MESO-AMERICA
I.
MESO-AMERICA
A.
GEOGRAPHY & EARLY DEVELOPMENT
1.
OLMEC CULTURE MOTHER CULTURE OF AREA
a.
TOOK SHAPE IN CARIBBEAN LOWLANDS
2.
MAYANS, MOST RENOWNED OF MIDDLE AMERICAN SOCIETIES FLOURISHED IN
LOWLANDS AS WELL
3.
BUT INFLUENCE OF BOTH HAD EXTENDED INTO THE HIGH PLATEAUS BETWEEN
THE MTNS TOO
4.
W/EMERGENCE OF METROPOLIS OF TEOTIHUACAN IN UPLAND PLATEAU OF
CENTRAL MEXICO
5.
MESO-AMERICAN CULTURAL HEARTLAND SHIFTED TO HIGH VALLEYS
6.
MEXICO AT THE NW END OF ISTHMUS BECAME ITS POWER CENTER
7.
BY YR 1000 OF CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, CLASSICAL MESO-AMERICA CIV OF
MAYANS AND GREAT CITY OF TEOTIHUACAN HAD PASSED AWAY
8.
BUT CYCLES OF CIVILIZATION CONTINUED IN AREA NOW OCCUPIED BY
a.
MEXICO
b.
GUATEMALA
c.
HONDURAS
d.
& NEIGHBORING STATES
9.
CULTURE BUILT ON AGRICULTURAL BASE OF MAIZE, BEANS, CHILIES & SQUASH
10.
BUILT CHINAMPAS OR FLOATING GARDENS
11.
BY DREDGING SOIL FROM BOTTOM OF LAKE OR POND,
12.
THEN PLACING SOIL ON MATS OF WOVEN TWIGS
13.
& THEN PLANTING CROPS IN SOIL
14.
CHINAMPAS VERY PRODUCTIVE
15.
UP TO 3 HARVESTS A YEAR
16.
SUPPORTED COMPARATIVELY DENSE POP OF SEVERAL MILLION
17.
SOCIETIES AS HIERARCHICAL AS ANY IN OLD WORLD
18.
POWERFUL PRIESTHOOD PRESIDED OVER LARGE CEREMONIAL RELIGIOUS
CENTERS
19.
FIERCE WARRIOR CASTE
20.
MERCHANTS WHO CIRCULATED GOODS OVER HUNDREDS OF MILES
21.
DEVELOPED ELABORATE MYTHOLOGIES & COSMOLOGICAL THEORIES,
MATHEMATICS & ASTRONOMY
22.
IN SOME PLACES WRITING
23.
ALSO LEARNING ART OF EFFECTIVELY GOVERNING LARGE EMPIRES
24.
THEY CONTINUED TO CONDUCT HUMAN SACRIFICES
a.
FADING PRACTICE ELSEWHERE ON GLOBE
25.
SUFFERED PERIODIC INFLUXES OF LESS-SETTLED, INDIANS FROM NORTH
a.
SAME IDEAS AS BARBARIANS TRIBES ATTRACTED TO CIVILIZATION OF
ROMAN EMPIRE OR MONGOLS TO CHINA
26.
MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THESE EARLIER NORTHERN BARBARIAN INVADERS WERE
TOLTECS
a.
IN LATER DAYS REVERED AS RACE OF GOLDEN-AGE HEROES
27.
BUT AZTECS WERE THE MOST FORMIDABLE CONQUERORS FROM NORTH (UNITED
STATES)
B.
OLMEC CIVILIZATION
1.
SETTLED ON TROPICAL GULF COAST OF MEXICO SOUTH OF PRESENT DAY VERA
CRUZ
2.
SPREAD SOUTHWARD INTO GUATEMALA
3.
MANY ARCHAEOLOGISTS BELIEVE IT LAID FOUNDATION FOR REST OF
CIVILIZATIONS
4.
BUILT MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE TOO AS ELSEWHERE
5.
C.
TO DEPICT THEIR LEADERS SCULPTED IMMENSE STONE HEADS
a.
9 FT TALL, 20 TONS EACH
b.
PORTRAITS OF STRONG, THICK-LIPPED, BROAD-NOSED MEN
(1)
C. 1200 B.C.
c.
PAINTED PURPLE
6.
SAN LORENZO 1 OF CHIEF PLACES OF OLMECS ON GULF COAST NEAR VERACRUZ
7.
USED JUNGLE TOAD THAT CAUSED HALLUCINATIONS WHEN INGESTED & USED
IN THEIR RITUALS
8.
SACRIFICED HUMAN BEINGS TO THEIR GODS
9.
PRACTICED RITUAL CANNIBALISM
10.
MAY HAVE TAKEN HEADS OF CONQUERED FOES
11.
SOCIETY NON-EGALITARIAN
12.
2 CROPS PER YEAR OF MAIZE
13.
WORSHIPED A DIVINITY THAT WAS HALF MAN & HALF JAGUAR
14.
IN FACT, CLAIMED TO BE RELATED TO JAGUARS
a.
MOST PROLIFIC CAT IN AMERICAS
b.
JAGUAR ORIGINAL FATHER
c.
WERE JAGUARS, INFANTS W/FEATURES OF BOTH
(1)
ALMOST LIKE GREEKS' GOD ZEUS WHO COULD TRANSFORM
HIMSELF INTO A RANGE OF ANIMALS & OBJECTS
15.
ARTIFACTS LEFT US ARE COLOSSAL HEADS CHISELED FROM BASALT
16.
CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 300 YRS
17.
TRADE BACKED BY MIGHT KEPT THEIR CIVILIZATION GOING
18.
AROUND 900 B.C. WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PEASANT REVOLT
19.
COUPLED W/DYNASTIC WAR PERHAPS AMONG OLMEC ELITE UTTERLY
DESTROYED SAN LORENZO
20.
BUT OLMECS MOVED TO OTHER AREAS
a.
LA VENTA
21.
HAD WRITING LIKE EGYPTIANS, BUT INSCRIPTIONS CARVED INTO WOOD WHICH
ROTS IN HUMID HEAT OF JUNGLE SO NOT MANY EXTANT
22.
BY 200 B.C. CIVILIZATION IN STEEP DECLINE
TEOTIHUACAN CIVILIZATION
1.
FROM 300 B.C.- 700 A.D.
2.
1000 YRS
3.
A BRILLIANT CIVILIZATION FLOURISHED IN CENTRAL VALLEY OF MEXICO
4.
KNOWN AS TEOTIHUACAN CIVILIZATION AFTER NAME OF ITS SACRED CITY
5.
LOCATED CLOSE TO PRESENT MEXICO CITY
6.
CITY ALONE COVERED MORE THAN 9 SQUARE MILES
a.
LARGER THAN IMPERIAL ROME
b.
HOME TO MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE
(1)
C. 600 A.D
(2)
IT WAS BURNED LOOTED & ABANDONED 150 YRS LATER
7.
LIKE CONTEMPORARY CIVILIZATIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA
8.
RELIGION-BASED, GOVERNED UNDER RIGID THEOCRACY
9.
AS CULTURAL CENTER OF INDIAN WORLD TEOTIHUACAN CONTRIBUTED
HEAVILY TO INDIAN RELIGIOUS HERITAGE
10.
ITS ARTISANS ERECTED HUGE STONE PYRAMIDS
11.
LARGER THAN PYRAMIDS OF EYGPT BUT FORMED OF SMALLER STONES
12.
COVERED W/STUCCO & DECORATED
13.
IN CONTRAST TO PYRAMIDS OF NILE VALLEY, TEOTIHUACAN STRUCTURES
TEMPLES RATHER THAN TOMBS
14.
CARVINGS & COLORED FRESCOES WERE MAGNIFICENT
15.
TEOTIHUACAN PEOPLE INTRODUCED WORSHIP OF PLUMED-SERPENT GOD
QUETZALCOATL
16.
WHOSE CULT BECAME UNIVERSAL IN MESO-AMERICA
17.
D.
II.
AFTER TEOTIHUACAN CONQUERED BY INVADERS FROM NORTH ITS CULTURE
DECLINED
TOLTECS 10-12TH C
1.
2 CENTURIES LATER ANOTHER WARRIOR FOLK GAINED CONTROL OF VALLEY OF
MEXICO
2.
C 950 EST CENTER AT TULA
a.
50 MILES N OF MEXICO CITY
3.
ABOUT 2 CENTURIES IN EXISTENCE
4.
BUT HAD EXPANDED SOUTHWARD & EASTWARD TO OCCUPY GUATEMALA AND
YUCATAN PENINSULA
5.
INFERIOR IN ATTAINMENTS TO TEOTIHUCAN FOLK
6.
NB TRANSMITTERS OF CULTURE TO NEIGHBORING PEOPLES
7.
EVEN AFTER THEIR POWER BROKEN IN LATTER HALF OF 12TH C,
8.
LONG RESPECTED AS AN ARISTOCRACY OF WARRIORS
9.
ABSORBED ELEMENTS OF TEOTIHUACAN CIV BUT THEIR ART WAS CRUDER &
THEIR SOCIETY WAS MILITARISTIC RATHER THAN THEOCRATIC
10.
ALSO PRACTICED HUMAN SACRIFICE
11.
1 OF THEIR ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS GAME PLAYED ON LARGE COURT
W/RUBBER BALL
a.
BECAME POPULAR THROUGHOUT MESO-AMERICA
b.
LATER ON HUMAN HEADS WILL BE USED AS BALLS
12.
MORE SIGNIFICANT WAS THEIR EMBELLISHMENT OF THE QUETZALCOATL CULT
13.
AN ELABORATE MYTHOLOGY GREW UP AROUND HIM
14.
HE WAS IDENTIFIED AS A CULTURE BEARER & TEACHER WHO HAD BEEN DRIVEN
FROM TULA BY RIVAL WARRIOR GOD
15.
AFTER MUCH WANDERING HE ALLEGEDLY BURNED HIMSELF TO DEATH
16.
& HIS FLAMING HEART BECAME THE PLANET VENUS
MAYAS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
MESO-AMERICAN CIV REACHED HIGHEST INTELLECTUAL DEV UNDER MAYAS
2.
GREEKS OF THE NEW WORLD
3.
IN THEIR MIGRATION SOUTHWARD FOLLOWED MUCH SAME ROUTE OLMECS HAD
TAKEN
4.
SETTLING ON MEXICAN GULF COASTAL PLAN ABOUT 600 B.C.
5.
BY BEGINNING OF CHRISTIAN ERA HAD REACHED HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA
a.
HERE THEIR CULTURE MATURED
6.
MANY LIVING GUATEMALANS OF MAYAN DESCENT
a.
MANY STILL SPEAK MAYAN DIALECTS
7.
CULTURE REACHED PEAK DURING 300-900 A.D.
a.
SOME SCHOLARS SAY
8.
OTHERS SAY 500-800 A.D. REACHED PEAK
a.
WHEN TANG DYNASTY FLOURISHING IN CHINA
b.
ISLAM SPREAD IN MIDDLE EAST
c.
CAROLINGIAN RULERS EXTENDING THEIR SWAY IN EUROPE
9.
AFTER CENTURY OF ADVERSITY OR OBSCURITY
10.
ROSE TO ANOTHER CLIMAX IN 11TH & 12TH C.
11.
WHEN IT WAS FUSED W/THE TOLTEC ELEMENTS
12.
SO FINALLY PHASE OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION IS CALLED MAY-TOLTEC WHEN
TOLTEC WARRIORS ENTERED YUCATAN PENINSULA ABOUT 950 OCCUPYING
CHICHEN ITZA,
a.
CHIEF CULT SITE OF MAYAS
13.
FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES CHICHEN ITZA REMAINED BRILLIANT CENTER OF
WORSHIP, CEREMONIAL DISPLAY & ARTISTIC PRODUCTION
14.
BUT BY TIME OF SPANIARDS' ARRIVAL HAD LOST ITS VIGOR
15.
B.
C.
REMAINS OF THEIR GREAT TERRACED PYRAMIDS THAT ONCE DOTTED
LANDSCAPES OF MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA RANK AMONG WONDERS OF
WORLD
16.
BUT MAYAN GENIUS LESS EVIDENT IN TECHNOLOGY THAN IN INTELLECTUAL &
ARTISTIC FIELDS
17.
WALL FRESCOES, STONE SCULPTURE, WOOD CARVINGS, POLYCHROME POTTERY,
BEAUTIFULLY DYED TEXTILES
MAYAN CALENDAR
1.
BUT MAYAN CALENDAR SUCH REMARKABLE INVENTION
2.
MOST OF INDIAN PEOPLES HAD INGENIOUS METHODS OF RECORDING PASSAGE
OF TIME
3.
TOLTECS USED A SOLAR CALENDAR
a.
W/365 DAY YR & PROVISION FOR EXTRA DAY EVERY 4TH YR
4.
BUT MAYAN DEVICE WENT BEYOND SOLAR CALENDAR IN COMPLEXITY,
SOPHISTICATION & MATHEMATICAL SYMMETRY
5.
MAYANS SOUGHT TO CORRELATE CELESTIAL TIME - MOVEMENTS OF HEAVENLY
BODIES - WITH TERRESTRIAL TIME - HISTORICAL HUMAN EVENTS
6.
MAYAN CALENDAR MORE ACCURATE THAN ONE USED IN EUROPE BEFORE
GREGORIAN ONE IN 1582 (JULIAN BEFORE THAT)
7.
ALSO A LIBRARY OF INFORMATION, COMBINING RITUAL, MYTHOLOGY &
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE W/SEASONAL & ASTRONOMICAL DATA
8.
WORKING FROM AN ARBITRARY FIXED DATE
a.
AUGUST 10, 3113 B.C.
b.
ABLE TO DETERMINE INDIVIDUAL DAYS IN ANY YEAR
c.
COUNTING BACKWARD OR FORWARD
9.
A SINGLE CALENDRICAL INSCRIPTION OF EXACT DATE, CORRELATED IT
W/PLANETARY PHASES, AGE OF MOON, ECLIPSE PERIODS & OTHER PHENOMENA
10.
THIS ABILITY TO RECORD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRECISE DATE IN LIMITED
SPACE MADE POSSIBLE BY SYSTEM OF PLACE NOTATION
11.
USING CONCEPT OF ZERO, BUT GROUPING NUMBERS IN UNITS OF 20 NOT 10, THEY
ASSIGNED A PARTICULAR VALUE TO EACH SPACE ON A COLUMNA OF FIGURES
12.
& FROM THEIR CALENDAR & NOTATIONAL SCHEME THAT MAYAS EVOLVED THE
SYSTEM OF WRITING
13.
PICTOGRAPHIC IN ORIGIN LIKE EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS,
14.
EMPLOYED SOME 850 CHARACTERS
a.
SCHOLARS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT 600
15.
10% OF WHICH REPRESENTED SPOKEN SOUNDS RATHER THAN WORDS OR
OBJECTS
16.
HAVING GRASPED PRINCIPLE OF PHONETICS MIGHT HAVE DEV TRUE ALPHABET
IF THEIR CULTURE HAD ENDURED
17.
PRODUCED ILLUMINATED BOOKS W/CHARACTERS WRITTEN ON DEERSKIN &
PAPER MADE FROM FIBER OF THE MAGERY PLANT
18.
HAS NOW BEEN DECIPHERED
19.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY ALL BUT FRAGMENTS OF MSS DESTROYED AFTER
SPANISH CONQUEST
MAYAN RELIGION
1.
CHIEF DEITIES SPIRITS OF FOREST & SKY
a.
PLANET VENUS WAS LORD BIG EYE
2.
HUMAN SACRIFICE SOMETIMES OFFERED TO RAIN GOD
a.
TYPICALLY BY THROWING A VIRGIN INTO A WELL
b.
SHE MIGHT BE RESCUED IF THE GOD SHOWED HIS SATISFACTION BY NOT
DROWNING HER
3.
HIGHLY VENERATED WAS QUETZALCOATL BUT KNOWN AS KULKULKAN TO
MAYAS
a.
BENEVOLENT GOD
D.
E.
III.
b.
HAD ONCE LIVED ON EARTH AS A MAN
c.
HAD TAUGHT THEIR ANCESTORS THE ARTS OF CIVILIZATION
d.
& 1 DAY WOULD COME AGAIN TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE
4.
RULERS MUTILATED THEIR BODIES IN BELIEF THAT FLOW OF ROYAL BLOOD
WOULD NOURISH THE GODS
a.
MAN WOULD PIERCE HIS PENIS W/OBSIDIAN OR STING-RAY SPINE
b.
HIS WIFE WOULD DRAW A BARBED ROPE THROUGH HER TONGUE
5.
THESE ABOVE RITUALS BEFORE A WAR BEGAN
6.
ALSO WIFE WOULD DO HER MUTILATION WHEN HER HUSBAND'S YOUNGER WIFE
HAD A BABY
7.
CAPTIVE ENEMIES WERE OFFERED UP IN SACRIFICE
8.
HEARTS CARVED FROM THEIR CHESTS
a.
CONSIDERED HONORABLE WAY TO DIE
9.
IF SACRIFICED BECAUSE OF GAME PLAYED W/BALL THEN VICTIM EARNED
SEMIDIVINE STATUS FOR BEING ENTRUSTED W/MESSAGE TO GODS
a.
BURIED W/HIGHEST DISTINCTION, PROBABLY W/JADE BEAD SET IN HIS
MOUTH
MAYAN CULTURE RESTED ON AGRICULTURE
1.
RICE FOR ASIA, WHEAT FOR EUROPE, IN MESO-AMERICA IT WAS MAIZE
2.
PRACTICE INTENSIVE AGR IN RAISED FIELDS, NARROW RECTANGULAR PLOTS
3.
BECAUSE OF POOR SOIL CAUSED BY HEAVY TROPICAL RAINFALL & FIERCE SUN
4.
FARMERS MAY ALSO HAVE RELIED ON MILPA FOR GROWING MAIZE
5.
A PATCH OF FOREST LAND WOULD BE CUT & THEN SET AFIRE
6.
THEN USING A STICK TO POKE HOLES THROUGH ASH & PLANTED SEEDING HOLES
7.
THIS WOULD WORK FOR 2 YRS AND THEN HAD TO LIE FALLOW FOR 4-7 YRS.
8.
DOGS MAIN SOURCE OF PROTEIN
9.
BUT ALSO HAD TURKEYS
10.
GREW COTTON TOO THAT WAS WIDELY EXPORTED
DOWNFALL OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION
1.
MANY REASONS JUST LIKE WITH FALL OF ROMAN EMPIRE
a.
MAY BETWEEN 8TH & 10TH C ABANDONED THEIR CULTURAL &
CEREMONIAL CENTERS & ITS CIV COLLAPSED
b.
WHY - VARIOUS REASONS POSTULATED
(1)
FOREIGN INVASIONS
(2)
DOMESTIC REVOLTS
(3)
DISEASE
(4)
OVERPOPULATION & SUBSEQUENT CROP FAILURES
(5)
OVEREXPANSION POLITICALLY
2.
BUT ABOUT 2 MILLION MAYA SURVIVE TODAY IN YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO
RISE OF THE AZTECS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
DOMINATED CENTRAL VALLEY OF MEXICO WHILE MAYAN CIVILIZATION IN
DECLINE
2.
WE KNOW A GREAT DEAL OF AZTECS BECAUSE OF THEIR CODICES (FOLDED
SCROLLS OF PICTURE WRITING)
3.
& INFORMATION COLLECTED BY SPANIARDS AFTER CONQUEST
4.
THESE SOURCES CHRONICLE REIGN BY REIGN THE RISE & TRANSFORMATION OF
HALF-SAVAGE PEOPLE INTO GREAT CONQUERORS & RULERS DURING 2
CENTURIES PRECEDING DESCENT OF EUROPEANS
5.
1 OF MANY UNCULTIVATED NAHUATL-SPEAKING GROUPS TO DRIFT DOWN INTO
MEXICO
6.
HAD BEEN NOMADIC FOR CENTURIES FOLLOWING THEIR PRIESTS & THEIR GOD
HUITZILOPOCHTLE IN SEARCH OF A VAGUELY PROMISED LAND IN THE SOUTH
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
THEY FOUND IT ON A MUDDY ISLAND IN LAKE TEXCOCO IN HIGH VALLEY OF
MEXICO
WHERE AROUND 1325 BEGAN TO BUILD CITY THAT BECAME TENOCHTITLAN =
MEXICO CITY OF SPANIARDS
VENICE OF THE NEW WORLD
ORIGINALLY MARSHY GROUND, BUT CONSTRUCTED DIKES, CAUSEWAYS &
CANALS
STREETS PAVED W/STONES KEPT SCRUPULOUSLY CLEAN BY EFFICIENT PUBLIC
WORKS DEPT
HUMAN WASTE HAULED AWAY BY CANOE TO BE USED AS FERTILIZER
FRESH WATER SUPPLIED BY AQUEDUCT
POPULATION ROSE TO 200,000
ORIGINALLY RUDE FOLK LIVING LARGELY BY HUNTING & TRADING W/MORE
DEVELOPED PEOPLES
STOLE DAUGHTERS OF NEIGHBORS FOR WIVES AS MOST ANCIENT ROMANS HAD
DONE
HAD HUMAN SACRIFICE THAN EVEN SACRIFICE -PRONE MESO-AMERICANS
FOUND DISGUSTING
THEY WERE DEFINITELY LOOKED DOWN UPON BY CIVILIZED NEIGHBORS
BUT IN TIME THEY PRODUCED GREAT QUANTITIES OF FOOD ITEMS
& MANAGED TO ACQUIRE ENOUGH BRIDES TO PRODUCE RAPID GROWTH IN
POPULATION
a.
EVENTUALLY EMPIRE OF 5 MILLION
REALLY A FEDERATION OF TRIBES RATHER THAN A KINGDOM
THEIR FIERCE WARRIORS IN DEMANDS AS MERCENARIES & ALLIES INFREQUENT
WARS OF MEXICAN UPLANDS
a.
USING BOWS & ARROWS RATHER THAN ATLATL OR SPEAR OF TOLTECS
b.
ALSO WOODEN SWORDS EDGED W/RAZOR-SHARP OBSIDIAN
SEEM TO HAVE BEEN VERY QUICK LEARNERS
a.
PICKING UP TECHNIQUES OF POLITICAL INTRIGUE, ALLIANCE MAKING &
EMPIRE BUILDING
STEPPED INTO POWER VACUUM LEFT BY DISINTEGRATION OF OLDER TOLTEC
HEGEMONY
UNDER KINGS LIKE OBSIDIAN SERPENT & ANGRY LORD, THEY MADE WARFARE A
PAYING PROPOSITION
IMPOSING THEIR WILL BY FORCE & COLLECTING TRIBUTE OVER A WIDE AREA
UNDER MORE PEACE-LOVING RULERS IN 15TH & EARLY 16TH C THEY BUILT
GREAT TEMPLES, PALACES & GARDENS
CULTIVATED SUCH ARTS AS ASTRONOMY & ELOQUENCE
BUT HAD SUCCESSION PROBLEMS LIKE WEST AFRICA KINGDOMS
KINGS NOT CHOSEN ON HEREDITARY BUT FROM THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS
LINEAGES
BUT DID CONSIDER THEIR MONARCHS NOT ONLY AS ESSENTIAL
INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN PEOPLE & THEIR GODS
BUT INCREASINGLY AS GODS THEMSELVES LIKE PHARAOHS OF ANCIENT EGYPT
LARGE SCRIBAL BUREAUCRACY KEPT RECORDS OF FLOW OF TRIBUTES AND
ENDLESS WARS
RULERS APPOINTED GOVERNORS ON SOME 60 PROVINCES & SUBJECT PEOPLES
WARFARE THOUGH WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AZTEC SUPREMACY
a.
ALL MEN EITHER LIABLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE OR PRIESTHOOD
b.
THEY FOUGHT CONTINUALLY
c.
CRUEL TO VANQUISHED
d.
INFLICTED HARSH PUNISHMENTS UPON TRANSGRESSORS WITHIN THEIR
OWN SOCIETY
BUT ALSO TO SUPPLY SACRIFICES TO HUITZILOPOCHTLI AT HIS GIGANTIC
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
IV.
PYRAMID TEMPLE IN TENOCHTITLAN
W/FAMOUS AZTEC CALENDAR STONE IN FRONT OF TEMPLE OF SUN
a.
NOW IN MEXICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
b.
WEIGHING 20 TONS
c.
PRESUMABLY SERVED AS ALTAR FOR HUMAN SACRIFICE
AZTEC NOBLES, HIGH PRIESTS & KINGS LIVED IN SPACIOUS STONE HOUSES
a.
FLAT-ROOFED, DOOR LESS
b.
COOL PATIOS & GARDENS FILLED W/FLOWERS, FRUIT TREES & POOLS
c.
FABLED HALLS OF EMPEROR MONTEZUMA IMPRESSED EVEN EUROPEAN
CONQUERORS WITH THEIR SIZE, CLEANLINESS & GRANDEUR
AVERAGE AZTEC FAMILY HAD LITTLE SHARE IN SUCH SPLENDORS
LIKE PEASANTS WORLD AROUND TAUGHT TO KEEP THEIR PLACES & RESPECT
THEIR BETTERS
THEY WERE REQUIRED TO SERVE IN ARMIES & PAY TAXES IN PRODUCE & LABOR
SOME WERE SERFS OTHERS WERE SLAVES
BUT MOST PEASANTS LIVED AS THEY HAD FOR CENTURIES
USING SIMPLE WOOD & STONE TOOLS AS NO BEASTS OF BURDEN AVAILABLE
a.
NO OXEN, HORSE, ETC.
WOMEN SPUN & WOVE CLOTH FOR CLOTHING AS WOMEN HAVE DONE ALL OVER
WORLD
& SPENT MANY HOURS A DAY GRINDING CORN BY HAND TO MAKE TORTILLAS
a.
TOGETHER W/BEANS & CHILI, MAINSTAY OF DIET
AZTEC RELIGION ALSO REVEALS ACCENT ON VIOLENCE
BENEVOLENT SERPENT DEITY QUETZALCOATL SUBORDINATE TO SUN GOD &
WAR GOD
WHILE MANY INDIAN TRIBES RESORTED TO HUMAN SACRIFICE, AZTECS MADE
THE PRACTICE ALMOST THE BASIS OF THEIR RELIGION
ONE PURPOSE OF THEIR FREQUENT WARS WAS TO CAPTURE HUMANS FOR
SACRIFICE
AZTECS: WARRIOR LORDS OF MEXICO
A.
MEANING OF QUETZALCOATL
1.
OF ALL ANCIENT GODS OF MEXICO NONE AROUSED MORE REVERENCE & AWE IN
HEARTS OF MESO-AMERICANS THAN INCARNATION OF DIVINE SPIRIT THEY
CALLED QUETZALCOATL
a.
FEATHERED SERPENT
b.
GOD OF MERCHANTS
c.
GOD OF PRIESTS
d.
GOD OF LEARNING
e.
LORD OF WIND
f.
LORD OF THE DAWN HOUSE = PLANET VENUS
g.
ONCE & FUTURE GOD WHO SAILED OFF ACROSS THE SEA PROMISING TO
RETURN
h.
HYBRID DIVINITY
(1)
PLUMED SERPENT
(2)
OFTEN BEARDED
(3)
HAVING FANGS OF GREAT CAT
2.
SCULPTURE OF HIM GOES BACK AS EARLY AS 1 OR 2ND C A.D.
a.
ON WALLS OF TEMPLE OF THE SUN AT TEOTIHUACAN
3.
IN 900'S Q IN HUMAN FORM BELIEVED TO HAVE LED FAMOUS TOLTECS INTO
LANDS OF MAYA
a.
WHERE TEMPLES BUILT TO HIM UNDER NAME OF KUKULCAN
4.
IN 1500'S SO REVERED AMONG AZTECS WHEN SPANISH APPEARED IN THE VERY
MONTH FORETOLD FOR HIS RETURN
5.
MONTEZUMA'S ARMIES REFRAINED FROM VIOLENCE ANOTHER INVASION
6.
7.
8.
I.
WOULD HAVE UNLEASED
MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE
YET CORE OF IDENTITY PERSISTS IN PLUMED SERPENT FOR PERHAPS 1500 YRS
HIS MEANING BROUGHT THE ELEMENTS OF MESO-AMERICAN CULTURE
TOGETHER INTO A COMMON CORE
INCAS OF PERU
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
GREATEST IN TERRITORIAL EXTENT OF ANCIENT AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
2.
EMBRACED RANGES & PLATEAUS OF ANDES
3.
AT ITS HEIGHT INCLUDED MOST OF THE PRESENT COUNTRIES OF PERU,
ECUADOR, BOLIVIA & NORTHERN PORTIONS OF ARGENTINA & CHILE
4.
TO CONVERT SUCH A ROCKY TERRAIN INTO PRODUCTIVE CROPLAND
5.
& TO UNIFY A TERRITORY SO FRAGMENTS BY GEOGRAPHY WAS QUITE A FEAT
6.
ALTHOUGH EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE DESTROYED
7.
INCA CIV LEFT A PERMANENT MARK UPON THE AREA
B.
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
1.
ANDEAN MTNS REACH HIGHEST LEVELS IN PERU
2.
OFFSHORE IN PACIFIC OCEAN, HUMBOLDT CURRENT PULLED UP DEEP COLD
WATERS FULL OF FISH-ATTRACTING PLANKTON
a.
WORLD'S RICHEST FISHING GROUND
3.
THEN COASTAL DESERT SO DRY SOME PARTS GONE HUNDREDS OF YRS W/O
RECEIVING RAIN
4.
THEN MOUNTAINS
a.
BELOW PEAKS, 2ND ONLY TO HIMALAYAS (22,000 SOME)
b.
BUT ABOVE TIMBERLINE, ABOUT 12,000 FT
c.
LAY HIGHLAND PLATEAUS
d.
SOME QUITE DRY, BUT COVERED W/IMMENSE NATURAL PASTURES FOR
DEER, LLAMAS, VICUNAS & GUANACOS
e.
OTHER PARTS OF HIGHLANDS GOT LOTS RAIN
(1)
RICHER PASTURES DEV, GREAT SWAMPS & LAKES
(2)
EDIBLE PLANTS, ROOTS, ETC.
f.
RIVERS FLOWED DOWN TO SEA FROM MTS
(1)
JUST BELOW PLATEAUS HIGHEST VALLEYS OF RIVERS POTATOES,
SQUASH, BEANS, CERTAIN GRAINS
C.
DEVELOPMENT OF SETTLED COMMUNITIES
1.
TRADE BETWEEN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES STIMULATED
COMMUNICATION & GROWTH OF COMMUNITIES
2.
OCEAN PROVIDED PRIMARY FOOD FOR COASTAL PEOPLE
a.
ANCHOVIES
(1)
DRIED THEM, GROUND THEM INTO FISH MEAL
(2)
4000 YRS LATER STILL FOUNDATION OF REGION'S ECONOMY
(3)
TRADED PROTEIN RICH FISH MEAL FOR INLAND ROOT CROPS
(A)
SWEET POTATOES, WHITE POTATOES & OTHER TUBERS
3.
COTTON AS WELL AS FOOD CROPS FOR VALLEY FARMERS
a.
COTTON EXCHANGED FOR COASTAL SEA SHELLS & BRILLIANTLY HUED
AMAZONIAN BIRD FEATHERS,
(1)
BESTOWED ON THEIR LEADERS & USED IN RITUALS
4.
LATER ON LEARNED TO IRRIGATE DESERT AREAS
D.
CHAVIN CIVILIZATION C 11-9TH C B.C. - 5TH. B.C.
1.
INCAS BENEFICIARIES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE FROM A NUMBER OF OTHER
INDIAN PEOPLES
2.
ESPECIALLY THE CHAVIN
3.
ABOUT 1000 B.C. (OTHERS SAY IN 9TH C. ) WHEN OLMECS CAME TO GULF COAST
E.
F.
OF MEXICO
4.
CULTURE KNOWN AS THE CHAVIN FOUNDED ON SLOPES OF NORTHERN
PERUVIAN HIGHLANDS
5.
NEAR MODERN LIMA
6.
IT CONTINUED FOR 500 YRS OR MORE
7.
ALTHOUGH NO CONNECTION HAS BEEN PROVEN BETWEEN OLMECS & CHAVIN
8.
BOTH WORSHIPED THE SAME MAN-JAGUAR GOD
POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF INCAS
1.
ASCENDANCY OF INCAS BEGAN ABOUT BEGINNING OF 12TH C.
2.
REACHED ITS PEAK IN LATE 15TH C.
3.
SOME SAY GREATEST OF INCA EMPIRE BUILDERS WAS FIRST FAMOUS
PACHACUTI (1438-71)
4.
NEARLY 400 YRS FOR SOME HXS
5.
OTHERS SAY ABOUT 100 YRS IN ALL
6.
INCA EMPIRE 2500 MILES LONG DOWN WESTERN SIDE S.
7.
POPULATION MAY HAVE RUN AS HIGH AS 6-8 MILLION
8.
ALTHOUGH EMBRACING WIDE TERRITORY
9.
INCA DOMINIONS NEVER CONSTITUTED AN EMPIRE AS SPANISH CONQUERORS
ASSUMED
10.
BASICALLY NATION CONFEDERATION OF TRIBES
11.
WHICH WAS MADE UP OF CLANS
12.
EACH TRIBE GOVERNED BY COUNCIL OF ELDERS
13.
ALTHOUGH MORE LAYERS & ALL VERY BUREAUCRATIC
14.
RULER, WHOSE TITLE INCA HAS COME TO DESIGNATE THE PEOPLE & THEIR
CULTURE
15.
TRUE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
a.
W/ALL POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, ECONOMIC & SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
CENTERED IN HIM
b.
ONLY LIMITED TO HIS AUTHORITY WAS HIS OWN SENSE OF DUTY & SELFRESTRAIN
c.
LIVED IN SPLENDOR IN A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PALACE FOR EACH
RULER
d.
& HAD AS MANY WIVES & CONCUBINES AS HE WISHED
(1)
COULD NUMBER IN THOUSANDS
16.
REPUTED DESCENDED FROM THE SUN GOD
17.
CALLED SAPA INCA
a.
LIVED IN SPLENDOR IN CUZCO
b.
HE NEVER WORE SAME ELABORATE ROYAL REGALIA TWICE
c.
CARRIED ABOUT IN A GOLDEN LITTER TO A CHANTING OF HYMNS
18.
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN PURITY OF HIS DIVINE LINEAGE
19.
INCA SOMETIMES MARRIED HIS SISTER
20.
LIKE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PHARAOHS
21.
EVENTUALLY HEIR TO THRONE HAD TO BE A SON OF THE MONARCH AND THE
MONARCH'S SISTER
22.
RULER USUALLY HAD A NUMBER OF CONCUBINES
23.
WHOSE OFFSPRING COUNTED AMONG ROYAL FAMILY
24.
THUS "CHILDREN OF THE SUN" CAME TO INCLUDE A LARGE GROUP
a.
PRIVILEGED ARISTOCRACY
25.
RULER'S FAR-REACHING PERSONAL AUTHORITY RESTED ON HIS MILITARY &
RELIGIOUS ATTRIBUTES
ECONOMY
1.
AGRICULTURE AS PRACTICED BY INCAS REPRESENTS A TRIUMPH OF WILL &
ENERGY OVER NATURE
2.
CUTTING THROUGH SOLID ROCK & LEVELING STEEP INCLINES TO TERRACE
SIDES OF MTNS
3.
4.
G.
THEY BROUGHT UNDER CULTIVATION AN AREA LARGER THAN IS TILLED TODAY
IN FACT IT IS SAID THAT THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING PROBABLY HIGHER THEN
THAN UNDER ANY GOVT SINCE
5.
DOMESTICATED MOUNTAIN ANIMALS
a.
ALPACA & LLAMA
b.
PROVIDED MEAT, HIDES & WOOL
c.
LLAMA DEPENDABLE BEAST OF BURDEN
6.
SUBJECTS OF INCA EXPECTED TO PROVIDE TRIBUTE IN PRODUCE
7.
& PERFORM LONG HOURS OF LABOR FOR STATE
8.
GOVT EDICT REGULATED EVERYTHING
a.
FROM CARE OF CROPS & HERDS, CRAFT WORK & CONSTRUCTION
b.
TO MARRIAGE &RELIGION
9.
IN RETURN, INCA GOVT ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE DEFENSE, JUSTICE,
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
10.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION FROM GOVT GRANARIES IN TIMES OF SCARCITY
11.
MINIMAL CARE FOR WIDOWS & ORPHANS, THE OLD & SICK
12.
TO SOME PEOPLE LOOK LIKE A BENEVOLENT WELFARE-STATE, SOCIALISM
13.
TO OTHERS LIKE MODERN TOTALITARIANISM
14.
INCAS LIKE CHINESE DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE SKILLS IN ARTS OF SOCIAL
ORGANIZATION
15.
WHEREAS AZTECS LIKE WARLIKE JAPANESE
ART & ARCHITECTURE
1.
SUPERB POTTERY
2.
TEXTILE DESIGNS & METALWORK
3.
PARTICULARLY SHONE AS BUILDERS ON A GRAND SCALE
4.
OUTSTANDING ENGINEERS
a.
SUGGESTING A MENTALITY AKIN TO ANCIENT ROMANS
5.
THEIR CAPITAL AT CUZCO IN PERU SURROUNDED BY MAMMOTH STONE FORTS
6.
USED NO MORTAR
7.
LAID ROADS OVER MTS, CONSTRUCTED BRIDGES, TUNNELS, AQUEDUCTS
a.
REMARKABLE AS NO CONCRETE OR WHEEL AS ROMANS
8.
PROBABLY GREATEST ENGINEER FEATS, THEIR FAMOUS ROYAL HIGHWAYS
THROUGH ANDES
a.
ALMOST 9500 MILES OF ROADS
b.
ROADWAY GRADED, SMOOTHED, FREQUENTLY PAVED W/STONE &
WALLED WHERE IT RAN ALONG THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE
c.
HOSTELS & WAY STATIONS FOR POSTAL CARRIERS
d.
REGULAR CORVEE LABOR CREW MAINTAINED IT
9.
TO SEE INCA BUILDING TODAY
10.
1 MUST GO BY TRAIN, BUS AND FOOT UP TO MACHU PICCHU
a.
FAMOUS LOST CITY IN CLOUDS NORTH OF CUZCO
b.
DISCOVERED BY REST OF WORLD EARLY PART OF THIS CENTURY
c.
AT 7500-8000 FT ELEVATION
d.
OVERLOOKING VALLEY WHERE URUBAMBA RIVER FLOWS
e.
NOT ALL EXCAVATED YET
f.
TOWN DIVIDED INTO 2 PARTS
(1)
OUTSKIRTS FOR PEASANTS & SOLDERS
(2)
CENTRE FOR NOBILITY & CIVIL SERVANTS
11.
OPERATED POSTAL NETWORK W/HUMAN RUNNERS STATIONED CLOSE ENOUGH
INTERVALS
12.
MOST ADVANCED OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES IN MEDICINE, ESPECIALLY
SURGERY
13.
SURGEONS COULD PERFORM BRAIN OPERATIONS BY CUTTING THROUGH TOP OF
SKULL
14.
EARLY PERUVIANS FOUND IF CHEWED COCA LEAVES (WHERE COCAINE COMES
H.
I.
J.
FROM
15.
MIXED W/LIME PRODUCED BY BURNING SEA SHELLS, THE ALKALOIDAL
STIMULANT EFFECTIVELY COUNTERED THE FATIGUE HUMANS OFTEN
EXPERIENCE IN THIN, HIGH-ALTITUDE AIR
16.
DEVELOPED USE OF QUININE & COCAINE
17.
BUT IN SPITE OF HIGH MENTAL ENDOWMENT DID NOT DEVELOP ANY SYSTEM OF
WRITING
18.
KEPT STATISTICAL RECORDS BY MEANS OF ROWS OF KNOTTED STRINGS OF
DIFFERENT COLORS
a.
QUIPU
(1)
INCORPORATED PRINCIPLE OF PLACE-VALUE AS IN MAYAN
VIGESIMAL SYSTEM
RELIGION
1.
INCAS LIKE MOST PEOPLES IN HISTORY WERE POLYTHEISTIC
2.
BELIEVED IN A CREATOR GOD, VIRACOCHA
3.
WHO HAD MADE ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN & EARTH
4.
VIRACOCHA DID NOT RULE UNIVERSE
5.
HE LEFT THAT TO HIS CHIEF ASSISTANT INTI THE WUN
6.
BELIEVED TO BE ANCESTOR OF ALL THE INCAS
7.
MOON, VARIOUS STARS & MOTHER EARTH ALSO GODS
8.
& HAD EARLY RESPONSIBILITIES AS PATRONS OF CROPS, HERDS, TRADES
9.
INANIMATE OBJECTS ALSO HAD POWER INCLUDING TOMBS OF ANCESTORS
10.
RELIGION WELL ORGANIZED
11.
SHINES, TEMPLES
12.
PRIESTS & PRIESTESSES PERFORMED RITUALS & SACRIFICES
13.
PRIESTESSES AMONG BEST-EDUCATED & BEST-TRAINED WOMEN IN EMPIRE
14.
USUAL SACRIFICES GUINEA PIGS OR LLAMAS
15.
ONLY HUMANS SACRIFICED ON RARE OCCASIONS
a.
SUCH AS CORONATION OF INCA & BEGINNING OF MILITARY CAMPAIGN
16.
BELIEF IN RESURRECTION OF BODY
17.
BELIEVED IN CONCEPT OF HEAVEN AND HELL
18.
WITH HEAVEN FOR FAITHFUL WHO HAD PLEASED SUN
a.
AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDING NOBILITY
b.
& VERY COLD HELL W/O FOOD FOR OTHERS
19.
ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL DEITIES BUT BUILT TEMPLES ONLY TO SUN GOD
a.
SUPPOSED PROGENITOR OF ROYAL RACE
b.
IN HIS TEMPLE DECORATED W/SHEETS OF HAMMERED GOLD WERE
STORED EMBALMED BODIES OF DECEASED INCAS
c.
SOMETIMES ROYAL ATTENDANTS & CONCUBINES KILLED TO
ACCOMPANY AN INCA
d.
IN TEMPLE ANIMAL SACRIFICES TOO
e.
EVEN OCCASIONALLY HUMAN BEINGS OFFERED
INCA CAPITAL AT CUZCO
1.
HUGE CITY W/100-300,000 POP
2.
POP OF CITY REPRESENTED ALL VARIED PEOPLES OF EMPIRE
3.
SO EACH REQUIRED TO WEAR HIS OR HER OWN NATIVE COSTUME
4.
GREAT ARCHITECTURE
a.
PROBABLY BEST IN AMERICA
STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY
1.
1 OF MOST RIGIDLY STRUCTURED EVER TO BE FOUND
2.
LIKE A PYRAMID SYSTEM W/RULER AT TOP
3.
AT BOTTOM PEOPLE GROUPED IN UNITS OF TEN WITH A SQUAD LEADER
4.
RESULT WAS SOCIAL ORDER ALMOST TOTALITARIAN IN STRUCTURE
5.
BUT LARGELY COMMUNAL
6.
SYSTEM OF AGRI HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS AGRARIAN COMMUNISM
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
LAND OWNED BY INCA & DISTRIBUTED TO WORKERS
SURPLUS GOODS STORED & RELEASED WHEN NEEDED
OCCUPATIONS GENERALLY HEREDITARY
ALL ABLE-BODIED PERSONS PERFORMED ASSIGNED TASKS UNDER THREAT OF
SEVERE PUNISHMENT
RESULTS WERE HIGH PRODUCTIVITY, FULL EMPLOYMENT CARE FOR AGED &
INFIRM & EXTREMELY LOW CRIME RATE
MURDERERS & THIEVES EXECUTED BY BEING CRUSHED TO DEATH W/HUGE
STONES
EXILE & TORTURE LESSER PUNISHMENTS
WHILE PUBLIC REBUKE A GREAT DISGRACE
TRIALS HELD IN PUBLIC WITH ACCUSED HAVING RIGHT OF DEFENSE
MARRIAGE ENCOURAGED
W/OFFICIAL PAIRING OFF YOUNG EACH YEAR
LITTLE SCOPE FOR INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE
THIS DEPENDENCE ON SINGLE UNCHALLENGED AUTHORITY
PARTLY EXPLAINS WHY A SMALL BAND OF SPANIARDS COULD TAKE OVER
AFTER HAD SEIZED THE INCA RULER