Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere

1. Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere Maya, Aztec, & Inca

2. Maya - Location • southern Mexico into northern Central America called the Yucatan Peninsula

3. Maya - Climate • dense, steamy rain forests

4. Maya – Time Period • 250 - 900 C.E. • Mayan people live past 900 BUT the civilization disappears

5. Maya – Government • independent city-states ruled by kings – seen as god-king, established dynasties

6. Maya – Key City • Chichen Itza • Ball Game:Ōllamaliztli

7. Maya – Economy • Agriculture – maize, beans, squash • Trade – salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey, cacao, jade ornaments, textiles

9. Maya – Religion • Polytheistic – many gods • Pyramids – dedicated to gods and famous rulers • Worship included material offerings, bloodletting, human sacrifice • Calendar – 400 days, 20 months, 20 days each month • 365 day solar calendar, different gods ruled different days • Mathematics and astronomy – concept of zero, calendar planning

12. Maya – Writing • 800 glyphs (symbols), on bark-paper called codex

13. Maya – Decline • Mayan cities were deserted and records stopped being kept • Possible Reasons: • war and conflict between city states • overuse of land • famine • environmental change

14. Aztec - Location • Central Mexico – Valley of Mexico, Modern day Mexico City

15. Aztec - Climate • Hot, large shallow lakes, good resources, fertile soil

16. Aztec – Time Period • 1200 – 1521 C.E.

17. Aztec – Government • Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan • 38 provinces • Emperor with absolute power • loose control over empire with exceptionof tribute payments

18. Aztec – Key City • Tenochtitlan = capital

19. Aztec – Economy • Agriculture – maize, cacao beans, cotton • Trading Network – with Tenochtitlan as ultimate marketplace

21. Aztec – Religion • Polytheistic • Built temples and pyramids • 2 calendars • Human sacrifices to sun god • Who did they sacrifice???

23. Aztec – Writing • No real mention – writing system of pictures derived from earlier MesoAmerican cultures

24. Aztec – Decline • Montezuma II reign – rebelling tribes • Spanish – Cortez conquered Aztecs in 1521

25. Inca – Location • Andes Mountains of South America – Southern Peru

26. Inca – Climate • Mountainous

27. Inca – Time Period • 1400- 1532 A.D.

28. Inca – Government • Believed that ruler was a descendent from the Sun god • Nobility – ruling families • Bureaucracy – used small groups to work for the common good • Built extensive road system to connect empire

30. Inca – Key City • Cuzco = capital • Machu Picchu – mysterious religious center or royal resort

32. Inca – Economy • Run by the state – regulated production of goods • Agriculture on terraced hillsides – maize and quinoa (grain)

34. Inca – Religion • Polytheistic – natural spirits of moons, stars, sun, thunder, etc. • 2 Calendars • Sacrifices

35. Partner Discussion Question • What might this be used for???

36. Inca – Writing • None, but had string/knot math/accounting system called quipu

37. Inca – Decline • Civil War between two sons of a king and Pizarro