Transcript Mesoamerica1x - radiansschool.org

EARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN
MESOAMERICA
Middle America or Mesoamerica
■ Areas of Mexico and Central America where ancient empires
flourished. https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/mesoamerica/
– Mesoamerican countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador,
Honduras, the west of Nicaragua and, Northwest of Costa Rica.
Stages of cultural development
■ 3 great periods of cultural development that have been identified in the people that
inhabited the areas of Mesoamerica and the Andes region(South America),
Period
Time
Cultures that emerge
Early period
2000B.C to 500 A.D
Mesoamerica – Olmecs
South America – Chavin
Middle Period
500 to 1000
Mesoamerica – Mayan
South America - Nazca
Late period
1000- 1500
Mesoamerica – Mayan and
Aztec
South America – Incas
Olmec 2000 BC and 500 AD
■ First known civilization in Mesoamerica (Discovered in 1940’s)
– Known as mother culture and rubber people.
■ Skilled artisans known for carving a series of over 10 ft. tall human heads without
metal tools. Also build pyramids. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVhGSSrO5mw
■ Influenced the Mayan culture (calendar, numerical system, ceremonial game)
■ Declined: unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhQRDrJowuM
Mayas
■ Developed in the Yucatan Peninsula around the year 500 AD
■ Built cities in the jungle under hard conditions.
– Major Mayan cities are: Chichen Itza, Palenque and Tikal.
■
■
Chichen Itza was the most important political and religious center of the Mayan
civilization. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyvw6G9Max0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJorTyIFnSY
During the Middle period of Mayan culture they were most successful.
■ Government: Theocracy a type of government in which power is in hand of a
religious leader.
■ Mayan society was organized in clans.
■ Were polytheistic which means that they believe in may gods. Their gods were relate
to the elements of nature. Ex: corn, the Sun, and the rain.
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6BTnR_pZsY
Mayan Social Structure
■ Priest
– worshipped the Mayan gods, healed the sick, and were also teachers.
■ Nobles
– privilege people, took care of the government business and war.
■ Populace
– Merchants, engaged in trading, agriculture, artisans.
■ Slaves
–
War prisoners and were forced to work.
Cultural legacy
■ Great architects – developed architectural works, even though they did not know about
the wheel or metal tools.
– Pyramids – temples decorated with vivid colors and their exterior was crafted with
images carved in stone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO7U78pUr34
■ Calendar – developed and perfected a solar calendar. Their calendar is one of the most
accurate and advanced of its era.
■ Knew the world was round.
■ Developed a system of writing known as hieroglyphics.
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W29gIkGIQNc
■ The Mayan population is estimated to have been about two million.
– However, fewer people lived in the region by AD 1500’s
The Aztec
Aztecs 1000 A.D –1521 A.D
■ Located, a little further north from the Mayan territories.
■ Settled and built a city in lake Texcoco in 1325 because of a legend that says they
need it to settle where they see an eagle perched on a Nopal cactus and eating a
serpent.
■ Their name the city Tenochtitlan and it became the Capital
of their Empire.
– Technotitlan: built on top of lake Texcoco.
– Had artificial lands where they planted their crop.
– City was connected to land by raised roads.
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nS6MpVbB_g
■ Aztecs tried to keep the order of the Universe by making sacrifices to the sun.
they believe the sun needed to feed of human blood and hearts.
■ Quetzalcoatl =god of knowledge. Main Aztec god (feather serpent)
Aztec
■ Type of government: Theocracy
– Tlatoani = Aztec King. The Tlatoani was a priest and head of government.
■ Social Organization
– Pillis – were the upper class ( Tlatoani, head warriors, priest and nobles)
– Macehuali – Lower class ( artisans, merchants and country men)
■ Education
– Calmecac – School for the nobles
– Tepochcalli – School for the common people.
■ Calendar - Constructed the Calendar the Stone of the Sun.
– The biggest Aztec sculpture ever found.
Aztec decline
■ In 1519, the Spaniards arrived in Tenochtitlan. Hernan Cortez was their leader.
■ Two years later in 1521, the Spaniards destroyed the city of Tenochtitlan and Aztec
Empire.