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The Lowest Form Of Civilization In Ancient America

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Ancient American Civilizations

Cultural development can be separated into three categories of increasing intellect and complexity. Tribal is the lowest form of civilization, Chiefdom the intermediate level, and finally the state level, which represents the highest form of civilization in Ancient America.

The tribal band represented the basic primitive level of civilization. In Ancient America, the tribal level was a loose association of bands or villages. The ties between these villages represented a “tribe.” Many of these early groups sustained life in difficult environments, in which climate extremes were usually always present. These climate conditions such as extreme heat, wetlands, …show more content…

The intermediate level of civilization is the chiefdom. This level also relied on subsistence farming, like the tribal, but in much larger villages and more intensively. The populations were dense and had lost the tribal form of self-government. The chiefdom civilization now used a board of members, in which a chief and his group of secondary chiefs ruled the area. In Ancient America, ranking in the Chiefdom civilization was an essential aspect of organization. Members of the villages were ranked according to their blood relation of the highest chief. The dominant chief required donations and payments, in which he usually redistributed to officials and warriors. By doing so, he gained power and created a substantial following. In Ancient America, many chiefdoms existed in the surrounding Caribbean area (Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rica, Jamaica, etc) and the Cauca Valley of Columbia. The Chibcha (Muisca) chiefdom, in eastern Columbia, used terracing and planting beds (moisture control) to maintain their subsistent lifestyle. They also cultured potatoes, in addition to maize. In this chiefdom, many crafts such as pottery, and weaving were well developed. The Muisca lived in densely populated villages ranging from a few hundred occupants to several thousand. Each village had a representing post and customary pole-and-thatch housing. The Muisca also had social

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