Civilizations in Mesoamerica
Agriculture
7000 BC in Central Mexico
Main Crop: Maize
Ancestor of Maize
Led to the rise of villages and civilization Almost no herdsmen
Olmecs BC
Gulf Coast of Mexico Mother Culture of the Region
Built earth mounds and stone monuments
Priests and nobles ruling Peasants
City-State of Teotihuacan
200,000 people
Pyramid of the Sun Abandoned by 750
Mural from Teotihuacan
Maya Create Urban Kingdoms
Maya Empire
1. Southern Mexico, Yucatan Pen. to Guatemala and Honduras 2. Dry highlands and Rain Forests
Classical Period Palenque
2. Built at least 50 great cities such as Tikal
Classical Period Ruled by god-kings
4. Great temples, pyramids and palaces
Chichen Itza Mayan Society
1. Vast trade network –(Cacao, jade, cotton, salt, flint, etc.)
2. Both slash and burn and more sophisticated ag.
3. Most advanced form of writing in the Americas (only 3 of their books [Codexes] exist)
Mayan writing
Maya Glyphs
Religion 1. Polytheist
Jaguar Cult
2. Calendars and math
3. Astronomy
Observatory
4. Self mutilation and human sacrifice
Sacrificial Ceynote Chichen Itza
Ballgame
Ball court
Ball court
Mayan Decline 1. Late 800’s suddenly abandoned most cities 2.Overpopulation= damage to ecology
Battle of Aguateca 3. Intercity warfare
4. Arrival of the Toltecs and later Aztecs
5. Mayans returned to village life
Still make up much of the population of Southern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
The Toltecs
Controlled the valley of Mexico from around 900
Fierce and Warlike Major god: Quetzacoatl-- demanded human sacrifice
The Aztecs Remains of an Aztec temple in a Mexico City Subway station
The Aztecs come to Mexico
Origins 1. Mexica (later called Aztecs) entered Valley around 1200 (from North America?) after the decline of the Toltecs
2. Founded Tenochtitlan on islands in Lake Texcoco around 1325
Building Tenochtitlan
The Aztec Empire
5-15 million subjects
Demanded tribute and obedience Brutal in suppressing revolt
Society Emperor--absolute power
Nobles Warriors Priests Government officials
School for noble boys
Commoners Artisans, merchants, farmers and soldiers Slaves
AztecJewelry
Economy Vast trade network Much of capital’s food provided by floating gardens
(60,000 per day met in capital for trade)
Tenochtitlan
Greatest city in the world Early 1500’s 200,000 pop. Connected to mainland by causeways and bridges (easy to defend)
Canals, aqueducts, good sanitation
Diego Rivera Mural-- Aztec Festival
Templo Mayor all that remains of Tenochtitlan’s greatest pyramid
Religion
/elloughton13/sunston e.htm 1. Calendar, writing
Calendar Today
Aztec Writing
2. Gods demanded sacrifice a day eventually
3. Battle tactics designed to capture victims alive
Wall of Skulls
Destruction of Azted Civilization
Montezuma II inherited great unrest Montezuma sees a comet
Demands for tribute and sacrifice caused rebellion
1519 Word reached Montezuma that Quetzequatl had returned to the Gulf Coast
Hernando Cortes Conqueror of the Aztecs
Montezuma II Last King of the Aztecs Killed by his own people
Reasons for Spanish success Weapons--firearms, horsesWeapons--firearms, horses Aztec enemiesAztec enemies Quetzacoatl--Believed Cortes might be a godQuetzacoatl--Believed Cortes might be a god
Disease--wiped out more than half of the IndiansDisease--wiped out more than half of the Indians
Intermission Tulum