Olmec Civilization: Location: Gulf Coast of Mexico The Mesoamerican Frontrunners (1200 BC – 500 BC) (1200 BC – 500 BC)

Highly centralized government Highly centralized government Strict hierarchy Strict hierarchy No specific rulers are known No specific rulers are known Olmec Civilization

Polytheistic Polytheistic Practiced bloodletting as a form of sacrifice Practiced bloodletting as a form of sacrifice Human sacrifice (maybe?) Human sacrifice (maybe?) Religious activities performed by a combination of rulers & priests Religious activities performed by a combination of rulers & priests

Olmec Civilization May have been the first civilization in the western hemisphere to develop a system of written language May have been the first civilization in the western hemisphere to develop a system of written language Calendar Calendar Concept of zero Concept of zero

Olmec Civilization Possible Explanations for Decline: Possible Explanations for Decline: Not known Not known Outside invaders? Outside invaders? Internal destruction? Internal destruction?

Mayan Civilization (AD 250 – 900) Location: Yucatan Peninsula

Mayan Civilization Composed of city-states Composed of city-states Each contained: Each contained: Its own ruler, farmland & an urban center built around ceremonial temples Its own ruler, farmland & an urban center built around ceremonial temples

Mayan Civilization

Polytheistic Polytheistic Offerings of food, flowers & incense Offerings of food, flowers & incense Sacrificed humans (generally peasants) Sacrificed humans (generally peasants) Worshipped nature gods Worshipped nature gods Mayan Civilization

Written language; similar to hieroglyphics Written language; similar to hieroglyphics System of numbers that included zero System of numbers that included zero Accurate 365-day solar calendar Accurate 365-day solar calendar Mayan Civilization

The Mayan Calendar: end of the world? It might just be coincidence, but the Mayan calendar was drawn up in such a way that it ends completely in The main details of the Mayan calendar were worked out nearly a hundred years ago. They believed that human history has distinct epochs (or "suns") of 3, ,000 years, after which there is a catastrophic event that completely ends all existing civilisations. According to the Mayans the present era began 13th August 3114 BC and ends on 21st December 2012 AD. The Mayan start date of our era is similar to the start date for the Egyptian civilization, according to modern archaeologists. UPDATE!! We’re still here!

Society: Society: Men cultivated crops, while women processed them Men cultivated crops, while women processed them To support Mayan cities, farmers paid taxes in food To support Mayan cities, farmers paid taxes in food Mayan Civilization

Possible Explanations for Decline: Possible Explanations for Decline: Frequent warfare Frequent warfare Overpopulation  over farming  soil exhaustion Overpopulation  over farming  soil exhaustion Peasant revolts Peasant revolts

Aztec Civilization (AD 100 to 1500s) Location: Mexico Valley

Aztec Civilization Single ruler – unified empire Single ruler – unified empire Theocratic government characterized by frequent warfare Theocratic government characterized by frequent warfare Built an empire in Tenochtitlan by conquering neighboring civilizations Built an empire in Tenochtitlan by conquering neighboring civilizations

Aztec Civilization Polytheistic Polytheistic Worshipped over 1,000 gods, but the sun god was the most important (Huitzilopochtli) Worshipped over 1,000 gods, but the sun god was the most important (Huitzilopochtli) Made human sacrifices Made human sacrifices

Aztec Civilization Social Hierarchy: Social Hierarchy: King King Nobles (officials, judges, etc.) Nobles (officials, judges, etc.) Warriors Warriors Commoners (farmers) Commoners (farmers) Slaves (criminals & POWs) Slaves (criminals & POWs)

Aztec Civilization Explanation for Decline: Explanation for Decline: Conquered by the Spanish (led by Hernando Cortes) Conquered by the Spanish (led by Hernando Cortes) Conquest led to destruction & epidemic disease, specifically smallpox Conquest led to destruction & epidemic disease, specifically smallpox

Incan Civilization (1400s – 1500s) Location: Peru (South America)

Incan Government: Incan Government: Very efficient with many different levels Very efficient with many different levels Record keeping & tax collection Record keeping & tax collection Incan Civilization

The emperor (aka the Inca) had total control over the empire The emperor (aka the Inca) had total control over the empire Claimed that he was the son of the sun, or divine… Claimed that he was the son of the sun, or divine… Therefore, he also served as the chief religious leader Therefore, he also served as the chief religious leader

Incan Civilization Polytheistic Polytheistic Believed in nature gods Believed in nature gods Inti, the sun god, was most important Inti, the sun god, was most important Offerings of food & clothing Offerings of food & clothing

Built 12,000 miles of road to unite empire Built 12,000 miles of road to unite empire Runners were posted along Incan roads to relay messages of rebellions & natural disasters Runners were posted along Incan roads to relay messages of rebellions & natural disasters Incan Civilization

No flat land for farming No flat land for farming In order to overcome this challenge, farmers used terraces – strips of flat land carved into steep hillsides In order to overcome this challenge, farmers used terraces – strips of flat land carved into steep hillsides

Incan Civilization Explanation for Decline: Explanation for Decline: Weakness within the empire led to vulnerability Weakness within the empire led to vulnerability Conquered by the Spanish (led by Francisco Pizarro) Conquered by the Spanish (led by Francisco Pizarro)

 Location:  North, South & Central America (and Australia)  Western Hemisphere  Population:  Total: 40 million  (10 – 12 million in Mexico; 9 million in Peru; 3 million in the US & Canada )  Language:  MANY languages  Health:  High infant mortality  Life expectancy (35 years)  Religion:  Spirits, magic, animism, etc.  Housing:  Dependent on region  Location:  Europe & Asia  Eastern Hemisphere  Population:  Total: 60 to 70 million  (9 out of 10 were peasants)  Language:  National languages  1 out of 20 could read  Health:  Frequent famine  Chronic plagues  1 in 7 dead from smallpox  ½ newborns died before age 15  Life expectancy (35)  Religion:  Roman Catholicism  (Protestant Reformation had not yet occurred in )  Housing:  Mainly wood

 Location:  North, South & Central America (and Australia)  Western Hemisphere  Population:  Total: 40 million  (10 – 12 million in Mexico; 9 million in Peru; 3 million in the US & Canada )  Language:  MANY languages  Health:  High infant mortality  Life expectancy (35 years)  Religion:  Spirits, magic, animism, etc.  Housing:  Dependent on region  Location:  Europe & Asia  Eastern Hemisphere  Population:  Total: 60 to 70 million  (9 out of 10 were peasants)  Language:  National languages  1 out of 20 could read  Health:  Frequent famine  Chronic plagues  1 in 7 dead from smallpox  ½ newborns died before age 15  Life expectancy (35)  Religion:  Roman Catholicism  (Protestant Reformation had not yet occurred in )  Housing:  Mainly wood