Mayan, Aztec, Inca 11a,b

Olmecs Built the first planned city in Central America Had giant stone pyramids Invented a hieroglyphic form of writing Invented a number system with a zero Had accurate calendars Around the 1st century BCE the Olmec civilization disappeared. No one knows why

Mayan

Mayan location Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forests on what is now the Yucatan Peninsula Homeland stretched from southern Mexico into northern Central America.

Mayan Cities From 250 A.D to 900 A.D. the Maya built many spectacular cities Each city was an independent city-state that was ruled by a god-king. Also, the cities served as a center for religious ceremonies and trade

Mayan Cities One important city that represents the Mayan civilization is Chichen Itza This city exemplifies a multitude of architectural styles (Styles seen through central Mexico)

Mayan Economy The economy was based on agriculture and trade They grew maize, beans, and squash Between the different Mayan city-states, the people traded local products such as salt and flint

Mayan religion The Mayans believed in many gods (gods of corn and death) Worshiped their god in many ways such as prayer, offerings, pierced and cut bodies, human sacrifices Used pyramids in dedication to different gods and rulers

Toltecs In the 800s the Toltecs became the most powerful society in Central America They had a polytheistic religion and built many temples Society began to weaken about the 1100s and fell to the Aztecs in 1200 A.D

Aztec

Aztec Location Located in arid valley in central Mexico Fertile land and accessible resources

Aztec Empire Arrived in the Valley of Mexico around 1200 A.D By the 1500s, they controlled an empire that stretched 80,000 miles Their power was based on military conquests

Aztec Empire In the social class, the Emperor was at the top Military, government officials ,and priests made up the noble class Soldiers, merchants and farmers who owned land made up the Commoners At the bottom it was the captured people who were enslaved

Aztec Economy The Aztec economy was based on agriculture Also, conquered people were expected to pay tribute This was done in the form of gold, maize, cacao beans, and cotton

Tenochtitlan City located on a small island located in Lake Texcoco Connected by raised roads called causeways People came to trade goods such as avocados and chili peppers Home to many government buildings and pyramids

Aztec religion Worshiped thousands of gods.. Many were adopted from previous Mesoamerican cultures Pyramids were used for worship Rituals such as ceremonies were used often to please the gods

Incan

Incan Location Located in the Andes Mountains of South America

Incan Empire By the 1500s, the Inca controlled 2,500 Miles of land alongside the western coast of South America The emperor was worshiped because he was thought to be a descendant of the sun god Inti The empire was tolerant of conquered people.. This allowed them to gain loyalty

Incan Economy The economy was based on high-altitude agriculture Grew crops such as potatoes and maize The terrain was rocky and limited that area in which they could farm

Incan Religion The Incans focused on key nature gods such as the moon, the starts and thunder Worshiped less gods than the Aztecs Religious practices included sacrifice

Road System The Incas created about 14000 mile long network of roads that symbolized the power of the Incan state The road system benefited anything from trade to transporting troops to various areas

Machu Picchu Incan city that held many public buildings, temples, and a central plaza

Achievements Calendars The Mayans developed a 260 calendar that had 20 day months and a 365 day calendar with 18 20 day months The calendar was used to keep track of the best times to plant crops The Aztecs also had a calendar similar to the Mayans

The Mayans also developed an advanced writing system (First books of the Western Hemisphere 800 hieroglyphics

Government Record Keeping The Incans created an accounting device used to keep track of warriors and gold Knots and their position on a string represented different things that the government had to keep track of

Math The Mayans created a number system that was based on a base 20 system..this was used primarily for the calendar and astronomical work