1. Civilizations of the Americas

2. Olmecs Location: Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf Coast
Built Giant heads
Had a calendar and writing
Led by priests, devoutly
religious

3. Mayas Took over the Olmecs Lived on the Yucatan
Excellent farmers: maize/corn, beans, squash
Calendar: 360 day solar
Capitals Tikal and Chi Chinitza; modern day Guatemala and Mexico
Built Huge temples

4. Ancient ruins at Tikal

6. Mayas
Had huge ball court stadiums, teams that lost were sentenced to death
Extensive trade: makes them wealthy
Farmers paid taxes for temple upkeep
Ruling Chief: Mostly men
Priests conducted ceremonies
Public officials collected taxes
Peasants/ farmers paid taxes

7. Mayan Ball Court at Tikal

8. Mayas Hieroglyphic writing Concept of zero
Decline: start leaving cities around 900 AD
Internal warfare
Over-farming
Over-taxing

10. Aztecs Had one king Society ordered as follows: King
Council of nobles/priests
Warriors
Peasants/farmers
Slaves: prisoners of war and criminal

11. Aztecs Grew beans, corn, and squash Extensive trade networks
Capital: Tenochtitlan; present day Mexico City
Religion:
Priests really important
Believed in human sacrifice to gods
Built temples
Carried on continuous warfare

12. View looking out from the center of Tenochtitlan

13. Aztec calendar

14. Aztec temple

15. Incas South American Group who orignated in the Andes mountains
Began as a bunch of tribes
Became united under one ruler in what is known as the Inca Empire
Sapa Inca is the name for the Inca chief
Gold was their most prized metal

16. Incas Used llamas as pack animals and for wool Made excellent weavings
Macchu Picchu and Cuzco were the major cities; present day Peru
Kept records in Cuzco called quipu: knots tied on strings

17. Incan city of Macchu Picchu

19. Quipu