Mississippian/Iroquois
Mississippian people social structure- What was it like? Did they keep written records?
Their social structure had strong central authority, and no, they did not keep written records.
What was the religion of the Olmec and Totlec
both were polythiestic and had their own gods; the Omlecs had a theocracy (jaguar spirits and temples)
what was their religion like?
polythiestic; ancestral veneration, rituals, and sacrifice
what are chinampas?
raised fields to farm on lake beds
what was the capital?
Machu Picchu, Cuzco
What were the Iroquois houses like?
longhouses, could House a dozen families.
What was the society/enviornment like?
Olmec: jungle and swamp enviornment (led to drainage systems
Toltec: militaristic society
what was their government like?
decentralized and independent city states, utilizing divine kingship.
what is a codex?
book system of laws
what are some innovations?
- Rope bridges,roads, terrace farming, chasquis messengers (did not use wheeled vehicles), wool textiles, quipu (writing system)
Iroquois- What happened in the 1500s?
There was war that caused near destruction which lead to a desire for peace. That began the Iroquois Confederacy and the Grand Council.
What crops or other items did they use?
Olmec: domesticated corn and tomato
Toltecs: first major use of copper, gold, silver in Latin America
what was their writing and record system like?
they had an advanced writing system, mathematics and astronomy, calendar system
what was their government like and how did they decline?
1) Tribute system, organized military
2) Conquered by Spain’s Hernan Cortes
what was their religion like?
Polytheistic, ancestor veneration, child and animal sacrifice
What was the Mississipian's capital, and where was it located?
The capital was called Cahokia, and it was located on the Mississipi River.
What did the Toltecs construct?
pyramids and palaces
where was there capital? what crop were they known for?
1) Chichen Itza
2) cacao
what was the triple allience?
a hierarchal empire around Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan
what was their government like? how did they decline?
centralized, Absolute power, divine kingship, regional governers, tribute/taxation system
conquered by Spain’s Francisco Pizarro
How did both of these civilizations get their food?
The Mississipians shifted to full time agriculture and the Iroquois were hunter-gatherers.
Bonus: The Mississipians disappeared mysteriously in the 1200-1400s
What caused the Toltecs to decline?
not sure, but could've been a fire or a drought which forced them to migrate. This led to a lasting influence on the Aztecs and Mayas.
why did they decline?
combination of city-state rivalry, environmental decline
what was the order of the social structure (most power to least) and what was the emperor considered?
order: emperor → nobility and priests → merchants and soldiers → farmers → slaves and prisoners
the emperor was considered a god and a living descent of the sun god
what was the order of the social structure (most power to the least)
Sapa Inca → nobles, priests → craftsmen and architects → farmers → forced laborers (Inca residents had to work several weeks a year to build)