1. Key Terms – MesoAmerican Cultures/West African Kingdoms
Olmecs
Mayas
Raised Field Farming
Aztecs
Tenochtitlan
Chinampas
Incas
Cuzco
Terrace Farming
Relay Running
Ghana
Mali
Mansa Musa
Timbuktu
Songhai
Askia Muhammad

2. Olmecs Built three major centers.
Flourished from 1200 – 400 B.C.
Located on the Eastern edges of Mexico near Veracruz
Lived near marshy areas, adapted similar to Mesopotamians
Society was rigidly structured with priest-kings ruling a ruling elite of warriors, administrators and engineers, and a lower class of farmers and artisans
Built three major centers.
Declined slowly from 900 B.C. forward.
Contributed:
A writing system
Used mirrors for art and fire
Massive sculptures
Heavy reliance on religion in state rule

3. Mayas Lasted from roughly 600 B.C. - 1500 A.D.
Began in Guatemala but later moved to Belize, Honduras and the Yucatan.
Had an animistic religious system similar to that of the Olmecs.
Used raised field farming to provide areas for drainage from the massive rains that swept through the region
Were known to have traded with other cultures.
Built massive religions and political centers in Tikal and Copan; massive flat-top pyramids signaled the major cities.
Declined with civil war and then the slow conquest by the Spaniards in the 1500's.
Contributed:
Concept of zero
365 day calendar
Massive pyramid temples

4. Aztecs Flourished from 1200 – 1522
Located in Southern Mexico centered around Tenochtitlan, their capital city.
Established tributary states throughout Mexico
Were also animistic but had chief gods including Quezalcoatl.
Believed in human sacrifice to please their gods, hence they engaged in many wars to acquire sacrifices.
Society was broken into four classes; nobles, commoners, serfs and slaves. Emperor held complete control of the empire.
Created floating islands used for farming known as chinampas.
The arrival of the Cortes' in Mexico led to the conquest of the Aztecs.
Contributions:
Chinampas
Massive city structures, bridge and causeway building.

5. Incas Flourished from roughly 1200 – 1572.
Located in Western South America, mostly Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.
Society was broken down to the smallest units to ensure complete control
Used relay runners to send messages between areas.
Constructed roads to connect all of the major areas.
Created a capital city known as Cuzco.
Used terrace farming → areas cut out of sections of mountains and kept in place by stone frames.
Contributions:
Road and bridge building
Record keeping through quipus
Terracing
Medicinal advances such as quinine

6. Ghana Flourished from 300-1076.
Would not gain the riches of the territory until the 10th Century with the conquest of Audagost.
Traded with the Muslims extensively.
Were extremely rich in gold and would use it to trade for salt with the Muslims
Would construct the capital city of Kumbi-Saleh.
Would be slowly conquered by the Almoravids and ultimately Mali.
The establishment of this empire proved that control of the gold and salt trade routes in Africa provided large amounts of wealth for the conquering group.

7. Mali Constructed a learning center and capital known as Timbuktu.
Flourished from 's
Conquered the Ghanian territories under the rule of Sundiata and merged them with the territories of Mali in the North.
Became the richest African kingdom
Would gain great notoriety under Mansa Musa
Converted to Islam
Made a pilgrimage to Mecca
Brought back many scholars, artists and engineers
Constructed a learning center and capital known as Timbuktu.
Mali would decline with the death of Mansa Musa in and would be replaced by the Songhai kingdom.

8. Songhai Flourished from the mid 1300's to 1591.
Territories were brought together under the rule of Sunni Ali who captured Timbuktu.
Askia Muhammad would create a legal system based on Sharia law (laws based on the Quran)
Created another center of learning in Jenne to accompany Timbuktu.
Territories would be conquered by the sultan of Morocco in