1. People & Civilizations of the Americas 600-1500

2. Mesoamerican Culture 200-900
Teotihuacan = 150,000 city dominated by religious structures
Growth of the city due to the following factors…
Forced relocation
Agricultural Tech (Floating Gardens)
Ruled by alliances of wealthy families (Oligarchy)
Military used to protect and expand
Collapsed around 650 C.E.

3. The Maya
Never formed a unified state / civil war between competing Mayan City-States
Agricultural productivity
Swamp draining, terraced fields, irrigation systems
Religion =
3 Layers of Cosmos (Heavens, Humanworld, & Underworld)
Women in Mayan Society
Participated in religious ceremonies
“Common” women important with Agricultural & Textile production
Military = Fought for captives not territory (sacrifice & slavery)
Notable Achievements =
Mayan Calendar & Writing System
Mathematics
Declined between C.E.

4. The Aztecs Originally Northern nomadic tribe
Founded major city of Tenochtitlan c. 1325
Government = Monarchy
Power through territorial conquest
Led by a ‘proven’ king
Women = Active in Economy
Controlled the household & markets
Agriculture=Chinampas (fertile soil built on the shallow lake beds)
Trade=Tribute & Barter
Religion = Polytheistic
gods required human sacrifice (Huitzilopochtili)

5. Andean Civilizations 600-1500
All shaped by geography
Moche Culture
Northern coastal Peru 200 C.E.
Political = Structured and theocratic (society dominated by elites)
Artisans skilled in metallurgy
Tiwanaku
Founded in Bolivia after 200 C.E.
Political = Ruled by the hereditary elite (s)
Construction = Human Powered
Wari
Near Ayucucho, Peru
Warlike culture / Not as advanced as Tiwanaku
Declined by 1000 C.E.

6. The Inca From Cuzco, rapid military expansion created an empire
Govt=Monarchy, led by a ‘proven’ king
Controlled empire through local leadership with military garrisons & hostages
Incorporated previous technologies & cultures
Cultural Achievements =
Astronomical observations (royal fam descent from sun)
Weaving & Metallurgy
Civil War weakened the empire by 1525 C.E.