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Standard 7.7. COMPARE and CONTRAST the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Mesoamerica and Andean civilizations. FOCUS QUESTION. Why are the Olmec important in the history of the Americas?. Mesoamerican & Andean Civilizations.
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Standard 7.7 • COMPARE and CONTRAST the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Mesoamerica and Andean civilizations.
FOCUS QUESTION • Why are the Olmec important in the history of the Americas?
MesoamericaWhat is now southern Mexico and parts of Central America • Rain forests cover the region • Fertile soil made this a good area for farming • People first appeared in this area around 12,000 BC
Native American Eskimo Inca Mexico Aztec
The OlmecThe first urban civilation formed in Mesoamerica – around 1200 BC. • Built the first pyramids in the Americas • Developed the first writing system in the Americas • Traded with others from far away • Civilization ended around 400 BC
The Olmec Yucatan Peninsula Veracruz Tres Zapotes Tuxtla Mountains La Venta San Lorenzo
This civilization developed around 1200 B.C. The Olmec lived in the swampy jungles of Central Mexico. Believed to be the first civilization of Mexico. The Olmec The Olmec adapted by using slash and burn farming techniques. The Olmec traded and fought other tribes for control of natural resources. To please their gods the Olmec sacrificed animals and people. The land was fertile and ideal for growing crops. The Olmec develop a system of social classes.
FOCUS QUESTION • Why are the Olmec important in the history of the Americas? • The Olmec influenced later groups throughout Mesoamerica, who then built on Olmec achievements. • Give an example of how early scientists influenced others in the Scientific Revolution.
Who is this... and why do we know her?
These are only our ideas of beauty for our time.
Do you remember whatwas considered good lookin’during the Middle Ages?Hint – Paris would have beenconsidered poor and ugly.
We will be studying a culturein which this would be considereda BEAUTIFUL smile.
In this culture, this flat,elongated head is a visionof beauty and wealth…the Paris Hilton of the day.
We will learn about how they worship and how they get power.
We will learn about how they just disappeared.
Focus Question • How did the Maya adapt to and change their environment?
The Maya • Developed in Mesoamerica around 1000 BC • Lived in an area of thick forests and in the highlands making farming hard • Classic Age from AD 250 to 900 • Spread throughout the Yucatan Peninsula
Religion • Worshipped many gods that controlled sun, rain and crops. • Believed that their kings were related to and spoke to the gods. • They had to please the gods by offering human blood • Believed the soul was in the blood • On special occasions, sacrificing people and animals pleased the gods.
Mayan Cities • Built large pyramids, temples, and palaces • Canals built to control the flow of water through cities • Large plazas built for public events • Hillsides turned into flat terraces so crops could be grown close to cities
Maya Society • Kings held the highest position. • Upper class included priests, warriors, and merchants. • Lower-class included most of the Maya - farmers • Slaves, the lowest, included orphans, slaves’ children, and people who owed money
Maya Achievements • Sculpture and jade and gold jewelry • Mayan cities largest architectural achievement • Did not have metal tools • Built observatories to study the stars • Developed the calendar and number system • Also developed a writing system similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics
Mayan Warfare • Mayan cities usually battled each other to gain power. • Warfare may have led to the destruction of the Mayan civilization.
Causes of the Decline of the Mayan Civilization • Began to collapse around 900 • The cause of the collapse is unknown • Warfare may have contributed • Kings made demands of people and they may have rebelled • A long period of dry weather may have made it hard to grow crops • A mix of events probably led to the decline
MAYA AZTEC INCA WHEN: 250-900 AD 6 CENTURIES WHERE: Yucatan Peninsula, Central America, Southern Mexico CLIMATE: Rainforest, highlands/ mountains, lowlands – by the ocean RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: Many Gods – Sun, rain and crops King spoke to Gods Blood letting – to please the Gods Soul was in the blood Sacrificed people and animals Led by Priest-Kings STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY: King – led people Upper Class – Priests, warriors, merchants (nobility) Lower Class – Most Mayans were farmers Bottom - Slaves ACHIEVEMENTS: Magnificent Architecture; built observatories; made accurate predictions; developed a calendar and number system; hieroglyph writing system FALL OF THE EMPIRE: Wars, over population, drought lack of food, people lost faith
Focus Question • How did the Maya adapt to and change their environment? • They cleared wooded areas for farmland; used available resources for building materials; traded to obtain resources not available locally.
KINGS • Highest Position • Related to Gods • Spoke to Gods
UPPER CLASS • Controlled politics (government), religion, and the economy ($).
PRIESTS • Born into position • Led ceremonies • Knowledge of astronomy and math
WARRIORS • Fought other Mayan cities • Wore animal skins and headdresses • Painted bodies
MERCHANTS • Directed trade • Distributed goods
LOWER CLASS • Most people were lower class – farmers. • Lived in small houses outside of cities.
FARMERS • Had to give crops to rulers • Had to work on building structures • Had to serve in the army
SLAVES • Held lowest position • Orphans, slave’s children, people who owed money • Had to carry heavy trade goods from city to city • Served upper class
UPPER/LOWER • Lower supported upper with food and labor • Upper supported lower by leading religious ceremonies
Religion • Worshipped many gods that controlled sun, rain and crops. • They had to please the gods by offering human blood • Believed the soul was in the blood • On special occasions, sacrificing people and animalspleased the gods.
Maya Achievements • Sculpture and jade and gold jewelry • Mayan cities largest architectural achievement • Did not have metal tools • Built observatories to study the stars • Developed the calendar and number system • Also developed a writing system similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics
FOCUS QUESTION • How did the Aztecs adapt to their environment?
The Aztec Empire • Existed from about 1300 to 1520 AD – 2 centuries • Ruled a large empire in the Valley of Mexico at Lake Texcoco • Mild with good soil – island was swampy • Controlled a huge trade network • Fierce warriors - mercenaries