Pre-Columbian Civilizations In the Americas Unit 2, Chapter 11

Early Human Migrations

Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations

MesoAmerica

Classic Era – 600-900 Post-Classic Era – 900-1500 People of Teotihuacan Maya Post-Classic Era – 900-1500 Toltecs Aztecs

Teotihuacan Pre-Aztec Polytheistic Human sacrifice Dependence on agriculture Chinampas No clear evidence of rulers Probably elite families Collapsed about 650

The Mayans

Lands of the Mayans The Yucatan Peninsula

Overview Never politically united Individual city-states with rulers Shared culture Shifting (Slash & Burn) agriculture No use of wheels, pulleys, carts, or metal tools

Astrology Cosmos divided into 3 layers connected on a vertical axis Earth in between the heavens and the underworld Priests communicated with gods through bloodletting & use of hallucinogens Human sacrifice

Society Patrilineal Evidence of female roles in political and religious arena (2 female rulers) Focus on war Definite Class structure

Mayan Decline Between 800 and 900 Cities abandoned or destroyed Theories Epidemic disease Disruption of trade Population expansion led to environmental destruction and food shortages provoking warfare

Chichen-Itza - Pyramid

Chichen-Itza - Observatory

Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God

Quetzalcoatl: (Kate-Zahl-Co-At-L) The God of Wisdom & Learning

The Aztecs

Overview Northern peoples who pushed into central Mexico after the collapse of Tula Beginning – clan based Adapted to the local political & social practices Around 1325 built capital at Tenochtitlan (old site of Teotichuacan)

Political Monarchy Aristocratic families had much say Not absolute or hereditary Aristocratic families had much say Sometimes war provided political legitimacy Tribute system

Society Very focused on class distinction Commoners – monogamous Nobles – polygamous Prisoners of war used for labor Class of merchants Used bartering system

Achievements Dikes Chinampas Canals Writing system

Rituals Polytheism Dual natured gods Cult of Huitzilopochtli (WEE-tsuh-loh-POHKT-lee) Demanded diet of human hearts to bring sun’s warmth to the world

Lands of the Aztecs

Aztec View of Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas

Tenochtitlan - Chinampas

Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God

Heart Sacrifice on an Aztec Temple Pyramid

TZOMPANTLI (Zom-Pont-Li) Wall of Skulls

Aztec Gold

Andean Civilizations 600 – 1500 Moche – northern coast of Peru Tiwanaku & Wari – Peruvian coast Inca – Chile & Ecuador, along Pacific coast, along Andes Mountains, into Amazon, and south into Argentina

Introduction to all Andean Civilizations Fishing Maize fields Herds of llamas and alpaca Terraced farming Khipus – record keeping ropes Roads Ayllu (family clans) – communal land Mit’a – labor draft

The Incas

Lands of the Incas

Imperial State By 1525, Centered in Cuzco valley Messenger Runners more than 6 million Centered in Cuzco valley Messenger Runners Increased empire by military expansion & forcing economic exchanges Local rulers Children required to live in Cuzco

Religion Polytheistic (Idols taken to Cuzco) Royal family descendent from the Sun (Sapa Inca – “The Great Inca”) Human & animal Sacrifice

With Your Partner How did the Incas control their empire as it expanded? (List as much as you can)

Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca (11,000 ft. above sea level)

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Incan Terrace Farming

Maize in Incan Pottery & Gold Work

Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Cultivated by the Incans

Quipu – Record keeping ropes

Incan Mummies

Inca Gold & Silver

Comparison List: Aztecs & Incas Similarities Differences