1. Civilizations of the Americas Global 9

2. Geographic setting Paleolithic (stone age) hunters migrated to North America from Asia

3. Ice Age Water froze into thick ice sheets Land bridge between Siberia and Alaska Ocean levels dropped Hunters followed herds of bison and mammoth into North America Hunter- gatherers in North America migrated eastward and southward

4. Neolithic farmers In Mexico raised: corn beans sweet potatoes Peppers tomatoes squash

5. Agricultural revolution In Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas people learned how to domesticate animals and cultivate crops. This Agricultural Revolution had a major impact on the population. Cities developed in Mesoamerica (Middle America)- Mexico and central America

6. Olmecs 1400 B.C. – 500 B.C. The first major civilization in the Americas Emerged in tropical rainforests along gulf coast of Mexico

7. Olmec achievements Ceremonial centers with pyramid shaped temples Calendar System of writing with carved inscriptions Devotion to religion- especially honored class of priests

8. Mayas 300-900 A.D. Influenced by Olmecs Complex agricultural society Established large city states in southern Mexico and throughout Central America

9. Trade Mayans accumulated wealth from a profitable trade system. Crops- corn, beans, squash Trade- honey cocoa, feathers

10. priests Religion played a significant part in Mayan life. Priests held high social status Only priests could conduct rituals to ensure good harvests and victories in battle

11. Mayan Social Structure 1. Each city state had its own ruling chief 2. Nobles- served as city official and military leaders 3. farmers

12. Mayan Contributions Architecture- giant pyramid temples, large palaces with elaborate paintings and carvings Agriculture- large amounts of food grown by clearing rainforest and building raised fields which could hold and drain rain water Learning and science- hieroglyphic writing, books, calendar, number system with zero

13. The Aztecs Late 1200s Nomadic group migrated from north into Valley of Mexico Conquests and alliances built a huge empire Capital at Tenochtitlan (present Mexico City) Fierce warriors

14. Tenochtitlan Well planed city Wide roads Massive temples Large apartment buildings

15. Social Structure Emperor- ruler Nobles/ Priests- government officials, judges Warriors- fought battles Traders- brought exotic goods to empire, scouted new lands Farmers- grew food Slaves- criminals, enemy soldiers

16. Religion Priests lead rituals to appease the gods Chief god- Huitzilopochtli (sun god) Battled forces of darkness each night and was reborn each morning Human sacrifice (prisoners of war, or nobles who volunteered)offered to give the sun god the strength to rise each day

17. Aztec Contributions Agriculture- used fertilizers to convert swamp land chinampas- artificial islands anchored to shallow bed of lake Texcoco, used to grow corn, beans, squash Could support a vast empire with all the food grown

18. The Incas 1400s Andes Mountains and over 2500 miles down the Pacific coast The empire was made up of many separate conquered people

19. Government Emperor had absolute power and owned all people, land, herds, mines Strong military leaders who led army through successful conquests became emperors Chief religious leader, and claimed divine status and son of the sun god strict control of people – same language and religion

20. Roads Emperor could enforce strict control because of a remarkable road system Runners carry news form far-off provinces to capital Army could quickly crush rebellions in far off corners of the empire

21. Contributions Architecture and engineering- road system was a major achievement, over 12,000 miles of roads, bridges, and tunnels build Capital city Cuzco- temple of sun Agriculture- terraced gardens on mountain sides Communication- quipus, knotted colorful strings used to keep records Science- advanced surgery on head wounds, knowledge of diseases and medicines