Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere Maya, Aztec, & Inca
THE MAYA The maximum extent of the Maya
Maya - Location southern Mexico into northern Central America called the Yucatan Peninsula
Maya Climate Dense, steamy rain forests
Maya - Climate dense, steamy rain forests
Maya Time Period 250-900 C.E. Mayan people live past 900 BUT the civilization disappears
Maya Government independent city-states ruled by kings seen as god-king, established dynasties
Maya Key City Chichen Itza Ball Game: Ōllamaliztli
Ball Court
Maya Economy 1. Agriculture maize, beans, squash 2. Trade salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey, cacao, jade ornaments, textiles
Mayan Products
Maya Religion Polytheistic many gods Pyramids dedicated to gods and famous rulers Worship included material offerings, bloodletting, human sacrifice Calendar 260 days, 20 months, 13 days each month 365 day solar calendar, different gods ruled different days Mathematics and astronomy concept of zero, calendar planning
Human Sacrifice to the Reptile God
Maya Writing 800 glyphs (symbols), on barkpaper called codex
Maya Decline Mayan cities were deserted and records stopped being kept Possible Reasons: war and conflict between city states overuse of land famine environmental change
THE AZTEC An Aztec city
Aztec - Location Central Mexico Valley of Mexico, Modern day Mexico City
Aztec - Climate Hot, large shallow lakes, good resources, fertile soil
Aztec Time Period 1200 1521 C.E.
Aztec Government Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan 38 provinces Emperor with absolute power loose control over empire with exception of tribute payments
Triple Alliance
Aztec Key City Tenochtitlan is the capital Lake Texcoco
Aztec Economy 1. Agriculture maize, cacao beans, cotton 2. Trading Network with Tenochtitlan as ultimate marketplace
Aztec Religion 1. Polytheistic 2. Built temples and pyramids 3. 2 calendars 4. Human sacrifices to sun god Who did they sacrifice???
Human Sacrifice
Aztec Writing No real mention writing system of pictures derived from earlier MesoAmerican cultures
Aztec Decline Montezuma II reign rebelling tribes Spanish Cortez conquered Aztecs in 1521
THE INCA
Inca Location Andes Mountains of South America Southern Peru
Inca Climate Mountainous
Machu Picchu
Inca Time Period 1400-1532 A.D.
Inca Government Believed that ruler was a descendent from the Sun god Sapa Inca had absolute power Nobility ruling families Bureaucracy used small groups to work for the common good Government built extensive road system
Government Organization 1. Sapa Inca 2. Supreme Council (4 Men) 3. Provincial Governors 4. Officials (army officers, priests, judges, and others from the Noble class) 5. Tax Collectors 6. Workers Most Incans were workers
5281.66 miles long, crossing 15 distinct ecosystems; branching off the Inca Roads was another 18641 miles of road
Inca Culture Each family was assigned a specific job Government officials arranged marriages Mandatory public service building projects No written language (Khipu) Language: Quechua Over two and a half million people still speak Quechua in Peru.
Inca Key City Cuzco = capital Machu Picchu mysterious religious center or royal resort
Machu Picchu complex of palaces, plazas, temples and homes. Purpose?? No writing...
Inca Economy 1. Run by the state regulated production of goods 2. Agriculture on terraced hillsides maize and quinoa (grain)
Inca Religion 1. Polytheistic natural spirits of moons, stars, sun, thunder, etc. 2. Primary God Inti (Sun god) 3. Reincarnation 4. Two Calendars 5. Sacrifices (not human)
Partner Discussion Question What might this be used for???
Inca Writing None, but had string/knot math/accounting system called quipu
Inca Decline Civil War between two sons of a king Francisco Pizarro took advantage of Civil War and smallpox
How Did First People Get To America? Two Theories: Theory 1: Bering Land Bridge from Asia crossing over a land bridge between Alaska and Siberia Theory 2: Coastal Migration crossing seas, most likely the Pacific, and settling along the western coast of the Americas