The Ancient Americas

Overview

Many hunter-gatherer and farming village communities made decisions by consensus, giving every family a voice. In some communities, leadership became centralized and a social hierarchy emerged. And in a few societies, leadership took a large leap in scale—much more powerful rulers gained control over key elements of decision making in their communities.

How did this happen? Increasing populations depended upon ever growing quantities of resources. Competition for resources required more military might, employed for defense, to regulate trade, and to expand the state's resources. By controlling production, waging warfare, or organizing and centralizing religion, leaders gained much greater means of exerting power over their population.

This greatly increased power is manifested in monumental projects that demanded coordination of massive amounts of labor and materials. Eventually, large cities under the control of powerful rulers and their centralized governments developed over time.

To learn more about how rulers and governments emerged, check out the Transition to Rulers and Citizens Video, with Dr. Winifred Creamer.

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The Triad of Power
The economy, military, and religion gave ancient American rulers a stable foundation for governing and winning over the bodies, hearts, and minds of the population. Economic resources supported military and religious actions. Religion justified and validated military and economic maneuvers. And the physical power of the military enforced the demands of the rulers.

To learn more these three bases of power, take a look at the Triad Video.

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Ancient American societies that utilized the economy, military, and religion to support their rulers and emerge as "states" share many common traits, which are revealed in the archaeological record.

Continue to Evidence of Rulers. >>