ANCIENT AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS Highly advanced Complex writing systems Each civilization covered hundreds of miles Millions of people Lasted for centuries NOT peaceful civilizations
THE OLMECS B.C. Developed in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras Created cities with thousands of people Known for their stone monuments and drainage system
THE MAYANS 1000 B.C. – 800 C.E. Present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize Population of about 2 million people Skilled in mathematics Astronomy 365-day calendar Giant stone pyramids Complex system of writing Hieroglyphics Network of roads for trade
MAYAN RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Mayan government was a Theocracy Theocracy: Society ruled by religious leaders Mayans believed that the gods controlled everything that happened on Earth Astronomy was used to understand the gods The pyramids were used to perform rituals to please the gods
THE AZTECS 1325 C.E C.E. Built in central Mexico Capital: Tenochtitlan 150, ,000 people Modern-day Mexico City Strongest military of the Mesoamerican civilizations 1400s: Conquered nearly all of its neighbors
Aztec society was centered on religion The location of Tenochtitlan was picked they saw a sign from their gods Practiced human sacrifice to please the gods Warfare was important to capture prisoners for these human sacrifices
TENOCHTITLAN
THE INCAS Largest of the Mesoamerican civilizations 9 million people Western highlands of South America Capital: Cuzco Founded in 1200 C.E. By the 1400s, Incan Empire stretched 3,000 miles, from present-day Colombia to northern Argentina and Chile 10,000 miles of roads No written language
INCAN MILITARY Empire was built by the military All men could be drafted Conquered regions could participate in government if they did not resist All land belonged to emperor
INCAN EMPIRE
MACHU PICCHU
NORTH AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
HOHOKAM 300 C.E. – 1300 C.E. Present-day Arizona System of irrigation Pottery, carved stone, shells Shells? Traded with coastal people
HOHOKAM
ANASAZI 1 C.E. – 1300 C.E. Developed where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet ( Four Corners ) Great stone dwellings, known as Pueblos Built cliff dwellings Mesa Verde (Colorado) Complex road system
ANASAZI
MESA VERDE
THE MOUND BUILDERS Central North America Pennsylvania to Mississippi River Valley Built giant mounds Burial chambers, temples Trade networks Mississippians: built Cahokia (Illinois) 16,000 people 100 ft high mound, Monks Mound
MOUND BUILDERS
THE IROQUOIS Near Canada and northern New York 5 Iroquois nations made up the Iroquois League Seneca Onondaga Mohawk Oneida Cayuga Women held important role in society Owned land, elected men to serve on league council
IROQUIOS