The First Nations Ch. 11

Lived in modern-day southern Mexico and Central America The Mayans Lived in modern-day southern Mexico and Central America

The Mayans were at the height of their civilization between 300-900 AD

The Mayans built elaborate pyramids dedicated to their gods. El Castillo at Chichén Itzá, Mexico

They played a game that is similar to basketball today.

The Aztecs Native Americans who ruled Mexico from 1428-1521 Many Mexicans are descended from the Aztecs.

The Aztecs built great cities and developed a complex social, political, and religious structure.

The capital city Tenochtitlan was possibly the largest city in the world at the time of the Spanish conquest – around 200,000 people.

To increase farming production, the Aztecs built Chinampas – artificial islands or floating gardens that allowed them to reclaim swampy areas around lakes.

The purpose of war was not to kill enemies in battle, but to capture them.

Temples of the Moon and Sun, Teotihuacan In religion, Aztecs practiced human sacrifice – victims were usually prisoners of war. Temples of the Moon and Sun, Teotihuacan

The Incas Diverse group of people along 3,000 miles of coast in the Andes Mountains of South America in the 15th c. Large empire of 5-11 million people with a common language and way of life

All young men were required to The Inca Empire was built on war. All young men were required to serve in the military.

Road building was important for establishing communication throughout the huge empire Built more than 10,000 miles of stone roads

Suspension bridges of rope up to 330 ft long were built over deep river gorges separating cities.

To increase agriculture, stone terraces were built in the steep, narrow, Andean valleys.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The Inca Empire was divided into four quarters, each ruled by a governor. Each quarter was divided into provinces (also run by governors) of 10,000 residents each. All residents had to provide labor service.

At the top of the system was the emperor, whom the Incas believed the was descended from the sun god.

The Incas were capable of amazing feats of surgery including amputations and perhaps even bone transplants!

Life for the Incas was highly organized. Government officers kept records of people, gold, land, crops, and projects using quipu – a series of short, knotted strings hung at intervals from a long top string.

More than half of the agricultural products that world eats today - including over 20 varieties of corn, 240 varieties of potato, as well as squash, beans, peppers, and peanuts - were developed in the Andes.

In 1493, Incan civilization was at its height when the Spanish began arriving in the Americas.

Within just a few short years, countless millions were murdered or enslaved in cultural genocide as the First Nations fell to European guns, germs, and steel.