Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere The Mayans, Aztecs and Incas

How did humans travel from Asia to North America and into Meso-America How did humans travel from Asia to North America and into Meso-America? - Came across a land bridge connecting Asia to North America

Mayans (Most advanced civilization) Mayan civilization was located in Mexico and the Central American rainforest. Mayan civilization was made up city-states that were ruled by a king. Their economy was based on agriculture and trade. The capital city of the empire was Chichen Itza.

The Mayans were polytheistic (belief in many gods) The Mayans were polytheistic (belief in many gods). Religion was closely tied to agriculture. Human sacrifices were also a part of religion. For example, to end a drought, they might have given human sacrifices, so the gods would bring rain.

The accomplishments of the Mayans include: Pyramid shaped temples Pictographic writing – hieroglyphs The study of astronomy (prediction of eclipses, agricultural calendar) Number system

Fall of the Mayans 900 A.D. a series of catastrophes took place. No one knows for sure what happened. Explanations include: Farming methods wore out the soil War-fare between Mayan city-states Possible peasant revolt The results were a serious decline in population and the flight of people from cities.

The Aztecs Around 1200 A.D., several groups invaded Mexico. The group that surfaced as the strongest was the Aztecs. The Aztec had been “wandering warriors”, but soon created a city known as Tenochtitlan. This would be their capital. Tenochtitlan grew to include pyramid temples, marketplaces and palaces.

Aztec society was very militaristic (warriors held the most power). The Aztec empire grew rapidly under rule by an emperor. The empire controlled Central Mexico. The economy of the Aztecs was based on agriculture and tribute from conquered peoples.

Aztec religion was polytheistic Aztec religion was polytheistic. They performed rituals on their pyramids. An example would be that Aztecs gave human sacrifices to the Sun god so that he would remain strong (warfare provided victims).

Accomplishments of the Aztecs include: Metal working, pottery and weaving Fine art Calendars and mathematics Chinampas - this farming method increased the food supply

Decline of Aztecs The Aztec empire declined in the late 1400’s A.D. because of political and social unrest between the Aztecs and surrounding peoples. Those conflicts greatly weakened the empire.

Incas – “Children of the Sun” The Incas created an empire in the Andes Mountains in South America. It was ruled by an emperor. The capital of the Incan empire was Cuzco. Incas created fortresses, irrigation systems and roads.

The emperor helped to unify the empire by: Moving villages Establishing an education system Creating an official language – Quechua Building roads and communication systems (relay runners carried messages back and forth) Building an agricultural economy

The Incas religion was polytheistic. Accomplishments of the Incas include: Quipue – series of knots on parallel strings as a way of keeping records Ceramics, textiles, metals Medicine – used anesthetics and operated on the brain

Machu Picchu was a sacred city for the Incans.

Achievements of all Meso-American Civilizations include: a. Calendars b. Mathematics c. Writing and other record keeping systems

Mexico, Central American rain forest Civilization Economy Religion Location Political Development Maya Agriculture and trade Polytheistic Mexico, Central American rain forest Made up of city-states ruled by a king Aztec Agriculture and tribute from conquered peoples Mexico Ruled by an emperor Inca Agriculture South America – Andes Mountains