Transcript Mesoamerica
North America Yucatan Peninsula South America Andes Mts. Critical Intro: Describe some advantages and disadvantages the American societies had over the eastern hemisphere societies. Critical Intro: Compare each of the American societies to a society in the eastern hemisphere. Chart Analysis 1. Politically, how did the Mayas differ from the Aztecs and Incas? 2. What main crop was the foundation of agriculture for the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas? 3. Write a sentence describing the religious commonality between the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas. 4. Write a sentence describing a religious difference between the groups. 5. How may the Mayas have benefitted from their achievements? 6. Who do you think was the most war-like and aggressive of the 3 groups? 7. Why do you think the Incas needed an extensive road system more than the Mayas & Aztecs? 8. Which 2 groups were more influenced by the Europeans? Why? 9. Why were the Incas better able to utilize an extensive road system and carry on longer-distance trade compared to the Aztecs and Mayas? Toltec Empire Geographic commonalities? Incan Empire Aztec Empire Mayan Empire Tenochtitlan Aztec Capital Maize = Foundation of Mesoamerican agriculture Aztec religious temple in Mexico Chichen Itza Mayan religious temple Machu Picchu Incan city in Andes Mts. Incan Terrace Farming Incan Potato Farming Important addition to maize-based diet and economy Incan road system The llama: Beast of burden in the Andes Mountains Key advantage to the Incan civilization No other beasts of burden in the Americas. Part of massive Incan road system through the Andes Mountains Toltec Empire Warm Up: Commonalities? 968 C.E. - 1150? Aztec Empire 1200-1521 Incan Empire Mayan Empire 250 B.C.E.-900 C.E. 1438 C.E. - 1535 Aztec human sacrifice Chinampas Chinampas = Aztec farming technique Chinampas Aztec farming technique Chinampas Aztec farming technique Chinampas = Aztec farming technique Aztec Chinampas farming technique Main Purpose Reason for Technique/Obstacle being overcome Beneficial Characteristics Aztec Chinampa System How Constructed Addition Benefits to Society Map Label from pg. 23 in Atlas Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean North America South America Mesoamerica Gulf of Mexico Amazon River Andes Mountains Yucatan Peninsula Caribbean Sea Cities Tenochtitlan Chichen Itza Cuzco Mayas Aztec Empire Incan Empire Incan Road System Major Civilizations of the Western Civilization Characteristics of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations Characteristic Dates Mayans Aztecs Incas 250 B.C. – A.D. 900 A.D. 1200 – 1521 A.D. 1438 - 1535 Location Central American rain forest – Yucatan Peninsula Valley in Central Mexico – modern Mexico City Andes Mountains – west coast of South America Represented by Chichen Itza Tenochtitlan – major trade city Cuzco & Machu Picchu Political Style/Rule Independent city-states; ruled by god-kings Emperor – centralized gov’t Emperor – centralized gov’t Economy (Based on?) Agriculture & trade Mainly Maize! Agriculture Mainly Maize! Chinampa agriculture system + Tribute from conquered peoples High-altitude, terrace agriculture; Maize, potatoes & variety of other crops Religion Polytheistic/animistic – ancestor + sun worship pyramids/temples + human sacrifice Polytheistic/animistic; pyramids/temples Ancestor + Sun God Extensive human sacrifice!! Polytheistic/animistic ancestor + sun worship Achievements/ Characteristics Advances = math, calendars, astronomy Most advanced writing! No beast of burden! Mysterious decline Society based on warfare, expansion and tribute! - Calendars - No beast of burden! Conquered by Spanish Extensive road system Linked empire + helped rule Llama for trade/travel & labor Mit’a System – Coerced labor system: all owed labor to the state Conquered by Spanish Treaty of Tordesillas Created 7 June 1494 in Tordesillas, Spain Ratified 2 July 1494 in Spain 5 September 1494 in Portugal Authors Pope Alexander VI Signatories Ferdinand II of Aragon John II of Portugal Purpose To divide trading and colonizing rights for all newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal to the exclusion of other European nations Most of S. Amer & all of N.Amer. To Spain Brazil to Portugal Spain Portugal Most of S. Amer & all of N.Amer. to Spain Brazil to Portugal 1494