The Americas

Warm Up Define “America” in 2-3 sentences.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

CLIMATIC GEOGRAPHY

Classical Vs. Post Classical Societies Classical CEPost-Classical CE Population lowerPop. Density increased/larger cities/overall population Land less intensively farmedAgriculture intensifies Warfare between groups happens frequently Warfare intensified, becomes more deadly Small armies; simple forms of government Strong, centralized governments Maya/TeotihuacanToltec/Aztec

Teotihuacan: capital city of the Toltecs “The Pyramid of the Sun”

TEOTIHUACAN The city of Teotihuacan Built in the highlands of Mexico Colossal pyramids of sun and moon dominated the skyline Between 400 and 600 C.E., the city had 200,000 inhabitants Paintings and murals reflect the importance of priests Teotihuacan society Rulers and priests dominated society Two-thirds of inhabitants worked in fields Famous for obsidian tools, orange pottery Professional merchants traded widely No sign of military organization Cultural traditions Inherited Olmecs' culture Honored earth god, rain god Decline of Teotihuacan Military pressure from other peoples since 500 C.E. Began to decline 650 C.E.; Invaders sacked city, mid-8th century

Major Accomplishments: Master Engineers Running water Tenochtitlan: main city of the Aztecs Located in the islands of Lake Texcoco

Chinampas: Floating gardens

Human Sacrifice

Religion Polytheistic Importance of the sun god and appeasement The sacrifice of humans was tied to the sun god’s demand for ritual offerings, and war was necessary to provide sacrificial victims. (PSEUDO-THEOCRACY) The Aztec ruler eventually became identified with both secular authority and divine power, a representative of the gods on earth. In Aztec theology, human sacrifice and wars of conquest were combined with the political authority of the ruler as aspects of a state cult.

Social

Politics Aztecs (or “Mexica,” as they called themselves) established dominance over rival groups in the Valley of Mexico interest in genealogy and militarism

Economics Irrigation works controlled rural labor elaborate series of canals, dams, and terraces helped to feed the empire

Geography The Aztecs were located in the middle of the Mexico Valley in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The valley was very marshy and scattered with islands. The islands were unwanted and solid ground was needed so the Aztecs began sinking large trees and then covering them with mud and boulders creating a solid surface. Streams and mountains surrounded the city. The mountains surrounding the capital city created great natural barriers. The empire was spread along the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The empires land would reach as far south as the boarder of Guatemala. At the height of the empire, it was around 5 million people. The Aztec Empire of 1519 was the most powerful Mesoamerican kingdom of all time.