Cities and Empires Chapter 1 Section 2

South American Empires Early civilizations , or highly developed societies, arose in present-day Mexico and in Central and South America. Olmec (Gulf coast of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras) Maya Aztec Inca Achievements include: enormous cities, complex systems for writing, counting, and tracking time, stone monuments, stone pavements, and drainage systems

The Maya Largest Mayan city was Tikal (present-day Guatemala) Built cities in the rainforests of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize Planted crops (maize, beans, sweet potatoes) Used massive stones to build monuments and pyramids that still stand today (labor was done by enslaved people, usually prisoners of war) p. 23 The temples were religious and government centers of the community The Maya believed the gods controlled everything that happened on Earth The civilization of the Maya was a theocracy, a society ruled by religious leaders.

Mayans lived on this peninsula

Tikal - Guatemala Pyramids and stone monuments still standing today.P

Mayan culture used a 365 day calendar that was created from their knowledge of the sun and stars. They developed a form of writing called hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics use symbols or pictures to represent things, ideas, and sounds.

Economics Transport and Trade Decline of a Civilization No wheeled vehicles or horses Transported everything through the jungle by human backs Canoes enabled trade by water Decline of a Civilization Cause of the decline is unknown Possible slave and farmer revolt Exhausted soil

The Aztec Tribe of hunters settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, today part of Mexico City. They saw an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in its beak. This was a sign to them that this should be their home.

Tenochtitlan, one of the greatest cities in the Americas. They pulled soil from the bottom of the lake to make causeways or bridges to link the island to shore They filled in parts of the lake to grow crops. It became the center of trade and a military empire.

War and Religion In the 1400s, the Aztecs marched through Mexico conquering tribes, taking everything they could carry. Conquered people were forced to work as slaves. They also practiced human sacrifice and used prisoners for this practice. The council of Tenochtitlan led the empire (like the senate of Rome). The leader of this group was the emperor. He was worshiped as a god, and had the support of the city council, major government officials, and the priesthood. The most famous of the Aztec emperors was Montezuma II, ruler when Cortes reached the Aztecs.

The Inca The largest empire in early America In 1438, the emperor (believed to be a descendant of the sun god) and his son began conquering neighbors and stretched the empire down the west coast of S. America Powerful army that could draft all men 25 to 50 for up to 5 years Weapons included clubs, spears, sling and stones, and spiked copper balls on ropes

Had over nine million people, hundreds of languages, and a powerful army They had a road system over the mountains, deserts, and jungles and built rope bridges over canyons and rivers Runners carried messages from town to town keeping outposts linked to the emperor and his empire Carved terraces, broad platforms used to plant crops, into steep slopes so they could farm and hold soil and plants in place. Crops included: maize, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, melons, cotton and potatoes

Machu Picchu was a fortress and a sacred mountaintop site built for religious ceremonies.