Mayans

Location Yucatan Peninsula Mexico and Guatemala CE

Government City-states Theocracy King Social classes: Nobility, priests, warriors Merchants Peasants

Society/Culture Calendar Religious and solar calendars Astronomy Calculated a year to days Mathematics Number zero

Society/Culture Cont. Used 800 Hieroglyphics symbols known as glyphs Recorded important historical events Pass on stories Codex- books

Religion Polytheistic Prayed, offered blood Sacrificed enemies Pyramids and temples Believed each day was a god

Economy Based on trade and agriculture Sometimes used cocoa beans for money

Downfall Mysteriously abandoned cities in 800 Warfare? Food shortage/famine? sk-history-did-the-maya-predict-2012

Aztecs

Location Central Mexico Central Mexico Valley of Mexico Valley of Mexico Teotihuacan Teotihuacan “City of the Gods” “City of the Gods” Near Mexico City Near Mexico City Center for trade Center for trade

Government Theocracy Theocracy Emperor- absolute power Emperor- absolute power Social classes Social classes Nobility Nobility Govt. officials, priests, military leaders Govt. officials, priests, military leaders Commoners Commoners Merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers Merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers Slaves Slaves

Society/Culture Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan Planned city Planned city Roads Roads Aqueducts Aqueducts

Society/Culture cont. Calendar Calendar Same as the Mayans Same as the Mayans 18 months of 20 days 18 months of 20 days 5 extra days were bad luck 5 extra days were bad luck

Religion Polytheistic Polytheistic Adopted from the Toltecs Adopted from the Toltecs Rituals, festivals, offerings Rituals, festivals, offerings Sun god Sun god Nourished by human blood Nourished by human blood

Economy Trade Trade Market Market Bigger than any in Spain Bigger than any in Spain Agriculture Agriculture Produce sold at market Produce sold at market

Downfall Montezuma II Montezuma II Last emperor Last emperor Demand for more tribute and sacrifice caused oppression Demand for more tribute and sacrifice caused oppression Spanish invaded Spanish invaded Hernando Cortez Hernando Cortez believed to be Quetzalcoatl believed to be Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl Feathered serpent god of Meso- America Feathered serpent god of Meso- America God of learning God of learning Symbol of death, and rebirth Symbol of death, and rebirth Was overthrown Was overthrown Legend says he would return Legend says he would return

Incas

Location  Peru  Andes Mountains

Government  Central bureaucracy  Theocracy Ruler considered a descendent of the sun god Ruler considered a descendent of the sun god  Chiefs led groups  Pachacuti Expanded kingdom into an empire Expanded kingdom into an empire

Society/Culture  Road system Used for trade Used for trade  Quipu- counting device used to record data  Calendar Day and night Day and night Provided info about the Gods Provided info about the Gods

Religion  Polytheistic  Nature spirits Sun, moon, stars, thunder Sun, moon, stars, thunder  Sacrificed llamas and distributed goods Machu Piccu

Economy  Based on trade  Early form of socialism  Government controlled the economy

Downfall  Civil war broke out  Francisco Pizarro Spanish conquistador Spanish conquistador Conquered the Incas in 1535 Conquered the Incas in 1535