You are there! This morning, you left your farm to journey to Copan. Built in the rain forest of Central America, it is just one of at least a hundred Mayan cities in Mexico and Central America. You have come today to attend a funeral ceremony for your ruler. As you walk along, you begin to see a tower in the city center where he will be buried. Wall carvings celebrating his life will line the tomb. Precious goods will be buried with him- including jade jewelry, finely woven and decorated baskets, and exotic feathers. You step up your pace to get there in time to honor your dead king.

Mesoamerica Mexico and Central America Groups include the Olmec, Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs

The Maya The burial at Copan might have taken place around 400 years ago, as Mayan civilization was at its peek. A civilization is a culture with organized systems of government, religion, and learning. The Maya settled in present-day Mexico about 3,000 years ago Built large cities with the help of slave labor

Mayan Success The Maya were such successful farmers that they began to grow a surplus , or more food than they needed. People started to specialize or do only one kind of job. Not everyone needed to farm. Skills developed in – basket weaving, jewelry making, and stone carving.

Maya successes continued Used stars, moon, and sun to create a 365 day calendar Created a writing system called hieroglyphics Created a counting system for trade

Mayan Cities Tikal-largest city Each city had at least one pyramid Used for religious purposes Centers for trade

Aztecs Lived in Central Mexico In power from 1300s-1500s Nomads looking for a home According to legend they traveled in search of a an eagle, sitting on a cactus, with a snake it it’s mouth (Mexico City) Built Tenochtitlan on top of a lake Capital of the Aztecs Center for trade for the empire, a group or lands and peoples ruled by one leader.

Tenochtitlan

Aztecs beliefs in war Military powerhouse Took over everything in Central Mexico Stole from their enemies Enemies had to pay tribute , payment demanded by a ruler Forced enemies to be their slaves

Aztec Religion Polytheistic – worshiped many gods Built pyramids for their gods Sacrificed enemies to keep their gods happy One story-sacrificed over 84,000 prisoners in 4 days

The Incas Lived on the Western coast of South America Biggest group of natives from 1200s-1500s AD Capital city-Cuzco Went to war with their enemies to take over their land

Incan Successes Controlled every group from Columbia to Chile Built 10,000 miles of roads to connect their empire Extremely detailed with record keeping Farming Created terraces in mountain sides to farm crops

Incan Gov’t and Religion Polytheistic Emperor-comes from the sun god Has ultimate power Top religious leader Created cities made of gold and jewels to gain protection from the gods

Review: People of North America Pre-European Exploration Groups we’ve studied include: Anasazi, Mound Builders, Inuit, Mayan, Inca, Aztecs Timeline 40, 000 – 10,000 years ago Ice Age – hunters migrated across land bridge 10,000 years ago – Early people lived by hunting and gathering 7,000 years ago – Early people learned how to grow food and settled 3,000 years ago American Indian groups began building mounds – Mayan civilization began to develop 2, 500 years ago Inuit reached Alaska 2,000 years ago Anasazi developed in the Southwest In 900 – Mayan civilization declined and the Maya began leaving their cities 1200 – Aztec and Incan civilization began in South America