People & Empires in the Americas Chapter 16 (p. 438-467)

North American Groups Did NOT: Did: Create great empires Leave many ruins as spectacular as those in Central and South America Did: Create complex societies Conduct long-distance trade Construct magnificent buildings

Maya Mesoamerica Highlands and lowlands Blended local customs with Olmec influences

Maya Independent city-states, ruled by a god-king and serve as a center for religious ceremonies and trade Feature giant pyramids, temples, palaces, and elaborate stone carvings dedicated to the gods and important rulers

Maya City-states linked through alliances and trade Agriculture provided the basis of life

Maya Polytheistic Prayed, offerings, human sacrifices Religious beliefs led to the development of the calendar, mathematics, and astronomy

Maya Developed the most advanced writing system in the ancient Americas Glyphs- hieroglyphic symbols Codex- bark-paper books used to record historical events

Maya Maya abandoned many of their cities in the late 800s Theories: War disrupted trade and caused economic hardship Population growth and over-farming damaged environment

Aztecs Mexico Mountain basin Lots of resources and fertile soil

Aztecs Teotihuacan- first major civilization of Central America One of the largest cities in the world at the time Became a center of trade Declined abruptly

Aztecs Arrive in the Valley of Mexico around 1200 Poor, nomadic people Small city-states survived Toltec rule Poor, nomadic people Adapted Became soldiers-for- hire Founded Tenochitlan

Aztecs Alliance with two other city-states built the leading power in the Valley of Mexico Built power on military conquest, tribute gained from conquered subjects, and brutal responses to resistance

Aztecs Tenochtitlan By 1500s- became an extraordinary urban city

Aztecs Polytheistic Centered on elaborate public ceremonies Human sacrifice to the Sun God

Aztecs Montezuma II- crowned emperor in 1502 Empire began to weaken Unrest and Rebellion Arrival of the Spanish

Inca South America Largest empire seen in the Americas Andes Mountains Largest empire seen in the Americas Built empire on cultural foundations thousands of years old

Inca Controlled empire through a central bureaucracy Efficient economic system Extensive road system Single language

Inca Polytheistic Temple of the Sun, in Cuzco, most sacred

Inca Death of emperor led to split of empire between two sons Led to civil war Spanish arrived at the last days of the war