INTRODUCTION TO PEOPLES OF SOUTH AMERICA

I. GEOGRAPHY ≠ 3 TOPOGRAPHIC ZONES

A. WESTERN ZONE ≠ ANDEAN AREA

1. Northern Andes ≠ multiple ranges

2. Central Andes ≠ two ranges

3. Southern ≠ Single range, desert, archipelago

B. CENTRAL ZONE ≠ TROPICAL- TEMPERATE LOWLANDS (SãN)

1. Patagonia

2. Pampas

3. Gran Chaco

4. Amazon Basin

5. Orinoco Flats

C. EASTERN ZONE ≠ EASTERN BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS

1. Caatinga ≠ driest area Brazil (white forests)

2. Southern Highlands (forested east; Mata Grosso)

3. Coastal Escarpment

II. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL AREAS

A. Andean area - major area for present peasant Indian groups including Quechua and Aymara; sedentary farming villages

B. South (Chilean Archipelago, Pampas, Patagonia), Gran Chaco, E. Brazilian Highlands, E. flanks of Andes - primarily occupied by foragers (hunters & gatherers) during pre-Columbian period; small nomadic bands -- e.g., Siriono/Yuqui in E. Bolivia, Guayaki/Ache in Gran Chaco area

C. Amazonia - area of a variety of tribal tropical forest horticulturalists (w/ varying amounts of hunting & gathering) in sedentary communities; majority of groups, patrilineal w/ ideology of male dominance

D. Circum-Carribean - N. part of Columbia and Venezuela, Greater Antilles - pre-Columbian home of Chibchan, Arawakan, Carib theocratic chiefdoms; practiced intensive irrigation agriculture, stratified class society; high level of warfare; major location of matrilineal cultures in S. America

III. MIGRATION OF PEOPLE TO S. AMERICA

A. TIME SPAN ≠ 30,000 B.P (From Bering Straits) ≠ 15,000 ≠ 20,000 B.P in S. Am. By 13,000 B.P Paleoindians had extended occupation to Chilean site of Monte Verde & by 11,000 B.P to Fells Cave. By 5,000 B.P. had establishment of agriculture

B. ROUTE ≠ Followed game thru river valleys ≠ Cauca & Magdalena ≠ in Columbia, down Andean chain to Chile. Spurs off route to Venezuela and into Amazon via Ecuador.

1. In Chile had two options ≠ (1) to Chilean archipelago & Tierra del Fuego; (2) Patagonia & Pampas.

2. In Argentina went up coast to E. Brazilian Highlands bypassing the Gran Chaco and Amazon (settled from Andes) up to Orinoco Flats. With invention of watercraft, went to Lesser Antilles & Greater Antilles in Caribbean & possibly Florida. Village level by 3,500 B.C. (Equador), 2,500 B.C. (Peru); chiefdoms 2,000 B.C.; by 350 B.C. state level civilizations based on intensive agriculture;

3. Important point based on recent discovery of Caverna da Pedra Pintada in upper Amazon w/ paintings from 11,200-9800 BP is that Paleoindians could enter and survive in most if not all of the environments at this time in S. America

IV. SUBSISTENCE PATTERNS ≠ DOMESTICATION OF PLANTS & ANIMALS

A. Plant Domestication ≠ Crops dependent on altitude and correspondent productivity of areas--low productivity (Pampas, Patagonia, gran chaco ≠ h.&g.); moderately low (Amazon, Brazil. Highlds etc.), mod. high and high productivity (Andean)

1. Low-altitude (below 1000 meters) ≠ Brazilian Highlands, Orinoco, Caribbean, Amazon ≠ roots (manioc, sweet potato) pineapple, chili pepper, maize (orig. from central Mexico), beans; tobacco, cashew, brazil nut

2. Mid-altitude Andes (1,000-3,000 m) ≠ based on maize & legumes (e.g., peanuts, beans) ≠ MBS triad, cotton, coca, squash, gourds;

3. High-altitude systems of Andes (3,000-4,300 m) ≠ potato (8,000 BP ≠ thousands of varieties), oca, ulluco, and mashua most impt.; other Andean cultivars ≠ maca (up to 4,300 m. little known, perfect plt.), achira, ahipa, arracacha; grains ≠ Kaniwa, (hardy, high protein), kiwicha, quinua ≠ mother grain åchisiya mama); legumesãnunas, tarwi (high protein).

B. Chronology of Domestication

1. Earlier Pre-ceramic Period - 8000-5000 B.C. ≠ tubers ≠ oca & ulluco, legume (bean), chili pepper ≠ mid elevation 2580 m

2. Middle Pre-ceramic 5000-4000 B.C. ≠ potato, oca, possly quinua, bean and lima bean; squash, chili, guava, bottle gourd (montana origin)

3. Later Pre-Ceramic 4000-1800 B.C. ≠ manioc, achira, sweet potato, jicama; legumes-peanut; avocado, cotton, coca. Domestication of camilids ≠ alpaca, llama & guinea pig (cuy). Sedentary groups between 2500-1800 B.C. Five main species of high altitude food prod. in Andes: llama, alpaca, quinua, cuy & potato ≠ S. Peru & N. Bolivia between 3000 ≠ 2000 BC.

C. Hallucinogenic plants ≠ of all traditional societies in the world, indigenous groups in S. America second only to Mexico in number and diversity of hallucinogenic plants used in magic and ritual (of 150 halluc. Plants known, 130 from New Wld.

Include yopo (snuff, n. amazon, orinoco), ayahuasca, brugmansia (datura), San Pedro Cactus, virola (bark of tree, Orinoco)