Ch. 6: Commonalities & Variations

Chapter 6: Commonalities and Variations

• Civilization of Africa, Meroe:
• Gained many resources through trading
• Several different groups were common in Africa as the climate differentiated throughout the continent
• Many females were the ruling queens
• City in Nubia
• Axum:
• East Africa (100-600 CE)
• King adopted the religion Christianity, thus, influencing the people of Axum and the cities around it as well
• An example of monumental structures built by the second-wave era of civilizations is the column of Axum
• Along the Niger River: Cities without states
• Many urban cities around the river
• Many people began to move closer as the large drought occurred in Sahara
• Cities around the river never really established themselves through their structure, and had specializations and inequalities - metal skills increased power
• Civilizations of Mesoamerica:
• Known for the architectural achievements especially in regards to the environment around them
• Cities (usually) had their own government officials but no central authorities were present
• Why did they fall? No specific reason, thought to be due to a lack of resources and overpopulations through the towns
• Teotihuacan: The Americas' Greatest City
• large amounts of specialization present, along with great architecture
• Moche: A civilization of the coast
• As the pan-andes cult began to diminish, many civilizations flourished
• Located on the coast
• The civilizations were ruled by Priests- would perform human sacrifices with war victims 
• Wari and Tiwanaku:
• Andes was where the large capitals are located- lead to lots of trade
• Wari- irrigation brings water from the mountains to the crops
• Tiwanaku- stone walls/ buildings
• North America:
• Three Main Groups: Andean region, Mesoamerica, and the hunting/gathering people