Mesoamerican Global Two Ms. Lyons

3 Main Cultures Maya Aztec Inca

AZTECS MAYANS INCAS

Economy traditional economy Growing food, bartering (trading)

Maya Time: 300 - 900 AD They had city-states along the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) Agriculture Brought water to the fields using irrigation systems They also increased their amount of arable land by clearing large tracts of rainforest.  farmers grew: corn, beans, and squash. 

Aztec From the late 1200's until European conquest Strong, central government They made money from “tribute payments” ($ from the people they conquered) Most people in the Aztec Empire were farmers.  Created chinampas: floating islands of land anchored to the lake bottom Why? so they could grow more food Grew corn, squash, and beans.  The Aztecs also drained swamps to create good farmland, and used fertilizers 

Inca 1400's – 1500 AD strong central government, and controlled their empire through the use of an elaborate road system. Agriculture Terrace farming make rows of flat land on hillsides and use stone walls to support them.  This creates (more land for farming.) 12,000 miles of roads out of rainforests.  These roads linked the empire together using a system of relay runners. Roads used for: communication, movement of goods, maintenance of strong, centralized government.

Were they religious? Built large pyramids Priests were important to society Polytheistic Mayans & Aztecs offered human sacrifices to the gods Incans: the main god was the sun god