Introduction to Mesoamerica

 Native Americans were the people who lived on the North American continent thousands of years before the European settlers started their voyages in the fifteenth century. Most scientists agree that the Native Americans crossed this land bridge from Asia through the Bering Strait during several series of migrations or movements.

Early Human Migrations Land Routes Water Routes

The Hunters followed Game When: circa 20,000 B.C.E. - 8000 B.C.E. Clovis Hunters and the Pleistocene Extinctions Hunter-gathering societies Nomadism Band structure Egalitarianism Population diffusion

Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations Olmecs Maya Aztecs Incas

The Olmecs

Veracruz The Olmec inhabited the region 1,200 years ago, and remained here until the beginning of the Christian era. Olmec” was not what the people called themselves It means “rubber people” and comes from the rubber trees that flourish in the region

Where? Among the various Mesoamerican Pre-Classic period (1200 BCE-400 BCE) groups, the Olmecs are the most well-known. About 3,000 years ago the Olmecs lived along the Gulf of Mexico coast in what is now southern Mexico. The area is now known as Veracruz.

Culture The word "Olmec" also refers to the rubber balls used for their ancient ball game. Olmec were a highly developed and well organized group with a complex calendar, hereditary elite, hieroglyphic writing system, and maize cultivation. They also created unique art objects and sculptures. A quintessential Olmec piece that displays a clefted head, the typical were-jaguar mouth and the so-called flaming eyebrows, the original use of this remarkable piece was probably religious in nature.

The Mayans

Lands of the Mayans The Yucatan Peninsula

Important city-state: Chichen-Itza

Chichen-Itza - Ball Court

Overview of Tikal (Guatemala) Temple of the Masks

Mayan Cultivation of Maize Chac, God of Rain 

Mayan Drinking Cup for Chocolate

Mayan Glyphs used in their writing system sky king house child city Mayan Mathematics Developed a number system Understood the concept of zero. (similar to India advance).

Pakal: The Maya Astronaut

Tikal: Temple of the Masks Monumental Building: Tikal: Temple of the Masks

The Aztecs

Lands of the Aztecs

Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas

Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden: 15ft. to 30ft. wide

Aztec Sun Stone - Calendar

Aztec Writing Aztec Math

Aztec Codex (15c Manuscript)

Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God

The Aztecs were Fierce Warriors

The Incas

Lands of the Incas- Peru

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Digging Sticks

Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Cultivated by the Incans

Produce from a Typical Incan Market

Incan Terrace Farming

The Quipu: An Incan Database

Machu Picchu