The Early Americas Chapter 16

Section One: The Maya

1. Describe the geography of where the Early Mayans called home In what is now Mexico and Guatemala Cleared tropical forests for farming Grew maize, beans, squash and avocado Deer, rabbits and monkeys for food Lots of trees for building materials 2. Define maize corn

3. Describe the Classic Age in Maya history It was between 250 and 900 A.D. Cities were city-states with their own government and king, no single rulers They traded often with each other They would trade cacao beans, obsidian, jade and bird feathers Built stone temples and palaces, canals and large plazas for public gatherings Stone court for a ball game they played

4. What was the Mayan Social Structure like? King had the highest position (claimed to be related to the gods) Priests, merchants and noble warriors were in the upper class Lower class were the farmers (most of the Mayans were this) they paid their ruler in crops and goods They had slaves that carried goods along the trade routes or worked as servants or farmers for the upper-class

5. Describe Mayan religion Many gods (polytheistic) Each god controlled an aspect of daily life (sun, moon, crops) Gods could help or harm you so to keep them happy they offered blood from cuts on the skin or tongue or even human sacrifices (usually prisoners and they offered their hearts to stone carvings of the gods)

6. What were Mayan achievements? Observatories so the priests could watch the stars and plan religious festivals Calendars, even a 365 day one that is very accurate Measured time accurately and had a symbol for “0” (zero) Writing system Amazing art and architecture

7. Define observatories Buildings from which people could study the sky 8. What factors may have caused the end of the Maya civilization? Began in the 900’s AD Rebellion by common people, against king Increased warfare between city-states Lack of food (farming the same land equals poor soil) Climate change (drought)

Section Two: The Aztecs

9. How did the Aztecs rise to power? WAR!! They fought fiercely demanded tribute payments from the people they conquered (cotton, gold and food) They controlled a huge trade network 10. Define causeways Raised roads across water or wet ground This made the Aztecs very successful in building large cities

11. Describe Aztec Society The Aztec emperor was the most important person Nobles were next (you inherited the position from your father) Warriors and priests Merchants and artisans Farmers and laborers were the most people and had the least power Slaves were the lowest social ranking

12. Describe Aztec religion and warfare Many gods that controlled nature and human activities Regular human sacrifices to please the gods (they used slaves or captured enemies) Priests would slash open their victims chests to feed human hearts and blood to the gods (as many as 10,000 people a year) They constantly waged war on people

13. What were Aztec cultural achievements? Stone pyramids and statues Jewelry and masks from gold, gems and feathers Enjoyed written stories, speeches and riddles

14. Define conquistadors Spanish conquerors

15. Who was Hernan Cortes and what did he do? He was a Spanish conquistador In 1519 he led conquistadors in to Mexico to find gold, claim land and convert natives to Catholicism

16. Who was Moctezuma II and what happened to him? He was an Aztec Emperor He thought Cortes was a god and gave him gold and other gifts Cortes wanted more so he took Moctezuma prisoner and he died fighting the Spanish

17. How did the Spanish defeat the Aztecs? They had better weapons (cannons, armor and swords) Horses (the Aztecs had never seen horses before and were scared of them) Smallpox that killed most of the Aztecs The Aztecs surrendered by 1521

Section Three The Incas

18. Who was Pachacuti and what did he do for the Incas? A ruler of the Incas in the mid-1400’s who began to expand their territory from a small tribe to a much larger one

19. What was “Quechua”? An official Inca language All official business was done in this language It unified the empire

20. How did the Incas become unified? Language Strictly controlled economy 21. How was the Inca economy organized? The government told each household what to do Everyone worked for the government Villagers made cloth and other goods for the army No merchants or markets, government officials would distribute goods and extras were stored for emergencies

22. Describe the social divisions in the Incan empire Two main social classes: 1. emperor, priests and government officials in the upper class (life of luxury, resort called Machu Picchu) 2. Farmers, artisans and servants in the lower class (most people were farmers) NO slavery

23. Describe the Incan religion The emperor came from the sun god and never died Mummies of former kings were brought to ceremonies Sacrificed llamas, cloth or food (rarely humans) Believed certain moutaintops, rocks and springs had magical powers (sacrifices were held there)

24. What were the Incan achievements? Expert masonry Highways Pottery, gold and silver jewelry Finest textiles NO written language

25. Define masonry stonework

26. Who was Atahualpa and what happened to him? The Inca’s rulers son who went to war with his brother for the throne and won in 1532 The civil war weakened them and the Spanish conquistadors invaded right afterwards

27. Who was Francisco Pizarro and what did he do? A Spanish conquistador Even though they were out numbered they caught the Incas by surprise and killed thousands and captured the emperor Atahualpa

28. What happened to the Inca empire? Pizarro’s people killed the emperor and took the offering of gold and silver given to him Pizarro took over the Incan empire Spanish rule lasted in this area for 300 years (until the 1800’s) VS.