1. Maya Empire 300 c.e- 900 c.e
Location: Yucatan Peninsula (parts of Mexico and Guatemala)
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Tikal and Chichen Itza (location of the famous ball court)
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
calendar, ball court, writing system based on hieroglyphics
The Mayan Empire mysteriously disappeared. Could have been caused by a natural disaster, but historians are still not sure.

2. Aztec Empire 1325-1519 Location: Mexico
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Tenochtitlan, built on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco (Mexico City is located on this spot today)
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
floating gardens, calendar
The Aztec Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez in 1519.

3. Inca Empire
Location: Andes Mountains of western South America
Religion: polytheistic, sacrifices performed
Famous city:
Cuzco, Machu Picchu
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
Quipu (knotted system of keeping records), large road system, surgery, bridges.
The Inca Empire was invaded by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro.

4. Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 Famous leaders: Hong-wu Location: China
Religion: Buddhism/Confucianism
Famous city: Nanjing and
Beijing
Contributions/inventions
/innovations:
Great Wall was redesigned, the novel, porcelain, and dictionary.
Famous leaders: Hong-wu 4

5. Tokugawa Japan 1600 - 1868 Location: Japan Religion: Shintoism
Famous city: Edo
Contributions/inventions
/innovations:
Unify Japan under one rule
Strong military

6. Songhai Empire 1464-1591 (at its height)
Location: West Africa
Religion: Islam
Famous city: Timbuktu, major trade center for gold and salt. Timbuktu was also a center for learning.
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
In the city of Timbuktu, the Songhai built an international university. Established gold and salt trade in west Africa.
Famous leaders: Sonni Ali and Askia the Great 6

7. Mughal Empire 1556-1707 (at its height)
Location: India
Religion: Islam, but toleration for other religions
Famous city: Agra Contributions/inventions/innovations:
The Taj Mahal
Famous leaders: Babur and Akbar
Taj Mahal: 7

8. Ottoman Empire
Location: Turkey and most land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Religion: Islam
Famous city: Istanbul
Contributions/inventions/innovations:
Legal code, Islamic art and architecture. Exported coffee, ceramics, and textiles.
Famous leaders: Suleiman the Magnificent 8

9. Safavid Empire
Location: Iran (ancient Persia) and other parts of central Asia.
Religion: Islam (Shi’a)
Famous city: Istafahan
Contributions/inventions/
innovations:
Leaders of the Safavid Empire were known as Shahs. Textiles (Persian carpet)
Famous leaders: Abbas I 9