1. Cities & Empires
Unit 1
Chapter 1, Section 2

2. Early American Civilizations
Several great civilizations arose in present-day Mexico and in Central and South America.
The most advanced were the Olmec, the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca.
Each thrived for centuries.

3. The Olmec people lived in what is now Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras
Between 1500 B.C. and 3000 B.C.
Built stone pavement and drainage systems and sculpted large stone monuments.
Their civilization influenced their neighbors.

4. The Maya Present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize
Large cities with stone pyramids
Tikal was the largest with 5 pyramids
Theocracy
Gods controlled all that happened
Top of pyramids were religious and government centers
Used astronomy to create calendar and used hieroglyphics

5. Great warriors, conquered all rival communities, military empire
The Aztec
Capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco (present-day Mexico City)
Center of trade
Great warriors, conquered all rival communities, military empire
Enslaved those they conquered
Theocracy built on human sacrifice to please gods

6. The Inca
Western highlands of South America—Colombia to Argentina and Chile (Pacific Coast)
Capital city of Cuzco
Conquered neighbors to build the empire
Largest of the early civilizations with more than 9 million people, stretching 3000 miles
Paved roads, rope bridges, quipus, official language (Quechua)
Terrace farming
Worshipped the Sun god, offerings of gold