Pre-Columbian Americas

See

• Prehispanic Mesoamerica
• Pre-Columbian Americas

pre-pottery Andean civilization

• west-slope of the Andes
• changes in elevation within close proximity
  • provided multiple ecological environments
  • variety of
  • access to the ocean
• population growth along three river valleys
  • Fortaleza, Pativilca, Caral-Supe rivers

City of Caral

Pyramids at Caral-Supe

• the oldest city in the Americas is "Caral-Supe" or "Caral" in Peru
  • "Caral" is the city
  • "Supe" = the valley
• built approx. 3,000 BC
  • contemporaneous (same time) with Ancient Egypt
• population was approx, 3,000
  • other similar sites suggest overall regional population of up to 20,000
• consists of ceremonial, monumental and administrative buildings/ structures
• city layout shows signs of social classes
  • large residential complexes near to ceremonial structures
  • small rooms in other areas
• built pyramids
• created the pattern of urban design in the Andes through to the Inca
• shows no signs of warfare of defensive structures

Collapse

• earthquakes
• wind-blown sand and sediment from wind shift towards inland from the sea
  • disrupted agriculture
  • disrupted fisheries

Predynastic Egypt Timeline

sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predynastic_Period_of_Egypt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Egypt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.9_kiloyear_event

Stone Age to early Civilization
Event	Date
Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers with semi-nomadic dwellings along Nile	30,000- 10,000 BC
Neolithic period commences along Nile	9,000 - 5,500 BC
boats with sails depicted on rocks	6,000 BC
Egyptian calendar established with the first recorded date being	4241 BC
trade with Middle East; linen weaving, household goods;	4,000's BC
Sahara desertification causes migration to Nile river valley by	3,900 BC
extensive use of copper	3,600 BC
donkey domesticated by	3,400 BC
separate Upper and Lower Egypt kingdoms solidify	3300 BC
unification of Egypt under Menes or "Narmer"	3100 BC
Hieroglyphic Writing developed	3100 BC

misc notes / to do =

• Metallurgy in pre-Columbian Americas per region:
  • North America: no smelting
    • copper readily available, malleable by hammering
  • South America developed smelting
  • Mesoamerica metallurgy via South American diffusion
• see: Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America - Wikipedia
  • iron readily available
  • gold / silver / copper
    • gold hammered
    • tumbaga: copper-gold alloy
      • used for casting
  • gems used extensively / jade
  • obsidian used for edges/ knives/ cutting
    • ability to cut stone
    • but not wood
  • • source: The Minerals of Pre-Columbian America | Rock & Gem Magazine (rockngem.com)
  • • Andes region alloy use
      • tin used for specific but not general purposes >> "wirework bells"
        • tin deposits avail, not exploited
    • copper smelting in drafted furnaces
    • mercury
    • platinum developed in Andes region
      • copper, gold, silver alloys
      • technology adopted by Spanish
    • sinnabar
  • wood less useful
    • charcoal not developed
    • planks not exploited for buildings / ships

Americas