Section 2: Mesoamerica Main Idea Civilizations in Mesoamerica were some of the earliest and most advanced in the Americas. Objectives What were the first civilizations in Mesoamerica like? What were some characteristics of Maya civilization? What made the Aztec empire one of the strongest in the ancient Americas?

I. The First Civilizations Mesoamerica - first farming settlements in the Americas

The Olmec carved giant heads from basalt that came from 50 miles away A. The Olmec 1200 BC - AD 300; built first large towns - pyramids, courtyards, giant stone heads The Olmec carved giant heads from basalt that came from 50 miles away

La Venta was the largest Olmec town from 900s BC & 400s BC A. The Olmec Rulers, priests, and their families lived in towns. Lower classes lived outside town and supported them La Venta was the largest Olmec town from 900s BC & 400s BC

Artist’s conception of the Olmec city of La Venta A. The Olmec Had ceremonies dedicated to the gods & controlled trade from Gulf of Mexico to Pacific coast Artist’s conception of the Olmec city of La Venta

A. The Olmec Their culture spread through trade & influenced later civilizations – calendar, writing, ball game Ceramic sculpture from a tomb showing the popular Mesoamerican ballgame

B. The Zapotec 1500 BC to AD 750 - began as farmers in Mexico; 500 BC - built Monte Albán, first true city in Mesoamerica

B. The Zapotec Monte Albán showed Olmec influence - main plaza with pyramids, temples, ball court

B. The Zapotec Cities abandoned when leaders lost support of their people

C. The Toltec AD 900 to 1200 - highlands of central Mexico; militaristic society - warriors dominated region

Tula, capital city of the Toltec C. The Toltec Tula was located near obsidian mines and became important trade center Tula, capital city of the Toltec

C. The Toltec Built pyramid-shaped temples and spread the worship of their god, Quetzalcoatl

II. The Maya 1000 BC - Advanced civ. on Yucatán peninsula – 10 million people in 40 cities

A. Early Maya Civilization AD 250 to 900 - Mayan Classic Age, city-states had own ruler and government The Great Plaza (center) and North Acropolis (top) at Tikal

A. Early Maya Civilization Worshipped many gods; rituals included blood offerings and an occasional human sacrifice The shaman is about to perform a cha-chac ceremony: a petition to the god, Chac, to send rain

Maya Calendar, called the Sunstone B. Achievements Made advancements in: architecture math - concept of zero astronomy – farming & religious calendars agriculture – slash-and-burn farming Maya Calendar, called the Sunstone

B. Achievements Writing system – glyphs represent objects and sounds; wrote in stone and in bark-paper books called a codex

C. Decline Several factors: environmental warfare abuse of power

Chinampas - "square made of canes" in Lake Texcoco III. The Aztecs Early Aztecs - separate farming tribes from northwestern Mexico Chinampas - "square made of canes" in Lake Texcoco

A. Rise of the Empire AD 1100s – migrated to Valley of Mexico, settled after seeing an eagle on a cactus eating a snake

A. Rise of the Empire Founded Tenochtitlán on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco; added land using chinampas

A. Rise of the Empire Formed alliance with nearby cities & gained control over a huge region

A. Rise of the Empire Fierce warriors, conquered 400 to 500 city states; required people to pay tribute Aztec Tribute List

A. Rise of the Empire Tenochtitlan was the capital city; had temples, markets, palaces and 200,000 people

TYPICAL AZTEC WARRIOR AND WEAPONS B. Society and Religion Society organized with king at the top, then priests, warriors, merchants, farmers, and slaves TYPICAL AZTEC WARRIOR AND WEAPONS

B. Society and Religion Sacrificed prisoners and slaves to “feed” their sun god

Hernan Cortes and Malinche meet Aztec emperor Moctezuma II B. Society and Religion Late 1400s - Declined due to unrest among conquered peoples; defeated by Spanish in 1521 Hernan Cortes and Malinche meet Aztec emperor Moctezuma II