Civilizations of the Americas

Olmecs Location: Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf Coast Built Giant heads Had a calendar and writing Led by priests, devoutly religious

Mayas Took over the Olmecs Lived on the Yucatan Excellent farmers: maize/corn, beans, squash Calendar: 360 day solar Capitals Tikal and Chi Chinitza; modern day Guatemala and Mexico Built Huge temples

Ancient ruins at Tikal

Mayas Had huge ball court stadiums, teams that lost were sentenced to death Extensive trade: makes them wealthy Farmers paid taxes for temple upkeep Ruling Chief: Mostly men Priests conducted ceremonies Public officials collected taxes Peasants/ farmers paid taxes

Mayan Ball Court at Tikal

Mayas Hieroglyphic writing Concept of zero Decline: start leaving cities around 900 AD Internal warfare Over-farming Over-taxing

Aztecs Had one king Society ordered as follows: King Council of nobles/priests Warriors Peasants/farmers Slaves: prisoners of war and criminal

Aztecs Grew beans, corn, and squash Extensive trade networks Capital: Tenochtitlan; present day Mexico City Religion: Priests really important Believed in human sacrifice to gods Built temples Carried on continuous warfare

View looking out from the center of Tenochtitlan

Aztec calendar

Aztec temple

Incas South American Group who orignated in the Andes mountains Began as a bunch of tribes Became united under one ruler in what is known as the Inca Empire Sapa Inca is the name for the Inca chief Gold was their most prized metal

Incas Used llamas as pack animals and for wool Made excellent weavings Macchu Picchu and Cuzco were the major cities; present day Peru Kept records in Cuzco called quipu: knots tied on strings

Incan city of Macchu Picchu

Quipu