G EOGRAPHY, E MPIRES, AND R ELIGIONS OF THE A MERICAS

3/16 Journal- – What do you know about: Aztecs: Inca: Maya:

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica – the area extending from Mexico to Honduras where the Ancient Empires of the Aztecs and Mayans developed.

Codes Much of what is known about Aztec, Maya and Inca culture comes from codices. –Codex – a collection of writings in book form. (This word is typically used when referring to collections of laws).

AZTECS

AZTECS- GEOGRAPHIC Located in an arid valley in Central Mexico –Arid - dry

Capital City of Tenochtitlan built in the middle of Lake Taxcoco and connected to land by a man- made causeway

AZTECS- POLITICAL Rulers were emperors. Expected to lead in battle. Montezuma was a famous emperor.

AZTECS POLITICAL Empire – conquered neighboring states and collected tribute money –Tributes – payment made to ensure peace between tribes at war

AZTECS- RELIGION Polytheistic Sun God was the major god Human sacrifice Priests had political power

Captured enemies were sacrificed to the sun god. Hearts cut out with an obsidian knife. –Obsidian - a hard, black, volcanic glass

AZTECS- PRODUCTS/TECH Schools for warriors and priests Stone temples, metalwork, pottery 365 day calendar borrowed from Maya No written language

AZTECS- TRADE ROUTES Local trade Later Spain will exploit the empire and use the Atlantic Ocean for trade

The Mayans Mayan Empire

MAYA - GEOGRAPHIC Yucatan Peninsula Southern Mexico Dense rainforest and jungle

Chichen Itza- a city located on the Yucatan, most famous Mayan site El Castillo – “The Castle” is the most famous Pyramid, dedicated to the god Kukulcan, feathered serpent god

MAYA - POLITICAL It was not a unified empire. It was numerous city-states (each with their own king), who shared a common culture.

MAYA - POLITICAL Had the only fully developed written language in the Americas. Empire was ruled by warrior priests.

MAYA - RELIGION Polytheistic religion Human sacrifice in times of drought Focused on the movements of the planets.

MAYA - PRODUCTS/TECH Agriculture Trade in specialized goods like cocoa, salt, seashells, jade and obsidian

The Maya calendar was based on advanced observations of the stars.

MAYA – TRADE ROUTES Traded with nearby tribes (like the Aztecs). Later exploited by the Spanish.

MAYA - POLITICAL The Maya Empire was in a state of decline by around 1100 AD. Possible reasons include ecological damage (clear cutting of trees), peasant revolts, disease, invasion by foreign tribes, etc.

Incan Empire

Incan – Geography Located in South America Andes mountains 400,000 square miles 12 million population Occupied present-day Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile

INCAN- POLITICAL Provinces ruled by governors, but empire ruled by a single emperor. –Emperor viewed as being a god. Elaborate communication system between isolated mountain cities depended on roads system

The capital city was located at Machu Pichu

INCAS- RELIGION Polytheistic Sun god a major god Human sacrifice

INCAS- PRODUCTS/TECH Mines: copper, tin, gold, stone Astronomy Engineering Medicine: anesthetics and brain surgery

Farming Terraced Farming – land divided for growing different crops in upper and lower elevations Farming maize on terraces carved out of the mountainsides. –Maize - corn, which is native to the Americas

INCAS- TRADE ROUTES 10,000 miles of highway Later, Spain conquered the Incas and used the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans