Early Human Migrations
Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Lands of the Maya
Political Characteristics Never form a unified political system Do create a unified culture Larger city-states dominated smaller city- states Large city-states built elaborate commercial and religious centers Chichen-Itza
El Castillo at Chichen Itza
Maya Economy Cultivated maize, cotton, and cacao – Increased agricultural production by draining swamps, terraced fields, and irrigation ditches – Led to environmental degradation Hereditary nobility controlled most of the land Maya merchants came from ruling class – Traded primarily in luxury products
Maya Religion Polytheistic Cosmos consisted of three layers: the heavens, the human world, and the underworld – Priests could communicate with residents of both supernatural worlds Mayan developments: calendar, writing system, and mathematics – Used to determine religious holidays
Maya sacrifice Had to please the gods via sacrifice – Piercing of bodies with needle – Human Sacrifice Sacrificed prisoners of war, slaves, and children
Mayan Bloodletting
Mayan Ball Game
Mayan Calendar
Maya Decline Maya city-states were abandoned or destroyed between CE Causes for decline include: – The disruption of trade after the decline of Teotihuacan in Central Mexico – Environmental degradation caused by overpopulation – Epidemic disease
Rise of the Aztecs Aztecs (Mexica) migrate to Lake Texcoco in central Mexico c Founded city of Tenochtitlan in 1325 Empire started in 1434 Aztec kings represented civil power and served as a representative of the gods on Earth
Aztec Government City-states ruled by a speaker chosen from the nobility The Great Speaker, ruler of Tenochtitlan, was in effect an emperor – Increasingly considered a living god Conquered peoples maintained some autonomy if they paid tribute
Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice was a typical part of Mesoamerican religion – Aztec expand practice into a cult where military supplied war captives for sacrifice Why? – Political purposes – Population control – Cannibal kingdom
Human Sacrifice
Tenochtitlan “The Venice of the Americas
Chinampas
Aztec Society Women’s primary role was the household – Women spent six hours a day grinding corn; restricted women’s rights Marriages were arranged Polygamy existed amongst the nobility Women could inherit property
The Inca
Inca Economy Unlike Aztecs, not a lot of trade – Tried to be self-sufficient Primarily agricultural – Terrace farming & complex irrigation – Over 200 types of potatoes Inca Socialism Used forced labor for massive projects
Terrace Farming
Inca Technology Built a complex system of roads and bridges – 2500 miles of roads – Used a system of runners to carry messages throughout the empire Beautiful pottery, cloth, and metalworking Quipu Masonry
Bridges and Roads
Quipu
Inca Metalworking