1. Early Mesoamerican and South American Societies

2. S.W.B.A.T.
Explain how many diverse Native American cultures developed across South America by completing “Postcards from the Past”

3. Initial Activity Answer the following question:
Why do you think early peoples in the Americas migrated south?

4. The process of growing or improving.
Word of the Day
Develop
The process of growing or improving.

5. Olmec
Rise
Around 1200 B.C.E. the Olmec developed the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica.

6. Significant Accomplishments
Olmec
Significant Accomplishments
Use of stone in architecture and sculpture
Built first pyramids in the Americas
Created sculptures of huge stone heads
Trade spread culture around the region

7. Maya Rise Grew maize and lived in small villages
Villages traded with each other and by
about the year 200, the Maya were building huge cities

8. Significant Accomplishments
Maya
Significant Accomplishments
Built pyramids, large stone temples, palaces, and bridges.
Paved large plazas for public gatherings
Built canals to control the flow of water through cities

9. Aztec
Rise
Around the mid 1100’s, the Aztec migrated south to Central Mexico.
With their strong military ability the Aztec conquered many towns and built alliances.
Controlled a huge
trade network

10. Significant Accomplishments
Aztec
Significant Accomplishments
In 1325, they founded their capital, Tenochititlan
(tay-nawch-teet-LAHN) on an island in Lake Texcoco.
It became the greatest city in the Americas and one of the worlds largest cities.
Built raised roads to connect the island to the shore.
By the early 1500s, they ruled the most powerful state in Mesoamerica.

11. Inca
Rise
Began as a small tribe in the Andes Mountains of South America and named their capital Cuzco (KOO-skoh).
By the 1500s the empire stretched along the Pacific coast from what now is northern Ecuador to central Chile.

12. Significant Accomplishments
Inca
Significant Accomplishments
Formed a strong central government
Records kept on a system of knotted strings called quipu.
Massive buildings and forts made of huge stone blocks.
Advanced system of highways with paved roads and rope bridges

13. Summary/Share-Out
Which of the four civilizations discussed do you think was the most highly developed?