Transcript Maya-Aztec-Inca

Early Human Migrations
Mesoamerican Civilization
Mesoamerican: A term meaning the region of
Mexico and Central America.
Andean: A term meaning ancient civilizations of
the Andes mountains in South America. (Incas)
Olmec- Civilization prior to Mayas (1200400BCE)
Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Lands of the Mayans
The Yucatan
Peninsula
Chichen-Itza - Pyramid
-Typical Mayan Architecture. Flat top Pyramids
used for elaborate religious rituals
-Built without the use of the wheel! Levers and manpower.
Chichen-Itza -Observatory
-Pyramids were also important politically. “Sacred
Mountains” reaching into the heavens.
-Rulers and other elites served as priests, projecting
both secular and religious power. Examples of this?
Mayan Calendar
-Shows advanced
mathematics and writing.
-Complex calendar
integrating three dating
systems.
-Ritual Cycle (260 days)
-Solar Calendar (365 days)
-Long Count (Since 3114 BCE)
-End of the world!!!!! (2012 Long Count)
Mayan Glyphs
sky
king
house
Mayan
Mathematics
child
city
Mayan Glyphs
-Mayan Religion
-Polytheistic
-Included ritual sacrifice
-Warfare was infused with religious
ceremonies. Captives from war were
sacrificed.
Quetzalcoatl: God of arts and agriculture
Chichen-Itza - Ball Court
-Mesoamerican Civilization played an ancient ‘ball-game’.
-Some evidence suggests that the losers were sacrificed
and that the game may have been played with a human
head.
Mayan Cultivation
of Maize
Mayan Underground Granaries:
Chultunes
Mayan Drinking Cup for
Chocolate
Overview of Tikal (Guatemala)
Tikal Jungle View at Sunset
Tikal - Main Court
Tikal:
Temple of
the Masks
Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God
Lands of the Aztecs
Aztec View of Tenochtitlan
Located in modern day
Mexico (near Mexico
City)
Capital of Aztec society. At
its zenith, up to 500,000
people lived in and around
Tenochtitlan.
Ruins of the City Center,
Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the
Americas
Notice canals intersecting at right angles.
Aztec Agriculture: Chinampas
Aztec Chinampa or Floating
Garden:
15ft. to 30ft. wide
Floating gardens made by piling river mud onto a bed of
reeds. Allowed for year round agriculture.
How does this compare to other forms of agriculture?
Theme?
Aztec Political System
-Monarchial system similar to other Mesoamerican
states.
-Rule was not hereditary, kings were selected by
nobility.
-Once a ruler was selected, had to demonstrate
legitimacy through war and territorial conquest.
The Aztecs Were
Fierce Warriors
-Like the Maya war was infused with religious rituals.
-Tribute System: Would conquer neighboring peoples for
goods and food. This enabled the Maya to support a
growing capital. (Who does this remind us of?)
Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to
the Sun God
-Aztecs increased sacrifice on a dramatic scale.
-Used as both a religious ritual and a warning to those
who would threaten the power of the ruling class.
Heart Sacrifice
on an Aztec Temple Pyramid
Sacrificial Statue, Tenochtitlan
Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan
Aztec Gold
- By 1500 CE Aztec society was characterized by great
social inequality.
-Through conquest elites amassed fortunes and gold
King Montezuma ‘would not touch the ground’.
-Spanish conquistadors believed this was a ‘land of gold’.
Aztec Writing
Aztec Math
Aztec Sun Stone -- Calendar
Aztec Sun Motifs
Lands of the Incas
Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca
(11,000 ft. above sea level)
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Incan Suspension Bridges
Incan Terrace Farming
Where else have we seen this?
Maize in Incan Pottery
& Gold Work
Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes
Cultivated
by the Incans
Incan Ceramic Jars
Peanut
Cacao God
Potato
Cacao Pod
Squash
The Quipu: An Incan Database
Incan Mummies
Inca Gold & Silver