Development of Classical States and Empires in Africa and the Americas
Classical Era (600 BCE – 600 CE)
3. Development of Classical States and Empires in Africa and the Americas (10/07) - Strayer (p. 282-300)
Classica Era Variations
Africa and the Americas
500 BCE – 1200 CE
The Maya Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tikal: in the Maya city of Tikal (present-day Gutaemala), served as tomb of Tikal ruler Jasaw Chan K’awiil I
Mesoamerican Maya + Peruvian Moche + civilizations in Africa (Meroë, Axum, Niger River valley) thrived
Those that did not organize around cities/states also had history
All human cultures were part of human migration
Beginning in Africa Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, Oceania
Three supercontinents: Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas
Took a momentous turn of the Agricultural Revolution
Transformed human life
World’s human population distributed unevenly across three giant continents
Eurasia > 80%
Africa = 11%
Americas = 5-7%
Why more attention on Eurasia than on Africa/Americas
Differences:
Absence of animals capable of domestication = no pastoral societies (Americas)
Africa lacked animals Eurasia had once Eurasia domesticated these animals, they became available in Africa (b/c of Eurasia’s and Africa’s proximity)
Metallurgy in Americas less developed than Eastern Hemisphere (iron tools/weapons = important in economic/military life)
Writing in Americas was limited to Mesoamerican region (most highly developed amongst Mayans) VS. Africa – restricted to N. and NE. parts of continent (during classical era) VS. Eurasia – writing emerged elaborately in many regions
Civilizations in Africa + Americas < Eurasia
Larger #s of their people (Africa + Americas) lived in communities and did not feature cities and states
I. The African Northeast
i. Africa = geographic concept, a continental biomass, ≠ cultural identity ii. Differences of Africa’s civilizations:
a. Small regions of Mediterranean culture in N. and S. extremes, large deserts (Sahara, Kalahari), larger regions of
3. Development of Classical States and Empires in Africa and the Americas (10/07) - Strayer (p. 282-300)
Classica Era Variations
Africa and the Americas
500 BCE – 1200 CE
The Maya Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tikal: in the Maya city of Tikal (present-day Gutaemala), served as tomb of Tikal ruler Jasaw Chan K’awiil I
Mesoamerican Maya + Peruvian Moche + civilizations in Africa (Meroë, Axum, Niger River valley) thrived
Those that did not organize around cities/states also had history
All human cultures were part of human migration
Beginning in Africa Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, Oceania
Three supercontinents: Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas
Took a momentous turn of the Agricultural Revolution
Transformed human life
World’s human population distributed unevenly across three giant continents
Eurasia > 80%
Africa = 11%
Americas = 5-7%
Why more attention on Eurasia than on Africa/Americas
Differences:
Absence of animals capable of domestication = no pastoral societies (Americas)
Africa lacked animals Eurasia had once Eurasia domesticated these animals, they became available in Africa (b/c of Eurasia’s and Africa’s proximity)
Metallurgy in Americas less developed than Eastern Hemisphere (iron tools/weapons = important in economic/military life)
Writing in Americas was limited to Mesoamerican region (most highly developed amongst Mayans) VS. Africa – restricted to N. and NE. parts of continent (during classical era) VS. Eurasia – writing emerged elaborately in many regions
Civilizations in Africa + Americas < Eurasia
Larger #s of their people (Africa + Americas) lived in communities and did not feature cities and states
I. The African Northeast
i. Africa = geographic concept, a continental biomass, ≠ cultural identity ii. Differences of Africa’s civilizations:
a. Small regions of Mediterranean culture in N. and S. extremes, large deserts (Sahara, Kalahari), larger regions of