1. Civilizations of Middle America

2. The Land Bridge
30,000 years ago humans migrated to America from Asia (Paleolithic Era) across the Bering Strait

3. Global Warming
10,000 years ago the land bridge melted

4. Agricultural Revolution
The peoples of the Americas learned to farm and domesticate animals

5. Limited Growth
They had no horses or oxen to bear heavy loads or pull wagons
Some areas did have Llamas

6. The Olmecs
Lasted from about 1400 BC to 500 BC

7. Tombs and Temples
The Olmecs had a powerful class of priests and aristocrats

8. Lack of Cities
They had no true cities but ceremonial centers where the people would gather to attend religious ceremonies

9. Stone Heads
The ruins of 40-ton stone heads were found at a religious center at La Venta

10. Mystery
Archeologists have no theories how the Olmecs moved the stone from the distant quarries without wheeled vehicles or draft animals

11. Influence The Olmecs heavily influenced later American Civilizations:
Art
Calendar
Religion

12. The Mayans

13. City-States
Each with its own ruler

14. Farming in the Rainforest
Cleared dense forests and built raised fields and channels to drain excess water

15. Pyramids Served as temples and burial places
Were the tallest buildings in America until the skyscrapers in NYC (1903)

16. Trade
Exchanged honey, cocoa, cotton cloth, and feathers across roads of packed earth

17. Social Classes
Ruling chief
Nobles
Priests
Farmers

18. Farmers
Grew corn, beans and squash

19. Advances Hieroglyphic writing system 365 day calendar Concept of zero
Written in bark books, most burned by Europeans when they arrived
365 day calendar
Concept of zero

20. Decline
Around 900 the Mayans abandoned their cities
Why?

21. Aztec
1200s to 1519

22. Lake Texcoco
Settled around the lake and began to build a capital city

23. Teotihuacan (tay oh tee wah KAHN) Had well planned wide roads
massive temples
Large apartment buildings

24. Pyramid of the Sun

25. Pyramid of the Moon

26. Chinampas
Artificial islands made of earth piled on reed mats anchored to the shallow lake bed.

27. Conquest
The Aztecs took over surrounding villages and forced the people to pay tribute and sacrificed their young daughters to the God of War

28. By 1500 it is estimated the Empire numbered about 30 million people
Aztec Empire
By 1500 it is estimated the Empire numbered about 30 million people

29. Emperor
Chosen by a council of nobles and priests

30. Social Structure
Emperor
Nobles
Warriors
Farmers
Slaves

31. (wee tsee loh POHKT lee)
Huitzilopochtli
(wee tsee loh POHKT lee)
Chief Aztec god that battled the forces of darkness every night.
Human sacrifices strengthened his power

32. Advances Writing system Calendar Medicines Set broken bones
Treat dental cavities