Central and South America Maya, Aztec, and Inca
Maya Empire c. 250-900AD Present day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador
Maya Architecture Temple of Tikal Step pyramids
Maya Religion Rain deity Jaguar-Underworld Deity Polytheistic-belief in many deities(gods) Blood sacrifices done to keep cosmos in balance Deities: Sun, Rain, Ruling-Lineage, Maize, Death, War and Human Sacrifice, Rainbow, etc. 13 upper world deities, and 9 lower world deities
Maya Society Maya Calendar Maya traditions Very precise Off by less than 1 minute today Maya traditions and people still survive today Soothsayer/Wizard temple where they would use astronomy to predict events
Maya History Polytheistic religion Built tall pyramids Made great advancements in mathematics and astronomy Corn was principal crop Powerful priest were able to predict eclipses Civilization did not end by war or disease The civilization simply disappeared
Aztecs Empire:Present Day Mexico
City of Tenochititlan
Aztec Society Emerald Mask Human Sacrifices Aztec Calendar
Aztec History/Society existed c.1400-1521 Most advanced in Americas 200,000-300,000 people lived in capital Polytheistic religion Bloody sacrifices Quetzalcoatl-God of Civilization Corn most important crop, slash & burn Conquered by Hernanado Cortez and Spanish Conquistadors Cortez was thought to be Quetzalcoatl by Aztecs Spanish brought horses,guns, dogs, and disease
Incan Civilization Located in present day: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina Empire stretched up to 2,500 miles
Incan Society Incan Warrior Incan Goddess
Incan Architecture Royal Estate: Machu Picchu Great craftsmanship
Incan History Largest and richest empire in Americas Complex political system Skilled engineers and architects 10,000 miles of roads for communication Language: Quecha No writing system or money Conquered by Pizarro and 167 men Conquistadors held Incan king for ransom Empire ended in 1532AD
Cortez Hernando Cortez Disobeyed orders and sailed to Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) Leader of several expeditions across Central America Francisco Pizarro Sailed with the 1st European Expedition to see Pacific Ocean Captured Incan King and held him for ransom Pizarro