Maya Create City-States Maya Kings and Cities The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states elaborate religious practices. Maya Create City-States The Land of the Maya Maya live in southern Mexico and northern Central America  Urban Centers In Classic Period (250 to 900) Maya build spectacular cities Cities, like Tikal, have pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings Each has a court where ritual ball game is played Agriculture and Trade Support Cities Cities linked by alliances, trade Farming maize, beans, squash is foundation of Maya life Kingdoms Built on Dynasties Farming success leads to rise of social classes King is leader, holy figure; priests, warriors at top of social class Middle class: merchants, artisans; bottom: peasants Religion Shapes Maya Life The Importance of Religion Maya believe in many gods, who could be good, evil, or both Many ways of worshiping: prayer, offerings, giving blood Maya also make human sacrifices to please gods and balance world

The Aztecs Control Central Mexico Math and Religion Religion leads to advances in calendar, math, astronomy Maya use two calendars: one religious (260 days), one solar (365 days) Written Language Preserves History Writing system has 800 glyphs—symbols Use writing to record history in a codex—bark-paper book The End of the Maya In late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for abandonment unknown Signs of social problems: -In 700s, fighting among many Maya city-states -Population growth, over-farming might have hurt environment -By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states The Aztecs Control Central Mexico The Valley of Mexico Geography Mountain basin, large lakes, fertile soil Arrival of the Aztecs Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive around 1200, begin working as soldiers By own legend, a god leads them to found city of Tenochtitlán Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests

Nobles Rule Aztec Society Noble class—military leaders, officials, priests—rules Aztec society Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers Lowest class: enslaved people Extraordinary Urban Center Causeways connect island city to mainland areas Canals enable people to carry goods to city Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops Central area has palaces, temples, government buildings Many Gods Religion includes 1,000 gods Most important rituals are for sun god, He needs human sacrifices to be strong Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these sacrifices A New Ruler In 1502, Montezuma II becomes emperor; he calls for more tribute These sacrifices lead to revolt in outlying areas Emperor tries to make life easier, but Aztecs worry about future Soon after, Spanish arrive

The Inca Create a Mountain Empire The Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by extensive road systems. Incan Beginnings Inca live first in high plateau of Andes Mountains Inca believe that their ruler is descended from sun god Inca conquer lands holding 16 million people Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve conquests Organized Rule Inca divide conquered lands into smaller units to govern easily Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas, palaces Incan Government Inca government controls economy and society Demands mita—requirement that people work for state Cares for the aged and disabled Public Works Project Government creates 14,000-mile road network Runners carry messages along the roads to different places Government Record Keeping Inca do not develop system of writing Use quipu—set of knotted strings—as accounting device Might also have had elaborate two-calendar system Inca Gods Inca have fewer gods than Aztecs Problems Arise A civil war weakens the empire just before the Spanish arrive