1. Bellringer SOL Challenge Have out your homework and your maps— finish them if you get done early! BJOTD: Why did the orange go blind?

2. The Western Hemisphere The Maya, Aztec, and Inca

3. The Maya (300 BCE-900CE) Location – The Mexican and Central American rainforests (on the Yucatan Peninsula) – Major City: Chichén Itzá Most well-known city Used for religious ceremonies and as a center of trade

4. Government – Groups of allied city-states ruled by a king Economy – Agriculture and trade grew maize (corn), squash, beans Trade linked Mayan city-states

5. Religion – Polytheistic – Pyramids Built for two reasons: religion and landmarks – Temples on top – Believed to bring the priests closer to the gods – Sacrifices Pierce own bodies for blood offering Sacrifices of gold and jade into the cenote also accepted

6. Achievements – 2 calendars made by study of astronomy and math 260 day religious calendar 365 day solar calendar – Number system – Written language (Glyphs for words) Decline – Starting collapsing around 800s – Different theories as to why

7. Aztecs (1300-1521 CE) Location – arid valley in Central Mexico (Mexico City/ Tenochtitlan) Arid=very little water – Huitzilopochtli

8. Government – Warrior-based group ruled by emperor Economy – Based on agriculture and the payment of tribute from conquered peoples Jade, cacao, cotton, gold, maize

9. s Religion – Polytheistic – Intricate ceremonies to gods with songs and rituals God ran everyday life and he needed human blood Daily human sacrifices needed (primarily conquered peoples) to keep Huitzilopochtli happy – Pyramids served as temples and sacrifice sites Achievements – Calendar similar to Maya – Glyphs similar to Maya

10. Decline – Conquistadors (Spanish conquerors) invade and bring disease in the 1500s, causing the decline of the civilization

11. Inca (1300-1500 CE) Location: – In the Andes Mountains of South America – Major city: Machu Picchu Government: – Ruled by an emperor

12. Economy – High altitude agriculture (on terraces) Religion – Polytheistic – Llamas were considered sacred – Sacrifices---but no humans

13. Achievements – Road system that connected entire empire Aided in government administration and trade – No written language Decline – Conquistadors brought violence and disease, causing the decline of the civilization