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20 - The Americas

from Part II - Trans-regional and regional perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

By
Erica Begun  and
Janet Brashler
Edited by
Craig Benjamin
Craig Benjamin
Affiliation:
Grand Valley State University, Michigan
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Summary

The 'best' theoretical approaches for understanding emergent complex systems remains an area of continuing attention and discussion in the archaeology of the Americas as well as other parts of the world. In 1200 BCE, most people in North America were living an 'archaic' lifestyle, with some groups engaging in experiments with horticulture. Early constructions such as LAnse Amour in Labrador appear associated primarily with mortuary activity and were likely monuments associated with egalitarian mobile foragers. The North American Southwest, like other regions of the continent, was characterized by relatively small-scale 'archaic' societies. This chapter overviews the major developments of the Mesoamerican peoples during the time periods ranging from the emergence of complexity in the Preclassic/Formative through the collapse of the subsequent Classic period civilizations. In the Valley of Oaxaca, one can see clear evidence for increasing cultural complexity during the Preclassic/Formative period. Like North America during Pre-contact times, South America was home to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

Keywords

Amudaria Riverancient EurasiaAchaemenid kingdomTokharianBronze AgeKushan EmpireBaktria
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge World History , pp. 537 - 571
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2015

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