Latin American Civilizations

The Olmecs Found in the heartland of Mexico Highly developed, well organized with a complex calendar and hieroglyphic writing system Structures (similar to pyramids) used for religious ceremonies Irrigation system for crop production Religion featured animals and used hallucinogenic drugs to enter trances Well known for their large head statues (probably modeled after notable citizens) Art features jaguars, serpents and monkeys and shows transition from human to animal (sculptures often made of jade)

The Toltecs Central Mexico based around Tula, but spread across most of Mexico, Guatemala, and as far south as the Yucatan Lasted from around the 9 th century CE to the 12 th century CE—people absorbed by the conquerors Little known because the Aztecs destroyed most of the ruins and historical evidence First of the extreme militaristic cultures in the region Leaders thought to be deities—later cultures copied them in their legends, art, buildings and religion Ball game where losers sacrificed Architecture tough Art mainly found on walls covered with snakes and skulls and a reclining Chac-mool (red jaguar) Religion had 2 main deities—Quetzalcoatl (plumed serpent—god of learning, culture, philosophy, fertility and holiness); absorbed from earlier cultures) and rival Tezcatlipoca (smoked mirror, known for his warlike nature and tyranny)

The Aztecs Came to rule after a period of chaos after the Toltecs Ruled over Mexico, Guatemala into Salvador and Honduras Tenochtitlan the capital People were refined workers, merchants, farmers and fishers Worshippers of many gods of the Sun Very warlike—goal not to destroy but to capture and expand empire productively (although temples were burned to ensure loyalty) –War also used to capture victims for ceremonials use (sacrificed on huge alters in front of large crowds—heart cut out, symbolically offered to the gods, and the body rolled down the stairs) Religion tied to calendar—deities represented in the Day-count and Solar year (day count had 20 days based on signs and 13 numbers); it was an endless cycle that constantly repeated itself providing a 260 day year; the Solar year provided guidelines for planting and harvesting times Fall revolved around internal and external pressures (internal revolts in conjunction with Hernando Cortes arrival who exploited his looks and the internal products)— small pox did not help either

The Mayas Oldest civilization with the most circumstantial disappearance Around from about 2000 BCE and disappeared around 1500 CE Found mainly on the Yucatan Peninsula Although all identified with a culture, not unified under one empire—there were politically independent Mayan states Agriculture base of economy (primarily maize—then cotton, beans, squash and cacao) Techniques of spinning, dyeing and weaving cotton Domesticated the dog and turkey Sophisticated writing system—recorded history; inscribed on building and books from tree bark found in tombs Art consisted of paintings on paper, plaster, wood, stone, clay, stucco and terra cotta figurines, pottery—encouraged for both men and women Advanced metalurgy Used copper, gold silver, jade, shells and plumes from birds Downfall mysterious Soil exhaustion Water loss and erosion Earthquakes Hurricanes Disease Invasions

The Incas Andes Mountains of Peru and into Chile CE Warrior society Cities built in mountains and architecture built into the cliffs—stone houses and temples had block weighing several tons and fit together so tightly that a razor blade cannot fit through Machu Picchu Hierarchical society—social classes Violent punishment system –If someone stole, murdered or had sex with a Sapa (holy man) wife or a Sun Virgin, they were thrown off a cliff, hands cut off or eyes cut out or hung up to starve to death Irrigation (canals and drainage systems)—grew potatoes, tomatoes, cotton, peanuts and cocoa Major god—Inti (the Sun God)—other gods represented the moon, sun, earth, thunder/lightning and the sea; Pachamama is the Earth God who is the mother of all humans Animal spirits lived on earth –Heaven depicted by the condor, the underworld by the anaconda, and the brother who was on earth was the puma Winter and summer solstices mark important dates in the religious calendar Overcome by Francisco Pizarro by 1535