Mesoamerica Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus The First Civilizations The Maya Map: Early Mesoamerican Civilizations The Aztecs

Mesoamerica Main Idea Reading Focus Civilizations in Mesoamerica were some of the earliest and most advanced in the Americas. Reading Focus 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?

The First Civilizations Mesoamerica, southern Mexico and northern Central America, was ideal for farming. Cities and complex social structures arose there too. Lived in hot, humid lowlands 1200 BC to AD 300 Built first large towns in Mesoamerica Earliest Olmec town Pyramid, courtyard Eight giant stone heads Thronelike monuments Towns served as ceremonial, political and religious centers Olmec Olmec rulers, families lived in towns Lower social classes lived outside the towns Elite led ceremonies, controlled trade network Trade From Gulf to Pacific coast Rubber, pottery, furs Also beliefs, art, games Society

The First Civilizations Southern Mexico 1500 BC to AD 750 May have had contact with Olmec Began as farmers, built capital city around 500 BC Monte Albán, first true city in Mesoamerica Located high above Valley of Oaxaca Zapotec Huge main plaza with pyramids, temples, palaces Olmec influence in decorations Large ball court, observatory Population of 25,000 at height City declined when leaders lost support of their people Still used for high-status burials Monte Albán

The First Civilizations Toltec Highlands of central Mexico, AD 900 to 1200 Capital located at Tula, near obsidian mines Major trade center Pyramids, temples Militaristic society Fierce warriors established dominance over large region Climate change, social conflict led to decline

What did the Olmec, Zapotec, and Toltec cultures have in common? Compare What did the Olmec, Zapotec, and Toltec cultures have in common? Answer(s): They all built cities, pyramids, and temples; the Zapotec and Toltec cultures adopted some elements of Olmec culture.

The Maya Large civilization Early Maya Civilization Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec small in comparison Developed around 1000 BC More than 40 cities of 5,000 to 100,000 each at height Early Maya Civilization First lived in small villages Grew corn, beans, squash Good rainfall, rich soils Rain forest challenges Slash-and burn agriculture Clearing forest land for crops Flat terraces built in hillsides to control erosion Trade developed Farming did not provide all needs Villages traded for cotton, jade Trade of cacao, salt, obsidian helped villages grow to cities

The Maya Cities and Government City-States Cities linked Most cities built between AD 250 and 900, the Classic Age Cities Tikal and Copan among the most spectacular in Mesoamerica Brightly painted pyramids, temples and palaces found there City-States Each had own ruler and government No ruler ever united the cities into single empire Cities linked even without central government Cities linked Highlands traded jade, obsidian for cotton, rubber, cacao from lowlands Cities also linked by warfare with each other Through battles kings tried to gain land, power

The Maya The Maya worshipped many gods and believed they influenced daily life; they also believed their kings communicated with the gods. To keep the gods happy, the Maya performed private and public rituals. Offering blood by piercing tongue, skin Human sacrifice only occasionally Ritual ball game, losing team having hearts sacrificed to gods Religious Offerings Priests, who led religious ceremonies Professional warriors, who got war victims for human sacrifice Upper Class Society Merchants, craftspeople middle class Lower class Farmers Slaves Provided food, labor for other classes Other Classes

The Maya Achievements Calendar system Number and writing systems Impressive buildings and architecture, including canals Advances in astronomy, math, writing Observed movements of sun, moon, planets Calendar system Created based on astronomical observations 365-day farming, 260-day religious calendars More accurate than that used in Europe at same time Number and writing systems Number system included new concepts, including “zero” Complex writing system of glyphs, or symbols, representing objects, sounds Carved writing in stone, also in bark-paper book called a codex

The Maya Decline of Mayan civilization, AD 900 Caused by number of factors Environmental damage, drought Warfare increased over competition for land, destroyed more crops Abuse of power by strong kings Civilization declined but did not disappear Maya moved from forest to coastal cities Remained for several hundred years

What were the main characteristics of Maya civilization? Summarize What were the main characteristics of Maya civilization? Answer(s): great cities; trade networks; achievements in astronomy, math, writing; accurate calendar

The Aztecs About the time that Mayan cities in Yucatán reached their height, the Aztecs began to rise to power in the north. The early Aztecs were a small group of unlucky farmers from northwestern Mexico, who in time created the most powerful empire in Mesoamerica. Began as separate farming tribes Probably subject of the Toltecs Legend: settle where they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake Migrated south to Valley of Mexico, 1100s Good farmland already taken Rise of the Empire A swampy island in valley Site where legend says Aztecs saw eagle and snake Founded city of Tenochtitlán From here, continued rise to power Lake Texcoco In addition to being farmers, the Aztecs were also fierce warriors. They began fighting to control other towns around Lake Texcoco.

The Aztecs Conquering Warriors Wealth and Strength Aztecs gained strength in 1420s with alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan Alliance gained control over huge region beyond Lake Texcoco Aztecs ruled 400 to 500 other city states, 5 million people Required conquered people to pay tribute Conquering Warriors Tribute paid in many forms, feathers, food, pottery, blankets Tribute was basis of economy Gained wealth and strength through trade as well System of roads aided trade of goods like jade, cacao Merchants also acted as spies for Aztec emperor Wealth and Strength

The Aztecs Tenochtitlán Enchanted Vision Floating Gardens Capital city of Aztec empire Covered 5 square miles Population of about 200,000 One of largest cities in world at time Site of present day Mexico City Walled compound at city center Pyramid with two temples on top Other temples, government buildings, palaces, a ball court Political and religious heart of the empire First Europeans, “enchanted vision” Enchanted Vision Swampy island in middle of lake Not much land for farming Aztecs built floating gardens at city’s edge Tenochtitlán connected by canals and causeways to biggest market Vendors paid tax to support army Floating Gardens

The Aztecs Society and Religion Religious Ceremonies Just as the economy of the Aztec Empire was highly organized, so was its society, with the king at the top, followed by priests. King was part of royal family, but had to be elected Lived in palace at Tenochtitlán Certain nobles served as government officials Just below king were priests Interpreted calendars Performed religious ceremonies Society and Religion Believed gods needed blood Sacrificed as many as 20,000 victims a year European perspective, “walls splashed and caked with blood…stank abominably” Slaves. prisoners used for sacrifices Certain warriors who captured victims also upper class Religious Ceremonies

Chance for improvement The Aztecs Other classes Merchants, artisans wealthy, respected Merchants rich from trading Artisans important, made goods required for tribute Lower class Most were farmers, very poor Did not own their own land Paid so much in tribute, it was difficult to survive Chance for improvement Farmers could become warriors or study at special schools All attended school until 15 Continuing in special schools led to work in government Slaves Suffered most in Aztec society Most had been captured in battle, or could not pay debts Some worked as farmers, laborers; some sacrificed

The Aztecs Achievements Sciences Aztecs known for achievements in art and science Artisans made bright feathers into headdresses, shields, costumes Metalworkers fashioned gold, silver, copper into jewelry, masks Stoneworkers decorated temples with elaborate statues Achievements Kept written records, though not as advanced as Mayan Composed poetry, riddles, historical accounts Used astronomy to create religious and solar calendars much like the Maya Aztec Empire lasted less than 200 years, brought to end by European contact, 1500s Sciences

Identify Supporting Details What aspects of the Aztec Empire made it the strongest in Mesoamerica? Answer(s): good farmers, fierce warriors, founded capital of Tenochtitlán, well-organized economy and society, created calendar