Transcript Accomplishments of Maya Inca Aztec

Accomplishments of the Mayan,
Inca, and Aztec Civilizations
KAROLYN OLSEN
CHRISTIE SLAYTON
ADDIE NIX
KATELYN RUTTY
WORLD HISTORY PERIOD 7
JUNE 6, 2011
Accomplishments of the Mayan
Civilization
Language
 Only known writing system of the Pre-Columbian
world to represent its community’s spoken language
 Logo syllabic writing system
 Script contains over 1,000 glyphs
 Mayans wrote the Dresden Codex, believed to be
the oldest book in the Americas
The Mayan Calendar
The Calendar
 Created an extremely accurate calendar later
adopted by many civilizations
 Used three dating systems: The Long Count, The
Tzolkin (divine calendar), and The Haab (civil
calendar)
 The Mayans are thought to have invented the
number zero in the 2nd century AD for their
calendar
The Long Count
 1 uinal = 20 days
 1 tun = 1 year
 1 katun = 20 years
 1 baktun = roughly 394 years
 The 2012 doomsday prediction is based off the
Long Count. It went into use in 3114 BC, and was
calculated to last 5126 years, so it “runs out” of
days in 2012. However, most likely, it is just that
the Mayans didn’t feel the need to continue the
calendar for any longer
The Tzolkin Count
 The Tzolkin represented “week” lengths
 A numbered week lasted 13 days
 A named week lasted 20 days
The Haab Count
 Haab consists of 18 “months” of 20 days each
followed by a length of 5 extra days called the Uayeb,
adding up to 365 days
 The names of Haab “months” are Pop, Uo, Zip, Zotz,
Tzec, Xul, Yaxkin, Mol, Chen, Yax, Zac, Ceh, Mac,
Kankin, Muan, Pax, Kayab, and Cumku.
 The pyramid Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá was also used as a calendar. It
had four stairways, each with 91 steps, and a platform on the top–
adding up to 365 days. This marvel was built in 1050 during the Late
Maya Period in history.
Astronomy
“[The Mayans] produced extremely accurate
astronomical observations; their charts of the
movements of the moon and planets are equal to or
superior to those of any other civilization working
from naked eye observation.”
--Wikipedia, Maya Civilization
Accomplishments of the Inca
Civilization
MATH, SCIENCE, & TECHNOLOGY
 The Incas used a system of knotted, colored string called
quipu to keep track of livestock and other business.
However these strings required special “rememberers” to
interpret what the strings meant.
 Successful skull surgeries were performed to treat mental
illnesses, head aches, and head injuries. The surgeries were
used strictly for high nobility.
 Surgical tools were made of bronze and volcanic rock.
Architecture
 The Inca built their buildings by placing stones
together in such a tight fashion that not even a thin
knife blade could fit between them.
 This method of building required no mortar and
was extremely resistant to earthquakes and the
shifting of the Earth’s plates
 Machu- Picchu was built using this method, and is
still intact today.
Machu Picchu
Agriculture
 Incas developed ways to farm on mountain terrain.
They would cut terraces into the sides of mountains
and built large stair-like structure so that plants
could be grown on the many mountains of their
civilization.
 Constructed an irrigation system by digging canals
through their fields and throughout their empire.
 First New World civilization to utilize the process of
freeze-drying; Incas stored potatoes and other crops
high on mountains, where the cold air and high
altitude froze and dehydrated the food
Other Accomplishments
 First civilization of the Americas to conduct
population censuses.
 Incas introduced tin, copper, and bronze to other
civilizations; and used them to make weapons
superior to that of any other civilization
Accomplishments of the Aztec
Civilization
Chocolate
 The Aztecs discovered how to grind the cocoa beans in order to remove
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the sweet sap for drinking.
Chocolate was very expensive; it was even used as a form of payment in
the Aztec culture.
Chocolate was considered a tribute to the gods, and was used in
sacrifices.
The Aztecs were the first to make xocoatl, a drink containing cocoa
beans, corn flour, water, and chilies.
Xocoatl was also extremely valuable and was therefore only served to
nobility.
Chocolate was said to symbolize life and fertility and was occasionally
used as medicine.
Chewing Gum
 Aztecs were first to realize that the sap of the
sapodilla tree was chewable
 Sap had previously held other uses by commoners
of the Aztec civilization
 Liquid sap was referred to as chicle
 Drained sap and hardened it into chewable gum
 However, when Spanish conquered the Aztecs,
they saw no use for the sap and cut off all trade
routes that provided it
Mathematics & Calendar
 Aztecs are also thought to have conceived of the
concept of the number zero
 Had an advanced understanding of mathematics
 Devised surprisingly accurate calendar that consisted
of measurements and dates that match up with
today’s modern calendar
Compulsory Education
 One of first ancient civilizations to require that all
children received education
 Schooling was free to all Aztec children
Anti-Spasmodic Medication
 Aztecs were very advanced in their medical
procedures (able to perform brain surgery)
 Developed anti-spasmodic medicine, derived from
the passionflower, that relaxed muscles during
surgery, making the operations much more
successful