Political Connections
Native Americans
Political Organization Bands: The Native Americans were grouped together in Bands. Bands ranged from 12 to 100 people and would work, live, and travel together. Nomadic Tribes: Multiple bands would usually make up a larger Nomadic tribe although it is rare to see a complete Nomadic tribe because the bands would individually travel separate ways. Villages: Sometimes the Native Americans would group into village groups which functioned similarly to Nomadic tribes. A group of related villages could conjoin to participate in band-level-hunts or to work and socialize together. How it impacted their art: - Due to their nomadic lives, their artworks were created to be reflective off of nature. - The Native American were the first to create implements with beauty meaning they made artworks with specific purposes. - An example of this can be seen from the image of the buffalo hide (to the left). Because the native americans were so connected with nature, they never killed animals for game, but instead for resources and art. The artworks were used to depict stories or historical events (like the one to the left) which were important to the development of the native's culture and politics. |
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Mayas
Political Organizations
They Mayans were divided into different political states. Each of these Mayan states were ruled by simple chiefdom's.
Nacom: Each of the Mayan states had a supreme military ruler called a Nacom. The Nacom were responsible for organizing military strategy, and summoning the troops into battle.
The Mayans believed that faith in their rulers were very crucial towards harmony in the Mayan universe.
At the time of the Spanish conquest the Yucatan was divided into 18 separate Mayan states. Nine of these states were ruled through leaders called Halac ulic, while the other nine were ruled by councils of noble or elite lineage or were allied with larger states.
Halach Ulic: Halach's were considered to be the highest ruler in the Mayan states, although in some cases, their power was limited by the council (holpop).
How it impacted their art:
- The Mayans were very serious about their religious devotion to the Gods, thus a lot of their architecture and artworks were created revolving around their beliefs.
- Stelas: Elongated slabs which were accompanied by rounded altars, which depicted rulers of the cities they were located in (often disguised as gods).
- Since every diviner (of from or like God) needed a book, there were large amounts of books that existed throughout the Mayan communities. These books were filled with Hieroglyphs that contained ancient writings mainly to honor the gods. Other purposes of these books include rituals, astronomy, and divination.
* Many of these texts were destroyed due to their Pagan religious content.
Political Organizations
They Mayans were divided into different political states. Each of these Mayan states were ruled by simple chiefdom's.
Nacom: Each of the Mayan states had a supreme military ruler called a Nacom. The Nacom were responsible for organizing military strategy, and summoning the troops into battle.
The Mayans believed that faith in their rulers were very crucial towards harmony in the Mayan universe.
At the time of the Spanish conquest the Yucatan was divided into 18 separate Mayan states. Nine of these states were ruled through leaders called Halac ulic, while the other nine were ruled by councils of noble or elite lineage or were allied with larger states.
Halach Ulic: Halach's were considered to be the highest ruler in the Mayan states, although in some cases, their power was limited by the council (holpop).
How it impacted their art:
- The Mayans were very serious about their religious devotion to the Gods, thus a lot of their architecture and artworks were created revolving around their beliefs.
- Stelas: Elongated slabs which were accompanied by rounded altars, which depicted rulers of the cities they were located in (often disguised as gods).
- Since every diviner (of from or like God) needed a book, there were large amounts of books that existed throughout the Mayan communities. These books were filled with Hieroglyphs that contained ancient writings mainly to honor the gods. Other purposes of these books include rituals, astronomy, and divination.
* Many of these texts were destroyed due to their Pagan religious content.
Incas
Political Organization The Emperor was believed to be a descendant from the Sun God (Inti) thus allowing him to rule with divine authority. The descendants of the emperor usually made up the next class down which was named the aristocracy. These pure blooded Incas held the most important government, military, and religious posts. Due to administrative purposes the Incas were divided into four regions. (Resembled the Suyus or: "Four Corners of the World"). Mit'a: This was a labor tax which required most people within the Incan empire, to provide labor for the public works. Alyu: The basis of the Incan society was called the Alyu. the Alyu were families who lived together and shared crops, land, and animals. Everyone belonged to an Alyu, and were born and died in their Alyu. The supreme god of the entire Incan empire was Varacocha (The Creator God). They also worshiped, of course, Inti the Sun God. The Incas also believed heavily in the afterlife and worshipping their ancestors. The Incas were very gifted in the sciences for example surgery which included amputations and bone transplants. They were also able to create a lunar calendar and knew multiple aspects about the solar system. How it impacted their art: - The Incas were very skilled in pottery, textiles and metalwork. They also used a lot of clay to make pots and devotional figures or animal forms. - They liked to weave wool and cotton into geometric patterns. - A huge Incan specialty was Goldsmithing. Smiths who worked on gold and silver lived in special cities and didn't have to pay any taxes. - Due to their great devotions to the dieties, multiple instruments were created out of natural materials. These instruments were used to play music and hold ceremonies that were devoted to their Gods of worship. |
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![Picture](/uploads/4/6/2/3/46231327/230809463.jpg?266)
Aztecs
Political Organization
Altepetl: The Aztec civilization was made up of multiple city-states called Altepetl.
Tlatoani: Each Altepetl was ruled over by a leader called a Tlatoani.
Cihuacoatl: A supreme judge and administrator, also part of the Altepetl.
The Tlatoani was the ultimate owner of land in his city-state. They received tribute, led the military, oversaw markets and temples, and resolved judicial disputes.
New emperors were selected by a high council made up of four nobles who were related to the previous ruler.
Pipiltn: This was the name for the nobles of the Altepetl.
the noble class was filled up with military leaders, priests, and lords (tecuhitli)
Priests were granted their own internal class system (which shows how important they were to the Aztec society).
Macehualtin: This was the name for the rest common people within the Aletpetl.
This commoner class consisted of farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Capulli: This is the term for the neighborhood wards in which the commoners resided in.
The aztecs also had landless serfs and salves, which was commonly made up of prisoners of war.
Women also had very little leadership within the society.
The Aztecs also had multiple laws such as Tax, preliminary, judicial, farming, commercial, etc.
How it impacted their art:
- The Aztecs language didn't specifically have a name for the word art so they just called them Toltecat (originating from the group name :Toltecs).
- Most of the art would go to the upper class due to the little amount of privileges that the lower classes received.
- A lot of their artworks reflected the common Aztec symbols which were mainly animals (ie. snake, monkey, bear, dog, etc.).
- Most of their best preserved art was religiously oriented such as brightly colored drawings of priests or gods. (Which is why priests had their own internal class system).
- One of their rulers (Montezuma II) greatly inspired artworks especially through his intricate and colorful headpieces that he wore.
- Many of the artworks made by the Aztecs were very lifelike and realistically created.
- Overall their artworks were shaped off of their long history of culture and religion from tribe to tribe.
Here is a video clip about how the Art of the Aztecs
was influenced from the Toltec tribe.
Political Organization
Altepetl: The Aztec civilization was made up of multiple city-states called Altepetl.
Tlatoani: Each Altepetl was ruled over by a leader called a Tlatoani.
Cihuacoatl: A supreme judge and administrator, also part of the Altepetl.
The Tlatoani was the ultimate owner of land in his city-state. They received tribute, led the military, oversaw markets and temples, and resolved judicial disputes.
New emperors were selected by a high council made up of four nobles who were related to the previous ruler.
Pipiltn: This was the name for the nobles of the Altepetl.
the noble class was filled up with military leaders, priests, and lords (tecuhitli)
Priests were granted their own internal class system (which shows how important they were to the Aztec society).
Macehualtin: This was the name for the rest common people within the Aletpetl.
This commoner class consisted of farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Capulli: This is the term for the neighborhood wards in which the commoners resided in.
The aztecs also had landless serfs and salves, which was commonly made up of prisoners of war.
Women also had very little leadership within the society.
The Aztecs also had multiple laws such as Tax, preliminary, judicial, farming, commercial, etc.
How it impacted their art:
- The Aztecs language didn't specifically have a name for the word art so they just called them Toltecat (originating from the group name :Toltecs).
- Most of the art would go to the upper class due to the little amount of privileges that the lower classes received.
- A lot of their artworks reflected the common Aztec symbols which were mainly animals (ie. snake, monkey, bear, dog, etc.).
- Most of their best preserved art was religiously oriented such as brightly colored drawings of priests or gods. (Which is why priests had their own internal class system).
- One of their rulers (Montezuma II) greatly inspired artworks especially through his intricate and colorful headpieces that he wore.
- Many of the artworks made by the Aztecs were very lifelike and realistically created.
- Overall their artworks were shaped off of their long history of culture and religion from tribe to tribe.
Here is a video clip about how the Art of the Aztecs
was influenced from the Toltec tribe.