American Civilizations

- The Anasazi greatly influenced the Hohokam people (as explained below).

 

- The Anasazi built impressive cliff dwellings, such as the ones at Mesa Verde, Colorado. These large houses were built on top of mesas – flat-topped hills – or in shallow caves in the sheer walls of deep canyons. These cliff dwellings (shown at right) were important factors that led to the success of the Anasazi.  These large houses kept out rain and predators, and provided a safe home for the Anasazi people.  However, the Anasazi were living in pueblos, villages of large, apartment-style compounds made of stone and adobe, or sunbaked clay starting in the AD 900.  Their houses were becoming more advanced.  The largest Anasazi pueblo was the Pueblo Bonito, which contributed to the success of this civilization because they lived in advanced houses that blocked out the sun and rain. However, its construction required a high degree of social organization and inventiveness. Windows were small to keep out the burning sun.

 

- Also, some underground or partly underground ceremonial chambers called kivas were used for a variety of religious practices. Other pueblo groups like the Hopi and Zuni used these kivas for religious ceremonies. They also created pottery and woven blankets, which were both advanced technologies and goods that contributed to the success of these civilizations because they could trade with other surrounding civilizations. They traded wthese, along with corn and other farm products with the Plain Indians to the east, who gave them bison meat and hides in return.