Latin America Change Over Time Essay

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The Americas – Period 2 consist of North America and Latin America 600-600 CE. Many changes happened whether they were political, economic, or social. Changes over time for North America included trade expansion, tribal government, and agriculture. For South America changes were in the pyramids, Mayan astronomy, and village organization. North America's change in trade expansion and continuity in village life, nomadism, polytheism, and shamanism. Latin America's change in Pyramids, ceremonial buildings, and Mayan astronomy and continuity in Mesoamerican traditions, shamanism, and Ancestor veneration because most Latin American civilizations were based around religion and many of them shared their cultures with one another due to their geographical determinism. North America had many changes in period 2, but trade expansion was one of the main changes. North Americans could obtain a large variety of foods and resources nearby because the climate and terrain varied widely over a small area; local trade in the Andes with all people in mountains and people living on the coast; traded with Amazon river basin; no horses, so used pack animal of the llama. Latin America had a lot of changes over time in 600-600 CE, but they mostly had to do with religion and beliefs. Mesoamerican pyramids, pyramid-shaped structures, are an important part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. The Mayans had advanced architecture that included pyramid. Pyramids in Latin America were rebuilt again and again over already existing structures, in order to praise the current ruler. Rebuilding the pyramid was believed, a crucial process that renewed the king's relationship with the gods. Recent research has unearthed evidence that some pyramids did include tombs, and there is also evidence that city-states used the pyramids for military defense. The ancient Mayan astronomers were, recording and interpreting every aspect of the sky which led to the solar calendar and a number system. They believed that actions and the will of the Gods could be read in the stars, moon and planets; they spent much time to doing many of their most important buildings constructed with astronomy in mind. The Sun, Moon and planets (mostly Venus) were studied by the Maya. Political Changes in Latin America consisted in city-states, Mayan civilization, Andean societies and civilizations. Networks of city-states grew in the Maya region and, city-states linked through trade. Maya had a decentralized city-state structure. Olmec developed in southern Mexico and Maya civilization that followed in Yucatan Peninsula. Andean civilizations were mainly based on the cultures of Ancient Peru and some others Andean cities were usually smaller than Mesoamerican cities. The civilizations of the Andes never developed mathematics, writing, or a calendar. Andean civilizations were made up of different cultures that developed from the highlands of Colombia to the Atacama Desert. The different cultures of the empire were not all regularly loyal. North American political changes were the tribal government and regional empires. Tribal governments worked on these inherent rights through …show more content…
For Latin America the main social changes were that the priest was ruling, and the social structures of empires displayed hierarchies and patriarchal and women were appreciated. Olmec centers included large religious and civic buildings; irrigation and canal projects were also prominent features. It Is still speculated that the Olmec Were led by a king who had religious duties. Large stone heads found could be of the kings, athletes or warriors but no one is fully sure. Elite rulers were at the top of the social hierarchy and shamans were just right under and then the commoner class. The elite would make sure to make it known they were at the top by dressing themselves in fancy clothing and crafted objects. The small houses belonged to the commoners; they were made of sticks and mud. The increasing of food production was due to collective labor by the commoners. The Olmec left many jade and stone carvings which were found by the Americans and later influenced them. The most influencing thing left behind by the Olmec's were the sixteen giant heads carved from stone. Still not proven today but the thought is that these might be carvings of their leaders. These sculptures were possibly found around the urban centers or

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