CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS GLOBAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY – 9 SACHEM NORTH HIGH SCHOOL Dr. Afxendiou

Central and South America

THE OLMEC CIVILIZATION 1400 – 500 B.C.E. Earliest known Mexican civilization Agricultural society Influenced later civilizations such as the Maya Developed ceremonial pyramid shaped temples had system of writing Developed religion that was to influence societies that followed

Olmec artifacts – the Olmec heads Mystery– Who were they? Why did they disappear?

Mayan Area

Mayan City-states Height of power 6th century A.D. Ended 900s A.D. Ruled by god-kings Centers of religious ceremonies Centers of trade Large populations (10s of 1000s) Had alliances and traded with each other

Mayan Social Structure highly rigid, stratified wealth gained from agriculture (slash and burn method) KING

Mayan Accomplishments Science – astronomy and mathematics (based on 20) Calendar – 365 days Pyramids, palaces Religion Polytheistic Sacrifices – own blood, captured enemies

Mayan numbers

Mayan temple

Aztec Civilization 1200-1521

Aztec Civilization Warrior people – had tributaries who had to supply slaves for sacrifice and other payments Had many enemies among the surrounding people Strong central government Rigid social structure Capital –Tenochtitlan- built on an island in a lake Ruler a warrior king Economic activity - Trade Farming – corn, beans, squash, peppers Written language

Aztec Religion Polytheistic Sun God also the god of war could only be worshiped with human sacrifice and offering of blood Quetzalcoatl – god of learning and books. Pictured as feathered serpent or a pale-skinned man with a beard Elaborate ceremonies

Aztec Achievements Calendar – similar to Mayan Physicians – able to treat a variety of wounds and injuries, including setting broken bones and filling cavities in teeth. Tenochtitlan, the capital, was well designed and constructed Pyramid temple Aqueducts Causeways for travel Art – large stone carvings and colorful paintings Schools – reading and writing Records of their history

Aztec pyramid temple

The Incas

The Incas Capital – Cuzco Location - Andes mountains Ruler believed to be descended from the sun god Empire controlled about 16 million people

Inca form of government Bureaucracy Strong, central government Government controlled all economic activity Single official language Founded schools No writing system – oral tradition of passing down history and literature; had other system for record keeping

Inca Religion Religion reinforced the power of the state Worshipped key nature spirits like the sun, moon, the stars and thunder Sacrifice of llamas Sacrifice of children

Inca Achievements Empire tied together through a network of roads 14,000 miles long All roads led to the capital Relay runners, a type of postal system, for communication. Carried messages across the empire Surgery and herbal remedies Quipu – accounting device – set of knotted strings used to record data Terrace farming -The cutting out of flat areas (terraces) into near vertical slopes to allow farming. Terrace farms appears as steps cut into a mountainside. This adaptation allowed both the early Chinese, and the Inca of Mesoamerica to grow enough food for their large populations.