Episode 19 High Middle Ages in the Americas

The Middle Ages Around the World

Dr Joyce E Salisbury

Film Review

Dr Salisbury estimates the  medieval population of the Americas was about 100 million (more than all of Europe). American population growth was driven by the domestication of corn around 9000 years ago. Originating in Mesoamerica, these crops spread northward, reaching the Mississippi and Missouri River basin between 950-1000AD. For the most part early Native Americans practiced slash and burn agriculture,* with corn, beans, squash as their main the main staples. Their only domesticated animals were dogs, turkeys, guinea pigs, llamas and alpacas. Llamas and alpaca, which were also used for meat, were their only work animals.

North American Civilizations

• Mayan Empire

By 1000 AD, the great Mayan empire had fragmented through encroachment of other tribes on their territory, though several Mayan cities persisted. They were great mathematicians and astronomers and used the concept of zero centuries before the rest of the world. They practiced human sacrifice to guarantee the fertility of their crops. The Aztecs migrated into Mexico in 1300.

• Mississippian Civilization

In North America, the arrival of corn, rice and beans from Central America spurred the birth of the Mississippian civilization (along the Mississippi/Missouri River tributaries), which engaged in long distance trade along both rivers, obtaining copper from the Great Lakes and seashells from Florida. Their largest city Cahokia reached a population of 20,000-40,000 people/

In 1000 AD, warmer weather and improved food production also supported the development of the Chaco Canyon civilization by the Anastasi (ancestors of the Pueblo). Their total population reached 2,000 in 15 main complexes. Their pueblo apartment buildings were the tallest buildings in North America until the 19th century. Some were six stories tall up to 600 rooms. They practiced irrigation agricultural, using dams in nearby canyons to capture and divert rainwater. Increasing drought led inhabitants to abandon Chaco Canyon at the end of the 12th century.

South American Civilizations

• Andean Civilizations

The Andean civilizations owed their success to domestication of potatoes, which grow at altitudes up 1,000 feet and can remain in the ground up to a year – or even longer with freeze drying – without spoiling. They also ate sweet potatoes and llama and alpaca meat and grew cotton, which they mixed with alpaca and llama wool to weave into blankets and clothing, which were valuable trade items. These civilizations civilizations also smelted copper (a skill that spread to North America), as well as gold and silver.

The Chimor Empire (in modern day Peru) reached its peak in 1000 AD. Its inhabitants used irrigation consisting of “walk-in” wells and reservoirs. The Chimor capitol Chun was 2 1/2 square miles in area and had five ceremonial centers. Only elites and artisans (weavers and metal workers) were allowed to live there. Commoners lived outside the city walls. Practicing ancestor worship, they believed their king was a god. Because his mummified body continued to occupy his home and his descendants had to build new palaces of their own.

They traded with Chile and Mesoamerica. Their most high prized commodity were shells that highly paid divers pried off rocks on the ocean floor. The king used his accumulated wealth to pay armies to conquer neighboring tribes. The Empire began to fail due to a 200-year drought in 1000AD. In 1470 they were conquered by the Inca, who adopted their culture.

• Amazon Basin Civilizations

During the Middle Ages, the Amazon River basin was home to around 5 million people who built pyramids and lived in major population center.  Some took the form of villages stretching up to 20 miles along the river.

Although most Amazonian soil is too acid to be fertile, soil, around 6000 years ago, these cultures accidentally increased its fertility by burying food waste and charcoal.* Archeologists have found evidence of cultivation beds up to 1200 acres, in which indigenous resident grew manioc, squash and sweet potatoes. This was addition to the  food forests of nut and fruit trees they created

*Other sources suggest the Amazonian’s use of biochar wasn’t accidental. See https://biochar.co.nz/about-biochar

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https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/13172786/13172827