WEBVTT 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:05.740 So you know brothers. 00:00:09.630 --> 00:00:11.617 It 00:00:11.650 --> 00:00:16.646 will see you 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:20.306 Mexico 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:28.256 today, a thriving nation, Mexico, the heart of middle America, that area 00:00:28.289 --> 00:00:31.976 of our continent which stretches from the southwestern part of what is now 00:00:32.009 --> 00:00:38.287 the United States through modern Panama. A land of little rainfall, vast 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:46.320 deserts, a land of tropical jungle of hot and humid lowlands of high 00:00:46.350 --> 00:00:52.366 mountains and rocky soil. A land where nature where the climate often work 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:59.196 against man. Mexico is a land where much of the soil is poor. The climate 00:00:59.229 --> 00:01:04.217 hostile where farmers must struggle to grow their crops, where they must 00:01:04.250 --> 00:01:08.906 use unique agricultural methods if they are to feed their families. Where 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:14.126 survival depends not only on their ingenuity but also on the rainfall and 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:19.087 the yield of the fields. Theirs is a precarious existence because over the 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:24.007 centuries man has ruined the soil of Mexico. 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:29.527 It's in this land of Mexico that the story of many americans begins part 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:35.507 of the heritage of every mexican american is found in Mexico and in spain 00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:39.367 And part of the heritage of every american in the Southwestern United 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:43.286 States is found in ancient Mexico. 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:48.557 In this lesson, we'll look at the heritage of ancient indian cultures. For 00:01:48.590 --> 00:01:53.426 Mexico is one of the world's great cradles of civilization. It's one of 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:57.656 the areas of the Americas where thousands of years ago man developed 00:01:57.689 --> 00:02:00.846 unique civilizations, 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.277 advanced civilizations based on agriculture in a land where cultivation of 00:02:06.310 --> 00:02:12.367 crops was difficult. Let's look back to those ancient cultures, a story 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:18.547 that began hundreds of years before Europeans came to the new World. It 00:02:18.580 --> 00:02:24.126 begins at the time when man first appeared in the new world, He migrated 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:29.416 to the Americas, But there is recent evidence that man may have arrived in 00:02:29.449 --> 00:02:36.807 America 40 or more years ago. archaeologists think that man probably came 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.856 to the Western Hemisphere from Asia, that he crossed the Bering straits 00:02:40.889 --> 00:02:46.686 from Siberia to Alaska. During an ice age, the oceans were shallow and 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:52.717 people probably walked the short distance to the new continent. Man began 00:02:52.750 --> 00:02:58.337 a slow journey southward through the Americas. Some people stayed behind 00:02:58.370 --> 00:03:04.327 in one location while others moved on and man finally reached the tip of 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.006 south America. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.636 During the thousands of years after man arrived in the new world, his 00:03:11.669 --> 00:03:17.087 physical characteristics probably changed somewhat. His features were no 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:23.606 longer those he brought from Asia. New stocks of men developed 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:30.136 the indians of the Americas and as men became new physical types as they 00:03:30.169 --> 00:03:36.177 migrated to new areas, they used and developed a variety of languages. 00:03:36.210 --> 00:03:39.856 Today there are many different languages spoken between the northern 00:03:39.889 --> 00:03:45.267 border of Mexico and the southern border of Guatemala. People who speak 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:50.517 one language often cannot understand neighbors who speak another, but all 00:03:50.550 --> 00:03:56.406 of these people share an asian heritage and similar cultural traditions. 00:03:56.439 --> 00:04:03.077 Now the first men probably came to America as hunters and gatherers, they 00:04:03.110 --> 00:04:07.506 hunted the big game, living in the subtropical forests that covered vast 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:12.997 areas of north America and as food supplies were used up in one area, the 00:04:13.030 --> 00:04:21.030 hunters moved on to another. 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:29.806 Later as the big game became scarce, perhaps because of changes in climate. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.687 Men in some locations began to live on the wild plants and seeds. They 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:40.236 could gather. And slowly these men developed agriculture, an event which 00:04:40.269 --> 00:04:45.017 had occurred in only a few areas of the world. Mesopotamia and Central 00:04:45.050 --> 00:04:47.707 Africa, for instance, 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:55.740 Perhaps quite by accident. Around 2500 BC man discovered corn. People in 00:04:56.069 --> 00:05:00.746 small areas of Mexico found that some of the seeds they had been gathering 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:06.806 could be planted. That the growth of food plants could be controlled 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:13.437 corn is an almost perfect food. It can be eaten cooked or raw, or it can 00:05:13.470 --> 00:05:18.656 be dried and preserved in many forms from corn meal, which can be mixed 00:05:18.689 --> 00:05:23.017 with water to form a flour for baking two powdered corn, which can be 00:05:23.050 --> 00:05:29.176 boiled and eaten as a gruel or drunk as a beverage. Corn plants don't 00:05:29.209 --> 00:05:34.217 require daily attention once the soil was prepared and some seeds were 00:05:34.250 --> 00:05:39.327 planted, the ancient farmer had some extra time, although his tasks were 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:43.906 time consuming, he could think about things other than a constant search 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:49.926 for food. He could make tools and household articles and he could develop 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:55.786 decorations and art which added color and life to his existence. 00:05:55.819 --> 00:06:00.567 The cultivation of corn, a crop that requires rain only in the seedling 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:06.036 stage, and that needs only moderately good soil, became the backbone of 00:06:06.069 --> 00:06:11.536 indian life and corn itself became the basis of civilization on this 00:06:11.569 --> 00:06:13.906 continent 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:19.017 to the indians, corn was a gift of the gods. It was an expression of the 00:06:19.050 --> 00:06:25.106 favor of the gods, their reward to the indians for devotion and hard labor. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:29.926 Even today it is the food that's most typical of the way of life of the 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:32.306 mexican. 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:37.697 The soil of Mexico does not yield its crops easily. The layer of topsoil 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:43.327 is often thin years ago. The indians developed means of coping with these 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:48.127 problems and many of the techniques of the early farmers are still used 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.846 today. In middle America, the simplest, which you can still see in many 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:59.837 areas is the one field system of farming. Year after year, the farmer 00:06:59.870 --> 00:07:04.587 grows his crops on the same plot of land until eventually the soil is 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:10.866 exhausted and won't produce, or the farmer might use the to field system 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:16.467 of farming, A plot of land is divided into two fields. One field is 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:21.096 planted, the other is left fallow for a year or two to allow natural 00:07:21.129 --> 00:07:27.837 growth to rot and enrich the soil. A third technique is slash and burn 00:07:27.870 --> 00:07:33.976 farming. A field is cleared by felling trees and burning underbrush. This 00:07:34.009 --> 00:07:38.096 burning produces immediately usable fertilizers in which to plant the 00:07:38.129 --> 00:07:43.207 seeds, crops are cultivated until the undergrowth once again takes over or 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:49.806 the soil is exhausted. The fields are abandoned and new ones cleared 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:54.437 tools and farming techniques. In ancient Mexico were rudimentary by our 00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:58.736 modern standards. They were very similar to those used elsewhere in the 00:07:58.769 --> 00:08:05.356 world. The main farming tool was the koa or digging stick and the koala is 00:08:05.389 --> 00:08:09.707 still used in some areas. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:13.387 The early american farmer developed many of the foods that are an 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:18.556 important part of the world's diet today. These foods were unknown in Asia 00:08:18.589 --> 00:08:24.707 europe or africa before the spanish conquest of Mexico foods like corn, 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:29.647 beans and squash, still the basis of the indian diet Throughout the 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:37.680 Americas like avocados, peanuts, chili peppers, tomatoes, maguey and 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:42.646 potatoes. These are some of the contributions of the indian farmers 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:47.726 working against the forces of nature, carving out an existence in spite of 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:55.759 scarcity of good arable land. 00:08:57.750 --> 00:09:02.587 Once he had learned to control his food supply, man could lead a more 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:09.067 stable settled life societies emerged. The civilizations of the new world 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:11.106 developed. 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:15.856 What little we know about. The ancient cultures of Mexico comes to us 00:09:15.889 --> 00:09:20.067 through the work of archaeologists. Their studies are often limited to 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:24.567 examination of the stone building and burial sites that have survived the 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:29.717 ages like this one in Mexico and too careful examination of broken 00:09:29.750 --> 00:09:33.817 fragments of pottery and other artifacts. 00:09:33.850 --> 00:09:39.957 Some ancient temples remain, but the homes of people who lived 1000 or two 00:09:39.990 --> 00:09:45.496 years ago have long since disappeared. However, archaeologists have been 00:09:45.529 --> 00:09:50.386 able to develop some theories about these ancient societies. They tell us 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:55.026 for example, that the first evidence of a developing society in Mexico 00:09:55.059 --> 00:10:00.947 appeared about 900 BC. Approximately the same time that Carthage was 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:06.937 founded on the mediterranean sea. Now this society, as we have seen, 00:10:06.970 --> 00:10:13.167 depended heavily on the whims of nature. The soil of Mexico was often thin 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:18.787 and rainfall meant the difference between survival and starvation. Men 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:23.476 believed that the forces of nature were gods and that nature would smile 00:10:23.509 --> 00:10:29.217 upon Mexico if the gods were happy and contented if men demonstrated that 00:10:29.250 --> 00:10:34.106 they loved the gods and were obedient to their will, 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:38.087 there emerged a group of people who studied the forces of nature to 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:43.106 determine the will of the gods and to interpret that will to the people. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:48.106 They became the priests of the religion. They developed rituals and 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:52.917 explain the way of life necessary to ensure the continuing good favor of 00:10:52.950 --> 00:10:59.866 the gods. Eventually the society became theocratic. The priests ruled all 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:05.567 affairs both religious and non religious and we're the highest authority. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:12.116 This type of society lasted in Mexico for about 1500 years. The early 00:11:12.149 --> 00:11:16.776 theocratic societies were marked by the first large scale construction of 00:11:16.809 --> 00:11:21.096 religious centers. The rituals could be conducted in accordance with the 00:11:21.129 --> 00:11:26.167 will of the gods as determined by the priests. It was in the period after 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:33.136 900 BC. That the first great temples were built. This early development of 00:11:33.169 --> 00:11:38.827 civilization is attributed to a people shrouded in legend, the Olmecs who 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:44.756 had a very distinctive art style. The seat of all make culture was La 00:11:44.789 --> 00:11:50.187 venta on the gulf coast near the modern city of veracruz and it's 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:54.447 considered by many archaeologists to be the most important predecessor of 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:59.427 later Mexican civilizations. It's certainly influenced later cultures to a 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.717 great extent. 00:12:01.750 --> 00:12:06.327 The all next style was borrowed by others, like the Zappa Tex of Monte 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:12.067 Alban near Oaxaca. In many cases, the borrowing was so extensive that it's 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:16.037 difficult for modern archaeologists to determine which cities were really 00:12:16.070 --> 00:12:23.537 all make. Some of the artifacts found at La Vaba are dated as early as 900 00:12:23.570 --> 00:12:29.266 BC. There is evidence at La Venta that the art style and therefore the 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:36.567 civilization lasted over 500 years. Art is one of the means by which we 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:41.876 can trace a civilization, but it must be remembered that what is art to us 00:12:41.909 --> 00:12:47.317 today was part of the day to day life of those ancient peoples through 00:12:47.350 --> 00:12:52.407 their art, we're looking at their religion, their household implements, 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:58.927 their economic system. In fact, many aspects of their way of life. The 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:04.136 almanac was a distinctive art style, noted for the life like quality of 00:13:04.169 --> 00:13:10.297 its figures. All Mac sculpture made extensive use of jade, a stone still 00:13:10.330 --> 00:13:14.577 considered precious as it was during the pre hispanic phase of Mexican 00:13:14.610 --> 00:13:20.407 history. Many of the almanac figures showed people in their daily lives, 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:27.606 but the most distinctive were jaguars or half man, half jaguar figurines. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:33.307 This animal was of great significance to early theocratic societies 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:38.746 for the jaguar was associated with a god clock, the god of rain and 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:44.256 fertility, Chief of the forces of nature. It's hardly surprising that 00:13:44.289 --> 00:13:49.506 clock would be the chief god of peoples to whom the rainfall was crucial. 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:54.447 Their very survival. The growth of the crops depended upon clocks, 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:56.457 goodwill 00:13:56.490 --> 00:14:02.246 and so the jaguar symbol of clock symbolizes the power that controls the 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:07.337 earth. This influence of all Mac culture continued in Mexico through the 00:14:07.370 --> 00:14:13.106 centuries to come. Now. We've said that the dominant figure of theocratic 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:18.707 society was the priest. The religious specialist. The ancient priest was 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:24.447 both the civil and the religious authority and the center of his power was 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:30.337 the temple. But the priests also had power over men as specialists of 00:14:30.370 --> 00:14:36.467 organization, the ceremonial center and the many rituals required labor 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:41.697 from the people and a share of the goods the society produced. The priests 00:14:41.730 --> 00:14:45.917 developed a means of keeping records and transmitting information to each 00:14:45.950 --> 00:14:50.707 other. They guarded this secret from the people as a means of continuing 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:57.067 their power for the Mayan indians of Mexico, like the people of ancient 00:14:57.100 --> 00:15:03.606 samaria and Egypt had developed a symbolic communication system. Writing 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:08.896 not as we know it, but Hira graphic writing, the sort of picture writing 00:15:08.929 --> 00:15:15.256 you see here and through this ability to write and read. The priests were 00:15:15.289 --> 00:15:19.846 the only ones who could understand the ritual and thus they were able to 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:27.879 exercise complete control over society. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:37.077 Let's look at another important role of the priests. The rhythm of 00:15:37.110 --> 00:15:41.927 planting and harvesting and ritual ceremonies required an accurate 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:47.167 knowledge of time. The early priests studied the sun and the stars and 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:52.506 became expert in astronomy and mathematics and with this knowledge, they 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:57.776 were able to develop one of the great achievements of ancient Mexico. They 00:15:57.809 --> 00:16:02.256 developed a sophisticated and accurate calendar which the Aztecs were 00:16:02.289 --> 00:16:07.707 still using when the Europeans arrived in the new world. 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:14.407 There were two Basic Calendars. One had a count of 260 days and was 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:19.817 primarily a sacred almanac used to determine the rituals ceremonies and 00:16:19.850 --> 00:16:23.697 good and bad days for worship. 00:16:23.730 --> 00:16:30.496 The second was based on a count of 365 days. This year was divided into 18 00:16:30.529 --> 00:16:37.876 months of 20 days, each With five evil days at the end of the year, Every 00:16:37.909 --> 00:16:42.817 52 years, the counts of both calendars coincided and there was a period of 00:16:42.850 --> 00:16:46.307 great crisis for the people. 00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:50.276 Another great civilization, which also had developed a sophisticated 00:16:50.309 --> 00:16:56.067 calendar and great ceremonial centers was that of the Mayas. The Maya 00:16:56.100 --> 00:17:00.317 civilization began its development about the same time as the Olmec 00:17:00.350 --> 00:17:06.066 culture and lasted much longer. Everywhere. The priests interpreted and 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:12.976 control the calendar and this function gave them economic power. 00:17:13.009 --> 00:17:19.117 The Theocratic society is encouraged in fact demanded elaborate service to 00:17:19.150 --> 00:17:25.536 the gods. The gods demanded offerings and the people gave their corn their 00:17:25.569 --> 00:17:32.516 pottery a portion of whatever was valuable to them. The best craftsman of 00:17:32.549 --> 00:17:36.947 a society were called upon by the priests to beautify the temple's. Just 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:42.006 as many centuries later. The greatest artists and sculptors of europe were 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.759 employed to beautify the great cathedrals.