¶ … Anasazi civilization developed and prospered in the Four Corners region between 1 AD and 1300 AD and left precious traces of a swelling and prosperous civilization. Pottery, baskets, ornaments, tolls and especially architectural achievements (including "apartment-house style villages")- all were elements characterizing this civilization.
Anasazi in Navajo means "the ancient ones" or "the ancient enemies" and the Anasazis were the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians that live nowadays in New Mexico and Arizona. The several centers of Anasazi civilization included Northern San Juan, Chaco, Kayenta, Virgin, and Rio Grande, directions in which the Anasazi population and civilization spread and created a local community.
Historical evolution
The archeological evidence discovered in the area proves that the Anasazi first moved into the area and into the southern Colorado Plateau some time at the beginning of the 1st millennium, that is, around 1 AD. The local population of the time became a "settled, agricultural people who have valued land and water above all else." This gives us some clues about the later disappearance of the population.
The earliest Anasazi population occupied an area that had been previously abandoned by Archaic Indian populations. Settled in the area, the Anasazi civilization entered in the so-called Basketmaker phase, a simple, self-sufficient society. Later on, around the year 500 AD, the Anasazi began to introduce and develop their famous pottery, began using the bow and arrow, build pit dwellings and began to cultivate a larger variety of crops, more nutritious, including beans among others.
The year 700 AD marked the beginning of the Pueblo period, as the archeologists refer to it. This is the time when surface dwellings began to appear in the area. Architecture was not the only area where significant advances were made during this period. Pottery suffered modifications with the introduction of color in the design and of a more sophisticated decoration.
The Anasazi civilization began to flourish and philosophy and religious rituals appeared around 900 AD. The kivas appeared during this period, "structures that were originally used for ceremonial and other special purposes." The population grew due to better and more nutritious food and it is presumed that trading with other communities started during this period. Indeed, different goods and materials seem to have been destined for trading, including pottery and weapons.
The Golden Age of the Anasazi civilization began around 1100 AD and was to last for some 200 years. It was during this period that the Anasazis built villages and cliff dwellings, as well as several storey high buildings. The Anasazis became renowned for their engineering and architectural skills. However, this prosperity may have been somewhat two-fold, as it also had the incentive to attract attention form envious neighbors. As we can see from the archeological findings and sites, architecture itself became somewhat militarized: some of the buildings were constructed in caves or in "easily defensible overhangs," while others were built as lookouts on the edges of cliffs. This proves that, beginning with this period, the Anasazis needed to be on a constant lookout for threats from their potential enemies. The threat could have come during this period either form the "hunter-gatherer, nomadic Ute and Paiute peoples" or from the Apache and Navajo tribes that may have already been settled in the area during this period.
However, even considering this wartime conditions, the Anasazis civilization became known throughout the Americas as they developed several trade routes and exchanged "artistic baskets, pots and jewelry" for "seashells, feathers, and parrots" that were brought to the Four Corners region from the south or the coastal areas and were used as ornaments, jewelry and ceremonies.
However, 1300 AD marked the beginning of the downfall for this prosperous civilization. There were several causes that need to be considered. The main one to be considered is the climatic changes and the increasingly draughty climate of the area. As we have seen, ever since their settlement in the area, the Anasazis were basically farmers. As such, several years of bad crops due to draughty weather meant that the local population was forced either to move to other regions in search of food or to resolve to hunting and gathering as a source of food. As such, it is presumed that the Anasazis left the local area to settle in smaller villages in a different climate and with more reliable water sources.
Additionally, warfare can also be considered one of the direct causes of the decline of the Anasazi civilization....
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now