Mesoamerica 8-5

I. The Olmecs A. One of the earliest civilizations in Mesoamerica B. Began around 1000 B.C. C. Disappeared about 900 years later (mysteriously) D. Had much influence on the neighboring civilizations…called the “mother culture” E. Developed planned cities, hieroglyphic writing, and a calendar

F. Southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico G. Farmed part of the year, built stone cities the rest of the year H. Cities were always on top of hills 1. temples 2. sacred pools 3. houses for priests, artists, and architects I. People lived in nearby villages & visited the cities on festival, religious, and market days

II. The Mayas A. Began around 500 B.C. B. Lived in present-day southeast Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala C. Lived in farming villages that surrounded religious cities D. Great traders E. Cities were linked by roads paved with white cement F. Had busy marketplaces

G. Adapted their own hieroglyphs H. Mathematicians came up with the idea of #0 and a counting system based on 20 I. Astronomers predicted the eclipses of the sun and the moon J. Developed a calendar with 365 days a year K. About 900 A.D., most Mayans abandoned their cities and disappeared (no one knows why) Chichen Itza – used as a calendar

III. The Aztecs A. Began about 1200 A.D. in the central valley of Mexico B. Through military conquest, they expanded their empire to include all of central Mexico C. By 1400 A.D., they had 5 million people D. Conquered people gave tribute: 1. corn 2. clothing 3. rubber 4. wood

E. Tenochtitlan 1. capital 2. built on an island in Lake Texcoco 3. connected to mainland with causeways (paved roads) 4. pyramid-temples, palaces, gardens, zoos, schools, & markets 5. 300,000 people lived there (dressed in feathered capes with flowers in their hair)

F. To feed the growing number of people, they filled in areas of the lake and dug drainage canals 1. planted crops in soil-filled baskets anchored in the lake 2. built aqueducts to bring fresh water into the city G. Warlike people H. Worshiped 2 gods 1. rain god – stood for the peaceful life of farming 2. sun god – stood for war and expanding empire (needed human sacrifices)

I. Reached its height during 1500s under Montezuma II J. Defeated by the Spanish military who came to the Americas with guns and horses