Transcript Civilizations of the Americas

The Maya 300-900 A.D.
Aztec 1200-1500 A.D.
Inca 1400-1535 A.D.



Aztec Empire – The Valley of Mexico located in
the high plateau of central Mexico
Mayas – From the Yucatan in southern Mexico
through much of Central America
Incas – western South America



Aztec Empire – A single ruler, an emperor who
was chosen by a council of nobles and priests.
Maya – Divided into city-states with a ruling
chief for each city-state.
Inca – A “sapa inca” who was supreme ruler,
owned everything and was divine.

Aztec – Polytheistic, priests were powerful;
many human sacrifices to the god Quetzalcoatl
who was the sun god. His giant pyramid
towered above central Tenochtitlan.


Maya – Polytheistic;
priests held power
because only they
could perform
important ceremonies.
Priests held sacrifices
on platforms of high
temples while
ordinary people
watched from below.





Inca – Polytheistic
The Ruler was also the chief religious leader.
Polytheistic; belief in many nature spirits
A powerful class of priests served the gods
Chosen Women – special attendants had
honored role in Incan ritual.



Aztec – Farmed on “floating islands” or
chinampas to create more farmland
Grew corn, squash and beans
Used canals and aqueducts for transportation.




Maya – slash and burn method: Cut down
tropical forest; burn brush and spread ashes for
fertilizer.
Grew corn, beans, squash, fruit trees, flowers
Incas – Used irrigation; grew 700 kinds of
potatoes on mountain slopes; terrace farming.
Terrace farming because of mountains.


Aztecs – Had a calendar – excelled in math and
astronomy; used herbs for medicine; priests
recorded laws and history; extensive trade
networks
Maya – Had a number system and zero; a
calendar; bark books and used hieroglyphic
writing






Incas – Great Road
System through the
mountains
Roads helped army
and messengers
Pottery/Weaving
Quipus-knotted ropes
for record keeping
Calendar
Medicinal Herbs



Aztec – Tenochtitlan
was the capital city.
It was located in Lake
Texcoco and was
connected to the
mainland by
causeways.
The city contained
temples, palaces, zoos
and floating gardens. It
was the center of the
empire



Maya – Pyramid
temples
Palaces
Carved Pillars




Inca - Ceremonial
Centers
Stone building
(can’t get a knife
through the
stones) and
engineering
Cuzco - capital
Machu Picchu
•Machu Picchu
Aztec
Maya
Inca
Emperor
Priests
Nobles
Warriors
Commoners/
Farmers
Slaves (Criminals or
POWs)
Ruling Chief of EACH
CITY
Priests
Nobles (military
leaders, directed
public works and
collected taxes)
Farmers
(Sometimes women
ruled)
Ruler/Priest
Nobles/Local Chiefs
Government Officials
(kept records of taxes)
Strict regulations on
job assignments and
marriages
Aztec
Maya
Inca
Montezuma
defeated by
Spanish
conquistadors and
Hernan Cortes in
1500 A.D.
Cities abandoned
by 900 A.D.
Why?? Wars?
Overpopulation?
Revolts?
The Mayan
language still
survives in S.
Mexico and
Guatemala
In 1525 the
Emperor dies and
his two sons fight
for control. This
weakens the
empire making it
easy for Francisco
Pizarro to conquer
in 1535 A.D.