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What were the Characteristics & Contributions of Mesoamerican Civilizations?

What were the Characteristics & Contributions of Mesoamerican Civilizations?. Global History & Geography 10 th Grade Boys & Girls Al-Madinah School 4 January 2020. MAP OF MESOAMERICA. Mesoamerica.

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What were the Characteristics & Contributions of Mesoamerican Civilizations?

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  1. What were the Characteristics & Contributions of Mesoamerican Civilizations? Global History & Geography 10th Grade Boys & Girls Al-Madinah School 4 January 2020

  2. MAP OF MESOAMERICA

  3. Mesoamerica • The Region between the Two Americas that was civilized before the arrival of the Europeans, which includes Mexico, and Central America. • Civilizations emerged here around 8000 B.C. • First major civilization is the Olmec Civilization

  4. Characteristics and Achievements of Olmecs • Location: Swampy Areas of the Gulf Coast of Mexico • Period: 1400 B.C. – 400 B.C. • Built Ceremonial Centers instead of cities • Included pyramid shaped-temples and other buildings • Invented a calendar and writing system made up of carved inscriptions • Devotion to religion & special honor to priests • Mother civilization of the Americas.

  5. Maya Civilization • Location: Southern Mexico & Central America • Time: C.E. 300 to 900 • Politics: Feuding city-states • Economy: Agriculture & Trade • Religion: • Elaborate rituals for good harvest and victory in war • Priest occupied high position in the society

  6. Maya contd…. • Social Structure: Ruling Chief (king), Nobles and Farmers/traders. • Contributions: • Architecture: giant pyramid-temples and large palaces. Elaborate carvings and paintings on the wall • Agriculture: Raised crops by clearing rainforest and then building raised fields • Learning and Science: • Hieroglyphic writing system • Accurate 365 day calendar • Numbering system with the concept of zero. • Decline: around C.E. 900 Mayas abandoned the cities.

  7. The Aztecs • Location: Central Mexico • Time-Period: 1200 C.E. – Early 1500s C.E. • Political System: • Built an empire by conquering all peoples of Mexico. • Established their capital at Tenochtitlan in 1315. • Got tribute from the conquered peoples • Included 30 million people by 1500s. • Social Structure: • Rulers, Nobles, and Priests • Warriors and Traders • Farmers and Slaves

  8. Aztecs • Religion: • Sun god was the chief deity • A huge Pyramid-Temple was dedicated to sun-god at Tenochtitlan • Priests were powerful • They performed human sacrifice to please their gods

  9. Aztecs: Contributions • Learning & Science: • Accurate calendar • Schools were established • Recorded historical events • Advanced medical practices • Architecture and Engineering • City of Tenochtitlan in Lake Texcoco • Causeways to connect the city to mainland • Pyramid Temples and many buildings including emperor’s palace • Agriculture: Chinampas [Floating Garden]

  10. Homework • Questions 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 on page 358

  11. What were the Characteristics and Contributions of South American Civilizations? Global History & Geography 4 January 2020

  12. Inca Civilization • Location: Andes Mountains • Time-Period: 1400s & early 1500s C.E. • Political Structure: • A Huge Centralized Empire • Emperor had absolute power • Land, mines and Herds were all owned by Emperor • Capital was Cuzco • Everybody had to speak Quechua language • Empire connected by roads

  13. Inca Civilization • Society: • Emperor – chief political and religious leader • Nobles: Ran provinces and military • Lower label officials collected taxes, enforced laws and performed routine govt. business. • Farmers • Religion: Polytheistic

  14. Inca Contributions; • Engineering & Architecture • Thousands of miles of roads, bridges, tunnels, stepped passes. • City Of Cuzco & Its Stone buildings • Agriculture • Terrace farming • Communication: Quipu • Science: Surgery, herbs as antiseptics.

  15. Homework • Questions 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 on page 362

  16. Olmec Map

  17. Olmec Site

  18. Maya Architecture

  19. Tenochtitlan

  20. City of Cuzco

  21. Terrace Farming

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