1. The Maya, Aztec and Inca Civilizations

2. The Maya

3. Developed in Mesoamerica around 1000BC
AROUND the same times as the Greeks
Used: Slash and Burn Agriculture a method of farming that involves burning vegetation to clear land for farming. Rain was plentyfull!
Trade and agriculture helped support large populations…villages turn into cities.

4. Cities and Government
Classical Age: AD built great cities like Tikal and Copan
City-states:
each had its own ruler and government.
the city states were never truly united but were linked through trade (cotton, rubber) and warfare: they would fight each other to try and gain land/resources.
NOTE – This is between the time of the Split of the Roman Empire and its Fall

5. Society and Religion
Believed that kings communicated with the gods, performed rituals to keep gods happy, offered blood to the gods by piercing tongue or skin.
Upper Class: priests, warriors
Middle Class: merchants and skilled craftsman
Lower Class: farmers and slaves

6. Achievements Impressive architecture including pyramids and canals
Made advancements in :astronomy, math and writing
Glyphs: writing system, represents both objects and sound, carved into stone monuments

7. Decline around AD 900 History is not clear but scholars believe:
Overuse of resources/environmental damage
Drought
Warfare
Abuse of power by kings
-- NOTE: 900 AD Rise of the Byzantine (Western Roman) Empire

8. The Aztecs

9. Rise of the Empire
As the Maya were declining, the Aztecs located to the north, were on the rise.
Started as farming villages
The Aztecs were fierce warriors, conquered land around them
Ruled city states and around 5 million people.

10. Tribute System (basis for economy)
Conquered people had to pay a tribute or tax in the form of feathers, crops, pottery and blankets
Aztecs became wealthy because of….
Tribute system
Trade
Roads

11. Tenochtitlan Te·noch·ti·tlán Capital City
Population= 200,000
Center City= walled compound used for politics and religion
Trade :connected by canals
Floating Gardens (chinampas)= used because the city was built on a swamp and there was not much farm land. Built by piling soil on top of rafts.

12. Society and Religion
Social Classes: king, nobles, priests, warriors, merchants, craftsman, farmers(majority of population), slaves
Religion: priest performed religious ceremonies. Believing that the gods needed human blood they would sacrifice 20,000 slaves and prisoners per year.

13. Achievements
Known for : metalwork, headdresses, jewelry, decorated temples and sculptures of gods.
Gylphs: used to keep track of taxes/trade
Calendar: created a 365 day solar calendar
Contact with Europeans in the 1500’s brought about an end to the civilization.

14. The Inca Empire

15. Government
Started out as small tribes but by the 1500’s the empire extended the entire Pacific coast and throughout the Andes Mountains
Pachacuti (p ah - ch uh - k oo - t ee ) most powerful ruler, became emperor around Used political alliances and military force to gain territory.
Government reforms:
sent officials to rule throughout the empire
Established an official language known as Quechua (catch u wa) 15

16. Economy Government strictly controlled economy
Common people payed a labor tax known as Mita
Government distributed goods not merchants/stored surplus for emergencies
Quipu (key pu): knotted colored cord. Used to keep record on taxes, business transactions and census.

17. Society
Ayllu (eye-yoo): cooperative communities, members worked together under a chief who reported to higher level government officials.
No slaves
Lower class: farmers, artisans and servants
Upper class: kings, priests

18. Achievements Stable government
Temples, Forts, Stone blocks for building (some still standing today)
Metalwork and weaving