1. Mesoamerican
Global Two
Ms. Lyons

2. 3 Main Cultures
Maya
Aztec
Inca

4. AZTECS
MAYANS
INCAS

5. Economy
traditional economy
Growing food, bartering (trading)

6. Maya
Time: AD
They had city-states along the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)
Agriculture
Brought water to the fields using irrigation systems
They also increased their amount of arable land by clearing large tracts of rainforest. 
farmers grew: corn, beans, and squash. 

7. Aztec From the late 1200's until European conquest
Strong, central government
They made money from “tribute payments” ($ from the people they conquered)
Most people in the Aztec Empire were farmers. 
Created chinampas: floating islands of land anchored to the lake bottom Why? so they could grow more food
Grew corn, squash, and beans. 
The Aztecs also drained swamps to create good farmland, and used fertilizers 

8. Inca
1400's – 1500 AD
strong central government, and controlled their empire through the use of an elaborate road system.
Agriculture
Terrace farming make rows of flat land on hillsides and use stone walls to support them.  This creates (more land for farming.)
12,000 miles of roads out of rainforests.  These roads linked the empire together using a system of relay runners.
Roads used for: communication, movement of goods, maintenance of strong, centralized government.

11. Were they religious? Built large pyramids
Priests were important to society
Polytheistic
Mayans & Aztecs offered human sacrifices to the gods
Incans: the main god was the sun god