1. The Aztec, Inca, and Maya

2. One of the first to understand concept of zero
365 day calendar based on sun’s movement
260 day calendar of sacred days
System of writing using hieroglyphs
Who were the Maya?

3. Mainly located in Central America Tikal was largest city
What happened to them?
Mainly located in Central America
Tikal was largest city
Abandoned around 904 AD
Many theories but no one really knows
Natural disaster, famine, warfare between many city states or perhaps some environmental change?

4. Controlled Mexico for around 300 years
Who were the Aztec?
Controlled Mexico for around 300 years
Island city capital of Tenochtitlan
Marsh land made it difficult to farm
Crops raised on floating gardens called chinampas
Located on Lake Texaco and helped prevent against attack

5. After landing in 1519, Cortes found an abundance of gold and silver
Conquered by Cortes by 1521
What happened to them?

6. Terrace farming and irrigation Stone road system Verbal message system
Who were the Inca?
Lived in the Andes
Terrace farming and irrigation
Stone road system
Verbal message system
No written language or wheel
The Inca also built a
huge system of stone roads. Relay teams carried verbal
messages as far as 150 miles a day. This communication
system was important because the Inca Empire covered
thousands of miles, and the Inca had no written language
and no knowledge of the wheel.

7. Strong and large empire Francisco Pizarro arrives around 1533
What happened to them?
Strong and large empire
Francisco Pizarro arrives around 1533
Spanish army attacks, killing many soldiers and captures Incan emperor hostage
Spanish execute the emperor, thus breaking the will of the Inca
Spanish defeat them
Inca even filled a room with gold and silver to get their leader back, but the Spanish killed him anyway

8. Answer the following questions about the video:
1. How did the floating islands stay together? What kind of protection did they offer?
2. What is the big difference between plants grown in water and plants grown in the earth?
3. According to the Maya, what had to happen in order for the sun to rise?
4. How was the Mayan calendar DIFFERENT from ours?
5. What happened to the losers of the ball game?

9. Create a triple Venn diagram
Comparing the civilizations of the Inca, the Aztec and the Maya.
Use your notes, the video, and pages 217, 223 and 230 from your textbook to aid you.