Bell Ringer Provide evidence to support the following claim: The African continent is not made up of a single group of people or way of life, in fact, it is incredibly diverse.

BANTU DESERTIFICATION ISLAM ARABIC CAMELS GOLD/SALT TRADE SONGHAI GHANA MALI CHRISTIANITY MANSA MUSA TIMBUKTU AXUM SWAHILI ZIMBABWE INDIAN OCEAN MEDITERRANEAN SEA SLASH AND BURN MATRILINEAL PATRILINIEAL LINEAGE GRIOTS

Mesoamerican Civilization EQ: What advancements were made by the civilizations of Mesoamerica?

Populating the Americas 30,000 BCE (Last Ice Age) Beringia – Exposed land bridge connecting Asia & the Americas

Olmec Civilization 1400-500 B.C.E. “Rubber People” - known for rubber production Played a ball game for ritual purposes Well defined social structure, ruled by priests Traded with neighboring regions Developed a calendar

Mayan Civilization (300-900 c.e.) Developed complex irrigation methods for farming. Supported the mass production of maize. Built towering pyramid temples in Tikal Priests performed sacrifices of captured enemies. Were the tallest buildings in North America up until the 20th century.

Mayan Civilization Traded extensively across Mesoamerica Honey, cocoa, cotton cloth, and feathers Complex social class system Chiefs, nobles, powerful priests, farmers (majority) Developed hieroglyphic writing system Most books were destroyed by the Spanish but a few survived in European museums. Developed accurate calendar and numbering system. 365 day solar calendar

Mayan Calendar =

Mayan Calendar Or?

Aztec Civilization 1300-1520 Capital city of Tenochtitlan – “promised land” (modern day Mexico City) Built chinampas, artificial islands made of earth piled on reed mats that were anchored to the shallow lake bed.

Aztec Civilization The Aztecs were constantly expanding their power by conquering new lands Tribute, or payment from conquered peoples.

Aztec Society Priests performed rituals to please the gods and prevent disasters The sun god was the main Aztec god. Practiced ritual human sacrifice to appease the gods. Mostly prisoners of war but sometimes noble families gave up some of their own family members. Constant state of warfare supplied a constant stream of sacrifices.

Aztec Society Education and Learning Medicine Priests were keepers of knowledge Astronomy or mathematics – used to create a 365 day solar calendar Medicine Used herbs and other medicines to treat fever and wounds Set broken bones and treated dental cavities.

Assessment Which Mesoamerican civilization started the tradition of a “rubber” ball game?

Assessment True or false The Amerindians were incapable of utilizing irrigation techniques to support agriculture.

Assessment What was the capital city of the Aztec?

Assessment Why did the Aztec perform ritual human sacrifice?