Mesoamerican Civilizations

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1 Mesoamerican Civilizations

2 Human Migration Turn to page 237 and answer the two geography skillbuilder questions: What two continents does the Beringia land bridge connect? From where do scholars believe the first Americans came? How did they come? Video

3 Olmec 1300 B.C.- The first civilization of Mesoamerica They were located in the hot and swampy lowlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico south of Veracruz. They had large cities that were centers for religious rituals. They carved colossal stone heads They may have been to represent their ancestors or gods.

4 Olmec Society Directed a large trading network throughout Mesoamerica A 100-foot-high structure made of earth and clay known as the Great Pyramid at La Venta may be the tomb of a great Olmec ruler Numerous Olmec sculptures depict a half-human, half-jaguar creature, probably a god The Olmec mined and carved jade and there s evidence of objects that came from as far away as South America.

May have had as many as 200,000 inhabitants at its height.

5 Teotihuacán Was the first major city in Mesoamerica Arose around 250 B.C. and collapsed about 800 A.D. May have had as many as 200,000 inhabitants at its height. Has a main thoroughfare, known as the Avenue of the Dead, had two main temples: The Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon.

6 Rise and Fall of the Maya Traits of Civilization Religious beliefs and theocracy Independent city-states Intensive agriculture Strength Leading to Power United culture Loyalty to the king Wealthy and prosperous culture Productions of more food feeds a larger population Weakness Leading to Decline Many physical and human resources funneled into religious activities Frequent warfare occurs between kingdoms

Mayan civilization Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forest Represented by Chichén Itzá Group of city-states ruled by a king Economy based on

900 A.D. -Flourished during this time. We do not know why it fell into decline. The Maya abandoned their cities, we do not know why.

7 Mayan civilization Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forest Represented by Chichén Itzá Group of city-states ruled by a king Economy based on agriculture and trade Polytheistic religion Pyramids Yucatán Peninsula -Maya were found in the Yucatan Peninsula and Part of Guatemala Maya: Between 300 and 900 A.D. -Flourished during this time. We do not know why it fell into decline. The Maya abandoned their cities, we do not know why. Political and Social Structure Cities-Were built around a central pyramid Pyramid-Was topped with a shrine to the gods. City-States-Each governed by a hereditary ruling class Tikal, Guatemala

Mayan Kings -Ruled the Mayan Kingdom They claimed they were divine Were assisted by nobles and a class of scribes Made special blood sacrifices to maintain the kingdom.

8 Mayan Kings -Ruled the Mayan Kingdom They claimed they were divine Were assisted by nobles and a class of scribes Made special blood sacrifices to maintain the kingdom. People -Included townspeople, skilled artisans, officials, and merchants. Many people were peasant farmers who worked on terraced hillsides farming. Men did the fighting and hunting, women made cornmeal and were responsible for homemaking and raising children.

Their gods were ranked in order of importance, the Jaguar was the god of night and was seen as evil.

9 Religion The Maya were Polytheistic. They believed that all of life was in the hands of a divine power. They were responsible for pleasing the gods. Their gods were ranked in order of importance, the Jaguar was the god of night and was seen as evil. The Maya practiced human sacrifice to appease their gods. Human sacrifice was also used to mark special occasions. When a king ascended to the throne war captives were tortured and beheaded to mark the occasion.

10 Accomplishments Language The Maya developed an independent Hieroglyphic language. The Spanish destroyed most of the Mayan writings. They were not seen as having any value. Their language was not translated until the 20 th century.

A Lunar calendar and a Calendar based on the movement of the Planet Venus.

11 Calendar The Maya developed a calendar that had two different parts. It had a solar calendar with 365 days, divided into 18 months with 20 days each with 5 extra days at the end. A Lunar calendar and a Calendar based on the movement of the Planet Venus. This was a sacred calendar with 260 days and 13 weeks of 20 days each. The Mayan calendar says our present world was created in 3114 B.C. and the current world will end on December 23, 2012 A.D.

15 Early Civilizations of the Andes The Chavin period: 900 BCE-200 BCE Northern highlands of Peru No evidence of political or economic organization Primarily a religious civilization- expressed in stone carvings, pottery and textiles May have acted as a mother culture like the Olmecs in Mesoamerica

extensive irrigation canals Known for beautiful textiles

16 Early Civilizations of the Andes The Nazca period: 200 BCE-600 CE Southern coast of Peru Farmers that used extensive irrigation canals Known for beautiful textiles and pottery The Nazca lines- still one of history s mysteries

Early Civilizations of the Andes The Moche: 100 CE-700 CE Northern coast of Peru Wide range of crops, irrigated from nearby rivers, included corn, beans, potatoes, squash, and peanuts Enormously

17 Early Civilizations of the Andes The Moche: 100 CE-700 CE Northern coast of Peru Wide range of crops, irrigated from nearby rivers, included corn, beans, potatoes, squash, and peanuts Enormously wealthy- gold and silver jewelry found with semiprecious stones Impressive pottery depicting scenes of everyday life- images of women weavers, soldiers, musicians, and doctors- serves as written language

Central American Societies

Central American Societies EARLY MESOAMERICANS Area of central Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula, and northern Honduras Mesoamerica The Olmec First known civilization in Mesoamerica Emerge 1200 BCE Collapse in