Transcript Mesoamerica civilization

Table of Contents:
Mesoamerican Civilizations
Aim: What were the
accomplishments of the
Mesoamerican Native Americans.
Olmec 1300 B.C.-
 The first civilization of Mesoamerica
 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.
Mayan civilization
• Located in the rain forests on the
Yucatan Peninsula and Part of Guatemala
• Ruled between 300 and 900 A.D.
• Polytheistic Religion, used pyramids
to pray to their gods, built canals to
control water
• Group of size states ruled by a King
• We do not know why or how their
empire fell.
• Economy based on agriculture and
trade
• Developed the 365 day calendar.
Tikal, Guatemala
Mayan People (DON’T COPY)
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.
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.
Aztec civilization
• Located in arid valley in central Mexico
• Ruled by an emperor
• Economy based on agriculture and tribute
from
conquered peoples
• Polytheistic religion with pyramids/rituals
based on warfare.
• The Aztec began in 12 century A.D.
servants, and slaves that made up 4 million
people.
• Aztec forced many other tribes to join
them by violence, so when the Spanish
and Cortes arrived it was easy to find
allies.
Destruction of the Aztec
Hernán Cortés 1519
Spanish Conquistador who came to the valley of Mexico in 1519 with 550 soldiers and 16
horses. He was at first greeted by the Aztec Emperor Montezuma (Moctezuma). The
Spanish later kidnapped the Emperor and made him a puppet. The people rebelled and
the Emperor was killed. The Spanish barely escaped.
The Spanish returned several months later. Many of the natives had fallen ill with
Smallpox. Cortés and his allies destroyed the Aztec capital and subjugated the Aztec
people.
Incan civilization
• Located in the Andes Mountains of
South America
• Ruled by an emperor
• Late 1300s – to 1530s.
• Economy based on high-altitude
agriculture
• Polytheistic religion
• Incas were famous for making their
road and bridge system to communicate
with each other. (24,800 Miles of Road)
• Destroyed by smallpox, and Pizarro.
Organization of the Empire
Incan state was built on war.
The conquered peoples were all taught the
same language.
Each region was appointed a governor who
answered to the Emperor.
There were rest houses and storage depots
along with bridges to span ravines and
waterways.
Great Builders
They had great buildings made
of stone held without mortar.
Their roads also show their
ability as great builders.
Achievements of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
civilizations
• Calendars
• Mathematics
• Writing and other record-keeping systems