PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES THE AMERICAS PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES

INTRODUCTION While complex civilizations were emerging in Asia, Africa, and Europe, equally striking developments had occurred in the Americas The “encounter” of Europeans with the peoples of the Americas brought the major civilizations of the world together for the first time and had a profound impact on all peoples

THE BIG QUESTIONS What were the major characteristics of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations? How did the voyages of Christopher Columbus forever change the world?

THE FIRST AMERICANS The earliest humans in the Americas are believed to have migrated from Asia across a land bridge that was exposed during the last Ice Age From Alaska, the earliest Americans spread southwards throughout North and South America Separate languages and cultures developed

EARLY MIGRATION

GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS “Native Americans” experienced their own Neolithic Revolution (grew maize [corn], squash, and beans – the “three sisters”) Several complex civilizations emerged in Mesoamerica (called pre-Columbian civilizations, because they existed before the arrival of Columbus) These did not emerge in river valley, but in warm and humid rain forests Supported by farming corn (a crop unknown to peoples of Africa, Asia, and Europe) and used creative farming techniques adapted to their environments

THE MAYA (1500 B.C. – 1546 A.D.) The earliest civilizations in Meso-America were the Olmec and Toltecs The Maya created a complex civilization over 3.000 years ago in present-day Guatemala Each city had its own chief ruler (considered half-man and half-god) Engaged in frequent warfare Practiced human sacrifice (developed a ball game that became popular throughout the Americas)

MAYAN CIVILIZATION

MAYAN SOCIETY King – considered half-man and half-god Nobility – a small hereditary class who performed sacred ceremonies and assisted rulers (astronomers/scribes) Craftsmen – made luxuries for nobles Peasant farmers – laborers who grew corn and lived in thatched huts KING NOBILITY CRAFTSMEN PEASANTS

MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS BUILDERS – built huge cities, large palaces, temples, and pyramids WRITING SYSTEM – hieroglyphics (picture symbols) MATH AND SCIENCE – complex number system, used zero, 365 day calendar ARTISTRY – painted colorful mural, invented popular ball game

DECLINE OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION Around the 9th century, experienced a great crisis (possibly food shortage, epidemic, or great war) Mayans migrated northward to Yucatan Peninsula (in present-day Mexico) and built new city-states Constant warfare from 13th to 16th centuries and pressures from neighboring wandering peoples, led to the final decline

MAYAN POTTERY MAYAN CALENDAR HIEROGLYPHS

THE AZTECS (1200 – 1521) Created by an alliance of several local peoples of the high valley in Mexico Created the city of Tenochtitlan An island in the center of the Valley of Mexico Grew crops in “floating gardens” in wet marshy land Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer other people in the region Made careful observations of the sky and aligned their temples based on the movements of the sun and moon and developed an accurate calendar.

AZTEC SOCIETY EMPEROR NOBILITY COMMONERS SLAVES Emperor – all-powerful Nobility – held high positions in the government, army, or priesthood Commoners – farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, warriors Slaves – prisoners of war (laborers)

AZTEC CULTURE Worshipped many gods (most important was Sun God) Constructed calendars of stone based on observations of the sky Believed Sun God needed human blood to continue daily journeys across the sky Practiced human sacrifice on a massive scale (used prisoners of war and others who volunteered for the honor) Believed it was necessary to keep universe in motion

AZTEC ART HUMAN SACRIFICE OF THE AZTECS AZTEC GOD QUETZALCOATL

AZTEC CIVILIZATION

THE INCA EMPIRE (1200-1535) Developed along the Pacific coast and in the Andes Mountains of South America Terraced mountains (grew potatoes and other root crops) Kept llamas and alpacas for their meat and wool and to carry goods Incas built upon these achievements, and around 1400, began extending their rule across the Andes

INCA ACHIEVEMENTS Built stone roads (over 10 thousand miles) to unite the distant corners of their empire Preserved food and kept in storehouses Never developed the wheel or writing Instead of writing, used the quipu (bundles of knotted and colored ropes) to count and keep records and send messages Constructed stone buildings (fit together perfectly with no cement)

MACHU PICHU QUIPU LLAMAS USED AS PACK ANIMALS

INCA CIVILIZATION

SUMMARY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN MESO-AMERICA HIGHLY DEVELOPED CULTURE AND SOCIETIES Artists made stone sculptures to decorate temples and palaces Made ceramic bowls carved with human and animal forms for religious ceremonies GENDER ROLES Established at birth Boys were given a machete by their fathers to establish their masculine role and were taught crafts Girls received a stone instrument for grinding maize and were taught to cook Women harvested grain, prepared food, cared for animals, bore children, made flour, and could hold jobs outside the home (artisans, priestesses, merchants)

LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY CREATE A COMPARISON CHART SUMMARIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS MAYAS AZTECS INCAS