1. Mask from Teotihuacán, Mexico.
People and Empires in the Americas,
500–1500
Societies in the Americas range from small tribal bands to the vast empires of the Maya, the Aztecs, and the Inca.
Mask from Teotihuacán, Mexico.
NEXT

2. People and Empires in the Americas, 500–1500
SECTION 1
North American Societies
SECTION 2
Maya Kings and Cities
SECTION 3
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
SECTION 4
The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
These are my notes for slide 2
Chart
Map
NEXT

3. North American Societies
Section 1
North American Societies
Complex North American societies are linked to each other through culture and economics.
NEXT

4. North American Societies
SECTION 1
North American Societies
Complex Societies in the West
Regional Differences
• North American cultures less complex than other
American cultures
Map
Cultures of Abundance
• Pacific Northwest—from Oregon to Alaska—rich in
resources
• People rely on both sea and land resources for
food
• Plentiful resources lead to society with differences
in wealth
• In potlatch ceremony, wealthy people give gifts to
demonstrate status
Continued . . .
NEXT

5. Accomplished Builders
SECTION 1
continued Complex Societies in the West
Accomplished Builders
• Desert Southwest is harsher environment than that
of Pacific Coast
• Hohokam of central Arizona use irrigation to grow
corn, beans, squash
• Use of pottery shows contact with Mesoamerica
• Anasazi, to the north, build pueblos—villages of
stone, adobe, clay
• Pueblos abandoned around 1200; descendents of
Anasazi—Pueblo peoples
• Hopi and Zuni continue Anasazi customs; create
trade goods
Image
NEXT

6. Mound Builders and Other Woodland Cultures
SECTION 1
Mound Builders and Other Woodland Cultures
The Mound Builders
• Peoples who live east of Mississippi River in
woodland areas
• Adena and Hopewell peoples build mounds for
burials, ceremonies
• Mississippian—last Mound Builder culture, from
800 to 1500s
• Cahokia, leading city, has as many as 30,000
people
Map
Image
Northeastern Tribes Build Alliances
• Iroquois—five allied tribes of eastern Great Lakes
• Goals of Iroquois League: joint defense and
cooperation
NEXT

7. Cultural Connections Trading Networks Tie Tribes Together
SECTION 1
Cultural Connections
Trading Networks Tie Tribes Together
• Mississippian trade network: Rockies to Atlantic,
Great Lakes to Gulf
Religion Shapes Views of Life
• Most Native Americans believe in many sacred
spirits
• Beliefs also include respect for land as source of life
Shared Social Patterns
• Family is basis for social organization; some
organize into clans
• Totems—natural object that person, family, or clan
identifies with
• Totem is symbol of unity of family, clan, or group
Image
NEXT

8. Maya Kings and Cities Section 2
The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states elaborate religious practices.
NEXT

9. Maya Kings and Cities Maya Create City-States The Land of the Maya
SECTION 2
Maya Kings and Cities
Maya Create City-States
The Land of the Maya
• Maya live in southern Mexico and northern Central
America
• Land, vegetation of this region varies
• Maya culture influenced by Olmec civilization 
Map
Urban Centers
• In Classic Period (250 to 900) Maya build
spectacular cities
• Cities, like Tikal, have pyramids, temples, palaces,
stone carvings
• Each has a court where ritual ball game is played
Image
Continued . . .
NEXT

10. Agriculture and Trade Support Cities
SECTION 2
continued Maya Create City-States
Agriculture and Trade Support Cities
• Cities linked by alliances, trade
• Farming maize, beans, squash is foundation of Maya
life
• Maya use different farming techniques
Kingdoms Built on Dynasties
• Farming success leads to rise of social classes
• King is leader, holy figure; priests, warriors at top of
social class
• Middle class: merchants, artisans; bottom: peasants
NEXT

11. Religion Shapes Maya Life
SECTION 2
Religion Shapes Maya Life
The Importance of Religion
• Maya believe in many gods, who could be good,
evil, or both
• Each day is a god whose behavior could be
predicted with calendars
Religious Practices
• Many ways of worshiping: prayer, offerings, giving
blood
• Maya also make human sacrifices to please gods
and balance world
Continued . . .
NEXT

12. Written Language Preserves History
SECTION 2
continued Religion Shapes Maya Life
Math and Religion
• Religion leads to advances in calendar, math,
astronomy
• Maya use two calendars: one religious (260 days),
one solar (365 days)
• Use calendars to find best days for life activities
Written Language Preserves History
• Writing system has 800 glyphs—symbols
• Use writing to record history in a codex—bark-paper
book
• Popul Vuh—famous codex that contains Maya story
of creation
Image
NEXT

13. Mysterious Maya Decline
SECTION 2
Mysterious Maya Decline
The End of the Maya
• In late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for
abandonment unknown
• Signs of social problems:
- In 700s, fighting among many Maya city-states
- Population growth, over-farming might have hurt environment
- By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states
NEXT

14. The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
Section 3
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
Through alliances and conquest, the Aztecs create a powerful empire in Mexico.
NEXT

15. The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
SECTION 3
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
The Valley of Mexico
Geography
• Mountain basin 7,500 feet above sea level, large
lakes, fertile soil
• Teotihuacán and Toltec settle in valley, develop
civilizations
Map
An Early City-State
• Teotihuacán city-state rises in first century A.D.
• At peak, in 500s, city has up to 200,000 people
• Serves as center of trade, especially of obsidian—
volcanic glass
• City quickly declines; by 750 is abandoned
Image
Continued . . .
NEXT

16. Toltecs Take Over • About 900, Toltecs rise to power; rule for about
SECTION 3
continued The Valley of Mexico
Toltecs Take Over
• About 900, Toltecs rise to power; rule for about
300 years
• A warlike people, they rule by conquest
• They worship fierce war god and offer human
sacrifices
• Toltec ruler Topiltzin tries to change religion, end
human sacrifice
• Encourages worship of Quetzalcoatl—
“Feathered Serpent”—a new god
• He is exiled to Yucatán Peninsula; by early
1200s, Toltec rule ends
NEXT

17. The Aztec Empire Arrival of the Aztecs Aztecs Grow Stronger
SECTION 3
The Aztec Empire
Arrival of the Aztecs
• Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive around 1200, begin
working as soldiers
• By own legend, a god leads them to found city of
Tenochtitlán
Aztecs Grow Stronger
• Triple Alliance—1428 agreement of Aztec and two
other city-states
• By early 1500s, Aztecs have large empire and rule
5–15 million people
• Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests
Continued . . .
NEXT

18. Nobles Rule Aztec Society
SECTION 3
continued The Aztec Empire
Nobles Rule Aztec Society
• Noble class—military leaders, officials, priests—
rules Aztec society
• Nobles own vast estates, live life of wealth and
luxury
• Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers,
farmers
• Lowest class: enslaved people
• Emperor’s power is absolute, lives in palace, is
revered
NEXT

19. Tenochtitlán: A Planned City
SECTION 3
Tenochtitlán: A Planned City
Extraordinary Urban Center
• Causeways connect island city to mainland areas
• Canals enable people to carry goods to city and
its huge main market
• Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops
• Central area has palaces, temples, government
buildings
Interactive
NEXT

20. Religion Rules Aztec Life
SECTION 3
Religion Rules Aztec Life
Many Gods
• Religion includes 1,000 gods, many adopted from
other peoples
Religious Practices
• Center of religion is public ceremonies to win gods’
favor
• Many religious festivals throughout year
Sacrifices for the Sun God
• Most important rituals are for sun god, Huitzilopochtli
• He needs human sacrifices to be strong
• Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these
sacrifices
NEXT

21. Problems in the Aztec Empire
SECTION 3
Problems in the Aztec Empire
A New Ruler
• In 1502, Montezuma II becomes emperor; he
calls for more tribute
• These sacrifices lead to revolt in outlying areas
• Emperor tries to make life easier, but Aztecs
worry about future
• Soon after, Spanish arrive
Image
NEXT

22. The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
Section 4
The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
The Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by extensive road systems.
NEXT

23. The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
SECTION 4
The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
The Inca Build an Empire
Incan Beginnings
• Inca live first in high plateau of Andes Mountains
• By 1200s, they have a kingdom in Valley of Cuzco
• Inca believe that their ruler is descended from sun
god, Inti
Map
Pachacuti Builds an Empire
• Pachacuti, a powerful and ambitious emperor,
takes control in 1438
• Under Pachacuti, Inca conquer lands holding 16
million people
• Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve
conquests
NEXT

24. Incan Government Creates Unity
SECTION 4
Incan Government Creates Unity
Organized Rule
• Inca divide conquered lands into smaller units to
govern easily
• Make Quechua official language of entire empire
Incan Cities Show Government Presence
• Inca build cities with same architecture for
government buildings
• Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas,
palaces
• Inca are very skilled builders
Image
Continued . . .
NEXT

25. Incan Government • Inca government controls economy and society
SECTION 4
continued Incan Government Creates Unity
Incan Government
• Inca government controls economy and society
• Use ayllu—extended family group—to control
how people live, work
• Divides society into groups of 10; 100; 1,000;
10,000
• Chain of command stretches from central
government to smallest unit
• Demands mita—requirement that people work for
state
• Cares for the aged and disabled
Continued . . .
NEXT

26. Government Record-Keeping
SECTION 4
continued Incan Government Creates Unity
Public Works Projects
• Government creates public works, including
14,000-mile road network
• Runners carry messages along the roads to
different places
Government Record-Keeping
• Inca do not develop system of writing
• Use quipu—set of knotted strings—as
accounting device
• Might also have had elaborate two-calendar
system
NEXT

27. Religion Supports the State
SECTION 4
Religion Supports the State
Inca Gods
• Inca have fewer gods than Aztecs
• Creator god and sun god are most important
Religious Practices
• Priests draft young women to assist in
ceremonies
• Some young men also become specialized
religious workers
Great Cities
• Cuzco has magnificent Temple of the Sun
decorated in gold
• Other cities might have had religious importance
as well
NEXT

28. Discord in the Empire Problems Arise
SECTION 4
Discord in the Empire
Problems Arise
• In early 1500s, Inca Empire reaches its height
under Huayna Capac
• Capac dies, perhaps of smallpox, while touring
newly conquered Ecuador
• In 1520s, his sons Atahualpa and Huascar split
empire
• Atahualpa wants control of whole empire and
begins civil war
• This war weakens Inca state just before Spanish
arrive
NEXT

29. This is the end of the chapter presentation of lecture notes
This is the end of the chapter presentation of lecture notes. Click the HOME or EXIT button.

30. Print Slide Show Print Text Version 1. On the File menu, select Print
2. In the pop-up menu, select Microsoft PowerPoint If the dialog box does not include this pop-up, continue to step 4
3. In the Print what box, choose the presentation format you want to print: slides, notes, handouts, or outline
4. Click the Print button to print the PowerPoint presentation
Print Text Version
1. Click the Print Text button below; a text file will open in Adobe Acrobat
2. On the File menu, select Print
3. Click the Print button to print the entire document, or select the pages you want to print
Print Text
Print Text
BACK