Maya, Aztec, & Inca

The Maya (250-900 CE) Geography Settle in the Yucatan Peninsula 900 BCE Dense, steamy rain forests in the north Cool, highlands in the south Stretched from Southern Mexico to northern Central America

City-States Influenced by the Olmec Built spectacular cities Chichen Itza Tikal Each city-state ruled by its own god-king & was a center for religion & trade City-states were linked through military alliances & trade Built giant pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings

Mayan Economy Trade items: salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey, cotton, jade No uniform currency, often used cacao (chocolate) beans Agriculture was basis for life Maize, beans, squash Traded goods from one city-state to another

Mayan Social Structure Successful farming led to accumulation of wealth Social classes formed Mayan king Holy figure who inherited power Noble class Priests & warriors Merchants & Artisans Peasant Majority

Religion Polytheistic Religion Many Gods Based on War, Death, Rain, & Corn Gods can be good or evil Believed each day was a living god & the behavior could be predicted using calendars bloodletting- cut & pierced skin to nourish the gods practiced human sacrifices built temples & pyramids Holy Book- Popol Vuh: story of creation

Mayan Achievements Highly skilled mathematicians & astronomers Observed sun, moon, & planet Two Calendars one solar (365 days) & one religious (260 days) Written Language- Glyphs 800 different hieroglyphic symbols Used base-20 system with zero Played a ball game to support natural cycles

Chichen Itza

Tikal

Mayan Observatory

Mayan Calendar

Mayan Glyph

Mayan Codex

Mayan Decline 800s CE: Mayans abandon their cities Invaders from north, Toltecs, moved onto land Not sure what happened Assorted theories: Warfare among Mayan city-states Increased warfare disrupted trade & hurt economy Population growth & over production of food damaged environment Famine, disease

Mayan Ball Game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqNYhkSaF4&NR=1

Aztecs

Rise of the Aztec Aztecs- Warlike nomads roamed the harsh deserts of Northern Mexico in the 1200s Became mercenaries to local rulers Aztec War & Sun God told them to establish their own city Told to look for the place where an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth Found Tenochtitlan (Mexico City_ on an island on Lake Texcoco Unified neighboring city-states into an empire

Tenochtitlan By 1500 CE- population is 200,000 to 400,000 Chinampas- floating artificial islands in the lake Became gardens- allowed population to grow Causeways- 3 raised roads to connect island to outside world Small cities ringed the lake- dense population Heart of City- Palaces, Temples, & Government Buildings

Tenochtitlan

A Planned City

Aztec Growth Form Triple Alliance with Texcoco & Tlacopan Aztecs grow in strength & number By 1500- Aztec control empire over 80,000 square miles Divided into 38 provinces 5-15 million people in the Empire Military conquests & tributes from conquered peoples Loose control over conquered people as long as they get tribute Slaughter those who refuse

Social Classes Emperor is at the top of hierarchy Levels of social class: Nobility- military leaders, priests, & government officials Land Owners Commoners- merchants, artisans, farmers, soldiers Slaves- Conquered peoples

Religion Polytheistic- Worshipped approximately 1,000 gods Built Pyramids to worship the gods Public ceremonies to communicate with gods Humans sacrificed to the Sun God Sacrifices held at Great Temple Thousands sacrificed each year Ripped out the hearts of victims- criminals, prisoners of war, & people offered as tribute Went to war in an effort to capture prisoners

Great Temple of Sun & Rain

Advancements Science/Technology derived from Maya Calendars- Two Types 360 day solar/agricultural calendar(18 months of 20 days, plus 5 unlucky extra days) Holy calendar (13 months of 20 days) Medicine Math Artists adorned pyramids with statues and sculptures glorifying gods and leaders Writers discussed victories at battle in their works

Quetzalcoatl Before Aztecs- Toltec ruler told his people to worship a Feathered Serpent God known as Quetzalcoatl Followers rebelled and forced ruler & followers into exile Aztecs took on Quetzalcoatl as one of their gods Legend says that Quetzalcoatl will return one day to bring peace Some say that Quetzalcoatl took the form of a pale-skinned, bearded man…

Decline 1502 – Montezuma II comes to power Prophets predict terrible things were going to happen Aztecs call for more human sacrifice to please the Gods Revolts in outlying areas of empire weakened Aztec control People were resentful of paying tribute 1521- Spanish conquistadors arrive in Mexico led by Hernan Cortez… a white man with a beard

The End of the Aztecs Cortez & his conquistadors brought ruin to the Aztec through warfare & disease

The Inca 1200 CE- Inca settle in the fertile Valley of Cuzco and establish a kingdom Capital City- Cuzco Included the Temple of the Sun Decorated in gold & silver Other important city- Machu Picchu Machu Picchu may have been a religious center or a retreat for the emperor & nobles

Government Government style was similar to modern socialism Government had control over economic life Regulated production & distribution of goods Ayllu (family group) participated in community cooperation to build irrigation ditches or agricultural terraces Mita- labor tribute paid to the government by all able-bodied citizens Government would collect & store portions of crops to be used in time of famine or to feed sick & old

Social System 1. Emperor 2. High Priest & Army Commander 3. Four Regional Commanders/Governors 4. Priests, Administrators, Army Officers 5. Artisans 6. Farmers, Merchants, Soldiers

Culture Quecha- common spoken language united the people Did not have a written language but kept records using the quipu Quipu- series of knotted strings Built schools

Religion Polytheistic- Many Gods Believed in nature spirits Sun, moon, stars, thunder, etc. Used both men & women in religious rituals Sacrifice- Animal (Llamas) & sometimes humans were sacrificed Sometimes children were sacrificed

Technology Excellent architects & stone masons Terrace farming- cut into the hillside to give crops level ground to collect water & grow Economy is based on high altitude terrace farming Roads- More than 25,000 miles Cut through mountains & valleys All roads led to Capital City of Cuzco Created a postal service system that used the roads Calendars- tell what God will rule that day

Terrace Farms

Decline Inca Empire reached its height under Huayna Capac When he died, the Empire was divided between his two sons Civil War occurred between the sons & Atahualpa eventually won

Decline Conquered by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1532 Pizarro & his men invaded the Andes Mountains Kidnapped Emperor Atahualpa Pizarro promised his release if paid a room full of gold but murdered him instead in 1533 War & disease wiped out the rest of the Inca

Machu Picchu