AP World History Developments in the Americas, 600 C.E. to 1400 C.E.

PrePresentation Outline 1)Neolithic Civilization in Mesoamerica (Olmecs) 2)Maya 3)Aztecs 4)Inca 5)Comparisons (Social + Political)

11) Neolithic Civilization in Mesoamerica (Olmecs) Olmecs were the first civilization to emerge in Mesoamerica between 1600 and 400 B.C.E.

Olmecs built villages and trade networks They developed the first written language Olmecs did not create the kinds of institutions seen in Mesopotamia or Egypt

First to develop Mesoamerican ball game Brutal spectator sport which also included ritual sacrifice

lOlmecs-Decline Archaeological evidence suggests that several volcanic eruptions and devastating earthquakes occurred in Southern Mexico which led to the collapse of Olmec civilization

2) Maya Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula), Central America Began around 800 B.C.E and lasted until around 800C.E.

Maya - Political The Maya were organized into city states ruled by a single King. City-states –Relatively autonomous, but united under one king Warfare –Cites within Mayan territory were often at odds with one another and war was for capturing slaves or sacrificial victims for religious purposes.

Maya – Social, Cultural Their largely agricultural peasant population was bound to nobility by ties of loyalty and religion. Social structure –Kings, priests, nobility –Merchants –Peasants, slaves Gender –Traditional roles for women

Maya - Economic Agricultural –Slash and burn –Terrace, ridge field –Maize, cotton

Maya - Decline The decline of the Maya is unclear. Around 800 CE they bean to abandon their cities. Disease, drought, internal unrest have all been proposed as possible reasons for their demise.

3)Aztecs 1150 C.E C.E. Central Mexico Capital city was Tenochtitlan

Aztecs - Political More than anything the Aztecs are known for their expansionist policy and professional army which allowed them to dominate nearby states and demand heavy taxes and captives. * Remember they are Expansionist + militaristic –Built an empire of 12 million people, but despite this they didn’t have a bureaucratic form of government. –Autonomy was given to conquered areas as long as they paid the tribute (taxes) demanded of them. –Roads built to link the empire = trade grew. Inter-territorial trade

Aztecs – Social, Cultural Social Structure –Due to expansion the Warrior elite become dominant (majority of people were peasants or slaves) Gender –Women were subordinate; polygamy was common –Women could inherit could property –Generally had to run the household, skilled crafts (weaving) and to some extent commerce Religion –Military and religion were interlinked –Obtaining sacrifices was a military goal –Various deities were worshiped –Tens of thousands killed annually.

4)Inca Early 13 th century C.E. Peruvian Andes Capital city = Cuzco

Inca - Political Expansionist like the Aztecs. –Controlled 2000 miles of South American coastline. –Professional standing army –Each new ruler had to ensure his place in eternity by securing new land due to the practice of split inheritance = conquest. Most united empire! 1. Established a bureaucracy managed by nobles 2. Had a unified spoken language (Quechua) 3. Also built a complex system of roads

The Inca practice of Split Inheritance was the process in which a ruler's chosen successor obtained all political power and rights, while the ruler's other male descendants received all the monetary treasures For this reason, effort was made by rulers to secure as much land as possible, to ensure not only wealth for one's descendants but also to secure a place for eternity. The Inca believed that the quality of afterlife one would experience was dependent on how much one gained on earth.

Inca – Social, Cultural Society –Like the Mayans and Aztecs they had no large animals = the prime source of labor was human. (THIS WHY THEY RELIED ON SLAVES SO MUCH!!) –Most of the population were peasants who worked the land or construction projects. –Peasants had to give a proportion of their harvest to the ruling classes and to support famine relief and large cities. Gender –Women subordinate - had to run the household, skilled crafts (weaving) and to some extent commerce –Could Inherit property and pass property onto daughters –Women could play a role in religion.

Inti: sun god, owns all –The concept of private property didn’t exist. –The ruler was viewed as having descended from the sun and therefore owning everything on earth. –Smaller-scale sacrifice compared to the Aztecs and Mayans (often sacrificed material goods or animals) –Very strong Moral quality = rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior. –Like the Egyptians the Incas mummified their rulers after death. –Excellent builders = Machu Picchu –But never developed a writing system. –They keep account of the harvests by using quipu, a set of knotted strings. Inca – Religion

5) Comparisons - Politically Motivations for expansion –Maya: slaves –Aztec: territory, sacrifices –Inca: religious Centralization –Aztec and Maya: city-state autonomy –Inca: most centralized Bureaucracy Unified language (Quechua) Roads

Comparison - Socially All –Peasant majority –Slavery of conquered peoples –Women subordinate except Inherit land Commerce Maya: Priests, Merchant class Aztec: Warrior elite Inca: Religious elite, god-king (el Inca)

Compare Aztecs to Romans 1. Both built roads to tie together their empire 2. Generally they allowed the people the conquered to govern themselves as along as they paid their taxes or tribute 3. Adapted ideas from conquered peoples 4. Polytheistic vs