Americas and Oceania

Mesoamerica

18,000 BCE

Humans began arriving in the Americas around 18,000 BCE, with massive migration in the next 3,000 years. The first immigrants were hunter-gatherers who were most likely following herds of animals, which eventually began to thin out because of hunting and climate changes.

Mayan Calendar

3114 BCE

A calendar used to predict the future. It was created through the precise mathematical and astrological work of priests. With this, they could also predict the movement of the planets. As well as this they were able to maintain and create a solar and ritual calendar that would coincide every 52 years. With this, they were hoping to predict the future effects on the heavens and their people.

Olmecs

1200 BCE

These people were able to produce surplus agriculture as well as maintaining the drainage system required for this because of the absurd amount of rainfall. Because of how much agriculture they were able to produce a more advanced social hierarchy was able to come into fruition. Olmec culture spread throughout the north and south through military power and trade. Throughout all the timelines trade and military are both subjects that get brought up frequently

Toltecs

901

The first group of people to emerge as powerful rulers; they migrated out of northwest Mexico to the central plains. Once they settled in modern-day Mexico city, they grew crops such as corn, beans, and cotton. One of the reasons for their weaknesses was the Spanish conquerors and their significant numbers for the region they settled in.

Australia

1000

Rather than turning to agriculture, Australians based their society on nomadic travels until the 19th century. by forging and hunting in order to get food and tools. They did trade, however, with their most popular being oyster shells with pearls in them. Their cultural and religious traditions remained unique to them because they didn't spread to other cultures as easily. They did manage to bring the sweet potato to the Hawaiian islands though.

Aztecs

1300

When the Aztecs first migrated to Mexica they had a habit of stealing land and kidnapping. These traits resulted in them being forced to migrate again to the northwest. They finally settled on an island in Lake Texcoco. Spanish conquerors would later make this Mexico City. Because of the rich soil, they could grow crops year-round. Resulting in them being able to defend their capital with ease.

Sacrificial Bloodletting

1430

Mexica believed the gods would bring their crops to a bountiful harvest. as well as to continue their divine blessings. Preist pierced themselves with cactus spies in order to sacrifice some "life-giving essence" Human sacrifice was also practiced in order to please the gods. Some of the sacrifices were criminals, these sacrifices were seen as needed to continue the survival of the world.

Pueblo and Navajo

1525

Pueblo and Navajo used irrigation systems in order to grow maize. Allowing them to remain in one location permanently. They also used the land around the Mississippi river to cultivate crops such as beans and even more maize. Agriculture is also a reoccurring theme. One of the foundations of civilization.

Easter island

1770

The population on Easter island was a chaotic one. It grew so rapidly that people began fighting over the remaining natural resources for themselves. They even resorted to cannibalism at times. Through all that mess they were able to develop a more advanced social organization. This was to handle the insane population growth. As well as most other civilizations during this time, they had a priestly class and worshipped the bond between man and god. This time it was a god of war and agriculture.

Clovis Theory

1930

A theory for the arrival of humans to the Americas. This theory was named after a village in the old US Southwest, where the first evidence of human habitation was found. Emitting from almost 18,000 years prior.