Mesoamerican & Andean Civilizations Part 1 – The Olmec and Maya

Mesoamerica In what is now southern Mexico and Central America Rain forests cover the region Fertile soil made this a good area for farming Transition from hunter-gatherer tribes to agricultural settlements as early as 7000 BC Maize (corn) first grown around 3500 BC in Mexico and spread through the Americas Also domesticated beans, squash, turkeys and dogs

The Olmec First urban civilization formed in Mesoamerica – around 1200 BC Built the first pyramids in the Americas Developed the first writing system in the Americas Used a calendar and hieroglyphic writing

The Olmec Most recognizable art was their massive stone heads Other Mesoamerican firsts: – Chocolate – Ritual bloodletting – Ball games Traded with others in the region Civilization ended around 400 BC

The Maya The Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America Originated around 2600 BC Region was mainly composed of tropical rain forests Mayan civilization reached its peak from AD (the “Classic Age”)

Mayan Developments Developed astronomy, mathematics, art, architecture, calendars, and hieroglyphic writing. Also skilled farmers, weavers, potters, and traders. Developed a sophisticated number system which gave a symbol to the number zero The Mayan Calendar

Mayan Cities During the Classic Age, Maya civilization grew to include more than 40 cities of 5,000 to 50,000 people each Cities included large pyramids, temples, and plazas for public events Canals were built to control the flow of water through cities One of the largest and most important cities was Chichen Itza

Mayan Cities

Mayan Society Complex class structure Upper class included kings, priests, warriors, and merchants Lower class included most of the Maya Farmers had to give crops to ruler and serve in the army Slaves held the lowest position in society Mayans played or watched ball games in large stone arenas – losers were sometimes killed

Mayan Religion Worshipped many gods The most important god was the creator Other gods included a sun god, moon goddess, and maize god People believed they had to please the gods by offering human blood

Mayan Religion When more blood was needed, the Mayans practiced human sacrifice – usually involving ritual decapitation or the removal of a person’s heart

Mayan Warfare Mayan cities usually battled each other to gain power Warfare very bloody Fought hand-to-hand using spears, flint knives, and wooden clubs Often killed enemy prisoners Burned enemy towns and villages Warfare may have led to the destruction of the Mayan civilization

Decline of the Mayan Civilization Began to collapse around 900 AD 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

The Maya Today There are about seven million Maya today living in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize Some are quite integrated into the majority cultures of the nations in which they live Others continue a more traditional, culturally distinct way of life