It began to develop agriculture was getting its independent start in West Africa. Farming in the Fertile agrarian civilizations around the same time as well. Crescent, meanwhile, began to appear in approximately 10,000 to 8000 BCE. The Fer- tile Crescent and its descendant powers thus had a head start on West Africa by many This contradicts the myth that Africa was always “disadvantaged” or “primitive” in thousands of years. -
Presencia De COVID19 Por Municipios
Patrimonio Mundial de México Presencia del COVID-19 por Municipios ShareOurHeritage # Antecedentes El pasado 17 de abril, el gobierno federal a través de su Secretaría de Salud, difundió la distribución municipal de la expansión del Covid-19 en todo el territorio nacional. En dicha información, se reportan los ayuntamientos por entidad que tienen casos positivos y aquellos que tienen vecindad con otras municipalidades donde hay contagios. También se detalla la población, localidad por localidad, que reside en los municipios afectados. El gobierno federal informó que la expansión de la epidemia difiere en cada estado, pues hay municipios, principalmente donde se ubican las ciudades más pobladas del país, donde se presenta un mayor número de casos positivos. El presente estudio muestra la incidencia de casos del Covid-19 en los municipios pertenecientes a los sitios mexicanos inscritos en la Lista del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO. ShareOurHeritage # Patrimonio Mundial México 1987 Centro Histórico de México y Xochimilco 1 2 Centro Histórico de Oaxaca y Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán 1987 1987 Centro Histórico de Puebla 3 4 Ciudad Prehispánica y Parque Nacional de Palenque 1987 1987 Ciudad Prehispánica de Teotihuacán 5 6 Sian Ka'an 1987 1988 Ciudad Histórica de Guanajuato y minas adyacentes 7 8 Ciudad Prehispánica de Chichén-Itzá 1988 1991 Centro Histórico de Morelia 9 10 Ciudad Prehispánica de El Tajín 1992 1993 Centro Histórico de Zacatecas 11 12 Pinturas Rupestres de la Sierra de San Francisco 1993 1993 Santuario de Ballenas de El -
Tia Stephanie Tours Educational Travel Programs Ancient
Tia Stephanie Tours Program Highlights Educational Travel Programs Explore Ancient Maya Sites, Re- gions and Periods from the Pre- Classic to the Post Classic. In Campeche, visit the vast city Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica of Calakmul and learn of this once great dynasty. Travel to These Travel Programs are designed to showcase the great civilizations and cul- surrounding sites to learn of the tures that flourished in Mesoamerica, now Mexico and parts of Central America, Alliances and Rivalries of the such as the Maya, Olmec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Totonac and Purepecha. Maya: Visting the Rio Bec, Chenes and Puuc Regions. In the Peten Region and Classic Period visit the Ancient King- doms of Copan, Tikal and Palen- que. Quirigua, Bonampak, Yaxchilan are studied, as well. Travel to the Chiapas Lowlands to explore Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan and the Maya an- cient past. In the Highlands, we learn about present-day Maya communities of Chamula and Zinacantan, and the Colonial city of San Cristobal de Las Casas. Learn about the dawn of civiliza- tion in Oaxaca: from nomadic life to farming villages such as El Mogote to great cosmopolitan cities, such as Monte Alban. Based in Mexico City, follow the development of Mesoamerican Trip #1, From Pre Classic to Post Classic: The Maya of Campeche and Yucatan cultures of the Central Plateau from Cuicuilco to Tenochtitlan, Trip #2, Discover The Past and Present-Day Maya of Campeche city of the powerful Aztecs. In- cludes Teotihuacan, Cholula, Trip #3, Ancient Kingdoms of the Maya: Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras Xochicalco, Tula and more. -
Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins by Jeffrey Benson Western Oregon University
Olmecs: Where the Sidewalk Begins By Jeffrey Benson Western Oregon University An In Depth Look at the Olmec Controversy Mother Culture or Sister Culture 1 The discovery of the Olmecs has caused archeologists, scientists, historians and scholars from various fields to reevaluate the research of the Olmecs on account of the highly discussed and argued areas of debate that surround the people known as the Olmecs. Given that the Olmecs have only been studied in a more thorough manner for only about a half a century, today we have been able to study this group with more overall gathered information of Mesoamerica and we have been able to take a more technological approach to studying the Olmecs. The studies of the Olmecs reveals much information about who these people were, what kind of a civilization they had, but more importantly the studies reveal a linkage between the Olmecs as a mother culture to later established civilizations including the Mayas, Teotihuacan and other various city- states of Mesoamerica. The data collected links the Olmecs to other cultures in several areas such as writing, pottery and art. With this new found data two main theories have evolved. The first is that the Olmecs were the mother culture. This theory states that writing, the calendar and types of art originated under Olmec rule and later were spread to future generational tribes of Mesoamerica. The second main theory proposes that the Olmecs were one of many contemporary cultures all which acted sister cultures. The thought is that it was not the Olmecs who were the first to introduce writing or the calendar to Mesoamerica but that various indigenous surrounding tribes influenced and helped establish forms of writing, a calendar system and common types of art.