LONG DISTANT TRADES IN THE AMERICAS

• 1. What were some barriers to trade in Mesoamerica?

  • mesoamercian societies did not develop technology 
  • most mesoamerican societies developed inland, away from seaports
  • other than llamas and alpacas in the mountains of south america, americas had no pack animals
  • americas hardly had any navigable rivers 
  • most merchants had to carry goods on their backs
• 1. What made Teotihuacan an important trading center?

  • Teotihuacan was an important trading center because its rulers controlled access to two of the largest sources of obsidian. 
  • Metal working was rare is mesoamerica, so obsidian was the best option for weapons and other sharp tools
• What sort of goods traveled across long-distance routes in the Americas?

  • high luxury goods like salt, grains, cotton, lime, and ceramics
• Why don't we know very much about merchants in Teotihuacan? Why do we know more about merchants in Tenochtitlán?

  • Societies like the Teotihuacan left us with no written records, so that’s why we do not know much about them. The Tenochtitlan did leave us with records, so that’s why we know more about them.
• What was was life like for merchants in the Aztec Empire? What roles did they play in the empire, other than trade?

  • They were called pochteca; they travelled over Mesoamerica and carried goods on their back for trades and exchange
  • They were very rich but had to hide that fact so they didnt anger the nobles
  • They also carried information and acted as spies for the empire, which the Aztecs used for military expansion
• Prepare an argument that describes the effect long-distance trade had on the development of states in the Americas over time.

  • Long-distance trade facilitated the development of states in the Americas by promoting economic specialization, fostering cultural exchange, and enabling the rise of political elites who controlled trade routes and amassed wealth, ultimately leading to the centralization of power and the formation of complex societies
• Think about the region you live in. What environmental features would have made it easier or harder for you to trade with other regions if you had to carry all your trade goods only on your back or in a canoe?

  • Consider environmental features like rivers, mountains, and dense forests, which could either facilitate or hinder trade depending on their navigability and accessibility. For example, a region with navigable rivers would make trade easier, while mountainous terrain might pose challenges.
• Use your new informatiom to support, challenge, or extend what you have already learned about the Americas in the period prior to about 1500?

  • The importance of long-distance trade in the Americas prior to 1500 highlights the interconnectedness of indigenous societies and their ability to adapt to diverse environments through trade networks. This challenges previous notions of isolation and emphasizes the significance of economic exchange in shaping pre-colonial American civilizations.