Pre-Columbian era History of South America

1 pre-columbian era

1.1 agriculture , domestication of animals
1.2 human activity

1.2.1 norte chico


1.3 cañari
1.4 chibchan nations

1.4.1 muisca


1.5 amazon
1.6 andean civilizations

1.6.1 chavín
1.6.2 moche
1.6.3 tiwanaku
1.6.4 inca


1.7 arawac , carib civilizations

pre-columbian era

agriculture , domestication of animals

the americas thought have been first inhabited people eastern asia crossed bering land bridge present-day alaska; land separated , continents divided bering strait. on course of millennia, 3 waves of migrants spread parts of americas. genetic , linguistic evidence has shown last wave of migrant peoples settled across northern tier, , did not reach south america.

the first evidence existence of agricultural practices in south america dates circa 6500 bce, when potatoes, chilies , beans began cultivated food in amazon basin. pottery evidence suggests manioc, remains staple foodstuff today, being cultivated 2000 bce.

south american cultures began domesticating llamas , alpacas in highlands of andes circa 3500 bce. these animals used both transportation , meat; fur shorn or collected use make clothing. guinea pigs domesticated food source @ time.

by 2000 bce, many agrarian village communities had developed throughout andes , surrounding regions. fishing became widespread practice along coast, fish being primary source of food communities. irrigation systems developed @ time, aided in rise of agrarian societies. food crops quinoa, corn, lima beans, common beans, peanuts, manioc, sweet potatoes, potatoes, oca , squashes. cotton grown , particularly important major fiber crop.

the earliest permanent settlement, dated 3500 bc ceramic dating, valdivia on coast of ecuador. other groups formed permanent settlements. among groups muisca or muysca, , tairona, located in present-day colombia. cañari of ecuador, quechua of peru, , aymara of bolivia 3 important indian peoples developed societies of sedentary agriculture in south america.

in last 2 thousand years, there may have been contact polynesians sailed , continent across south pacific ocean. sweet potato, originated in south america, spread through areas of pacific. there no genetic legacy of human contact.

human activity

members of uncontacted tribe encountered in brazilian state of acre in 2009

based on archaeological evidence excavation @ caverna da pedra pintada, human inhabitants first settled in amazon region @ least 11,200 years ago. subsequent human development led late-prehistoric settlements along periphery of forest caused alterations in forest cover 1250 ce.

geoglyphs on deforested land in amazon rainforest, acre

for long time thought amazon rainforest ever sparsely populated, impossible sustain large population through agriculture given poor soil. archaeologist betty meggers prominent proponent of idea, described in book amazonia: man , culture in counterfeit paradise. claimed population density of 0.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.52/sq mi) maximum can sustained in rainforest through hunting, agriculture needed support larger population. however, recent archaeological findings have suggested region densely populated. 1970s, numerous geoglyphs have been discovered on deforested land dating between 0–1250 ce, leading claims pre-columbian civilisations. bbc s unnatural histories claimed amazon rainforest, rather being pristine wilderness, has been shaped man @ least 11,000 years through practices such forest gardening. recent anthropological findings have suggested region densely populated. 5 million people may have lived in amazon region in 1500 ce, divided between dense coastal settlements, such @ marajó, , inland dwellers.

norte chico

caral

on north-central coast of present-day peru, norte chico civilization emerged 1 of 6 civilizations develop independently in world. contemporaneous egyptian pyramids. preceded civilization of mesoamerica 2 millennia. believed have been civilization dependent on fishing rather agriculture support population.

the caral supe complex 1 of larger norte chico sites , has been dated 27th century bce. noteworthy having absolutely no signs of warfare. contemporary urbanism s rise in mesopotamia.

cañari

ingapirca, ecuador, caħari ruins: astronomical stone (left), tomb (right) , reconstructed house (background)

the cañari indigenous natives of today s ecuadorian provinces of cañar , azuay @ time of european contact. elaborate civilization advanced architecture , religious belief. of remains either burned or destroyed attacks inca , later spaniards. old city guapondelig , replaced twice, first incan city of tomipamba, , later colonial city of cuenca. city believed spanish site of el dorado, city of gold mythology of colombia.

the cañari notable in having repulsed incan invasion fierce resistance many years until fell tupac yupanqui. said inca strategically married cañari princes paccha conquer people. many of descendants still reside in cañar; believe have pure descent these ancestors, without mixing europeans.

chibchan nations

distribution of chibchan languages in southern central america , northwestern south america, present-day colombia

the chibcha-speaking communities numerous, extended territory, , socio-economically developed of pre-hispanic colombian cultures. divided 2 linguistic subgroups; arwako-chimila languages, tairona, kankuamo, kogi, arhuaco, chimila , chitarero people , kuna-colombian languages kuna, nutabe, motilon, u wa, lache, guane, sutagao , muisca.

muisca

the fine goldworking of muisca formed basis expedition caribbean coast heart of andes, developed advanced civilisation based on agriculture, salt production , trade

of these indigenous groups, muisca advanced , formed 1 of 4 grand civilisations in americas. inca in peru, constituted 2 developed , specialised societies of south america. muisca, meaning people or person in version of chibcha language; muysccubun, inhabited altiplano cundiboyacense, high plateau in eastern ranges of colombian andes , surrounding valleys, such tenza valley. commonly set @ 800 ad, history succeeded herrera period. people organised in loose confederation of rulers, later called muisca confederation. @ time of spanish conquest, reign spread across modern departments cundinamarca , boyacá small parts of southern santander surface area of approximately 25,000 square kilometres (9,700 sq mi) , total population of between 300,000 , 2 million individuals.

the muisca known salt people , extraction of , trade in halite brines in various salt mines of in zipaquirá , nemocón still important. extraction process work of muisca women exclusively , formed backbone of highly regarded trading other chibcha-, arawak- , cariban-speaking neighbouring indigenous groups. trading performed using salt, small cotton cloths , larger mantles , ceramics barter trade. economy agricultural in nature, profiting fertile soils of pleistocene lake humboldt existed on bogotá savanna until around 30,000 years bp. crops cultivated using irrigation , drainage on elevated terraces , mounds. spanish conquistadors best known advanced gold-working, represented in tunjos (votive offer pieces), spread in museum collections around world. famous muisca raft, centerpiece in collection of museo del oro in colombian capital bogotá, shows skilled goldworking of inhabitants of altiplano. muisca pre-columbian civilisation known in south america have used coins (tejuelos).

the gold , tumbaga (a gold-silver-copper alloy elaborated muisca) created legend of el dorado; land, city or man of gold . spanish conquistadors landed in caribbean city of santa marta informed of rich gold culture , led gonzalo jiménez de quesada , brother hernán pérez, organised strenuous of spanish conquests heart of andes in april 1536. after expedition of year, 80% of soldiers died due harsh climate, carnivores caimans , jaguars , frequent attacks of indigenous peoples found along route, tisquesusa, zipa of bacatá, on bogotá savanna, beaten spanish on april 20, 1537 , died bathing in own blood , prophesised mohan popón.

amazon


geoglyphs on deforested land in amazon rainforest

for long time, scholars believed amazon forests occupied small numbers of hunter-gatherer tribes. archeologist betty j. meggers prominent proponent of idea, described in book amazonia: man , culture in counterfeit paradise. however, recent archeological findings have suggested region densely populated. 1970s, numerous geoglyphs have been discovered on deforested land dating between 0–1250 ad. additional finds have led conclusions there highly developed , populous cultures in forests, organized pre-columbian civilizations. bbc s unnatural histories claimed amazon rainforest, rather being pristine wilderness, has been shaped man @ least 11,000 years through practices such forest gardening.

the first european travel length of amazon river francisco de orellana in 1542. bbc documentary unnatural histories presents evidence francisco de orellana, rather exaggerating claims thought, correct in observations advanced civilization flourishing along amazon in 1540s. believed civilization later devastated spread of infectious diseases europe, such smallpox, natives had no immunity. 5 million people may have lived in amazon region in 1500, divided between dense coastal settlements, such @ marajó, , inland dwellers. 1900 population had fallen 1 million, , 1980s, less 200,000.

researchers have found fertile terra preta (black earth) distributed on large areas in amazon forest. accepted these soils product of indigenous soil management. development of soil enabled agriculture , silviculture conducted in hostile environment. large portions of amazon rainforest therefore result of centuries of human management, rather naturally occurring has been supposed. in region of xinguanos tribe, remains of of these large, mid-forest amazon settlements found in 2003 michael heckenberger , colleagues of university of florida. among remains evidence of constructed roads, bridges , large plazas.

andean civilizations

chavín

the chavín, south american preliterate civilization, established trade network , developed agriculture 900 bce, according estimates , archeological finds. artifacts found @ site called chavín de huantar in modern peru @ elevation of 3,177 meters. chavín civilization spanned 900 200 bce.

moche

the ancient city of moche huaca del sol in background

the moche thrived on north coast of peru 2000–1500 years ago. heritage of moche comes down through elaborate burials, excavated ucla s christopher b. donnan in association national geographic society.

skilled artisans, moche technologically advanced people traded faraway peoples, maya. knowledge moche has been derived ceramic pottery, carved representations of daily lives. practiced human sacrifice, had blood-drinking rituals, , religion incorporated non-procreative sexual practices (such fellatio).

tiwanaku

the tiwanaku settled in present-day bolivia in around 400 bc.

inca

holding capital @ great puma-shaped city of cuzco, inca civilization dominated andes region 1438 1533. known tawantin suyu, or land of 4 regions, in quechua, inca civilization highly distinct , developed. inca rule extended hundred linguistic or ethnic communities, 9 14 million people connected 25,000-kilometer road system. cities built precise, unmatched stonework, constructed on many levels of mountain terrain. terrace farming useful form of agriculture. there evidence of excellent metalwork , successful skull surgery in inca civilization. inca had no written language, used quipu, system of knotted strings, record information.

arawac , carib civilizations

the arawak lived along eastern coast of south america, present-day guayana far south brazil. explorer christopher columbus described them @ first encounter peaceful people, although arawak had dominated other local groups such ciboney. arawak had, however, come under increasing military pressure carib, believed have left orinoco river area settle on islands , coast of caribbean sea. on century leading columbus arrival in caribbean archipelago in 1492, carib believed have displaced many of arawak settled island chains. carib encroached on arawak territory in modern guyana.

the carib skilled boatbuilders , sailors, , owed dominance in caribbean basin military skills. carib war rituals included cannibalism; had practice of taking home limbs of victims trophies.

it not known how many indigenous peoples lived in venezuela , colombia before spanish conquest; may have been approximately 1 million, including groups such auaké, caquetio, mariche, , timoto-cuicas. number of people fell dramatically after conquest, due high mortality rates in epidemics of infectious eurasian diseases introduced explorers, carried them endemic disease. there 2 main north-south axes of pre-columbian population; producing maize in west , manioc in east. large parts of llanos plains cultivated through combination of slash , burn , permanent settled agriculture.