Chapter 11 Introduction The Americas

The Americas: Peoples of North America So far in this class we have only focused on people living in Europe, Asia and Africa. So far in this class we have only focused on people living in Europe, Asia and Africa. Why do you think that we have not studied people living in the Americas yet? Why do you think that we have not studied people living in the Americas yet?

The Americas: Peoples of North America One of the big questions that we need to answer is how humans moved from the early population centers of Africa and Asia into the Americas. One of the big questions that we need to answer is how humans moved from the early population centers of Africa and Asia into the Americas. Do we have any ideas on how this happened? Do we have any ideas on how this happened?

The Bering Strait Most Historians believe that humans used a land bridge to cross the Bering Strait from Asia into North America. Most Historians believe that humans used a land bridge to cross the Bering Strait from Asia into North America.

 Historians believed that The Bering Strait Today

 Historians believed that The Bering Strait over time

CHAPTER 11 Section 2 THE BIG IDEA Early Mesoamerican Civilizations flourished with fully developed political, religious and social structures.

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is the name of areas of Mexico and Central America where ancient empires flourished. Mesoamerica is the name of areas of Mexico and Central America where ancient empires flourished.

The Olmec The Olmec are the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica first appeared around 1200 B.C., but archeologists did not discover their remains until about 1940 A.D. The Olmec are the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica first appeared around 1200 B.C., but archeologists did not discover their remains until about 1940 A.D. The Olmec people farmed in riverbanks along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico The Olmec people farmed in riverbanks along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico

The Olmec: Craftsmen The Olmec traded with other peoples of Mesoamerica for jade and obsidian (natural glass) to make tools. The Olmec traded with other peoples of Mesoamerica for jade and obsidian (natural glass) to make tools. Jade Obsidian

The Olmec: Craftsmen Despite not having any metal tools, the Olmec created great monuments such as pyramids and stone sculptures such as these. Despite not having any metal tools, the Olmec created great monuments such as pyramids and stone sculptures such as these.

The End of the Olmec Despite being advanced enough to build large cities and great monuments, the Olmec culture declined and eventually collapsed around 400 B.C. Despite being advanced enough to build large cities and great monuments, the Olmec culture declined and eventually collapsed around 400 B.C. Historians and Archaeologists still are not sure of what caused this collapse. Historians and Archaeologists still are not sure of what caused this collapse.

The City of Teotihuacán The first major city in Mesoamerica was Teotihuacán or the “Place of the Gods,” which arose around 250 B.C. and lasted until 800 A.D. The first major city in Mesoamerica was Teotihuacán or the “Place of the Gods,” which arose around 250 B.C. and lasted until 800 A.D. Teotihuacán had as many as 200,000 citizens at its height. Teotihuacán had as many as 200,000 citizens at its height.

Like the Olmec, the people of Teotihuacán were known for working with Obsidian and for using it to make tools and, mirrors and knives. Like the Olmec, the people of Teotihuacán were known for working with Obsidian and for using it to make tools and, mirrors and knives. The people of Teotihuacán traded these goods for things like shells and feathers which they used in their crafts. The people of Teotihuacán traded these goods for things like shells and feathers which they used in their crafts.

The Maya Far to the east of Teotihuacán, on the Yucatán Peninsula lived the Maya who flourished from 300 to 900 A.D. Far to the east of Teotihuacán, on the Yucatán Peninsula lived the Maya who flourished from 300 to 900 A.D. The Maya were one of the most sophisticated civilizations in the Americas, building great temples and using a very advanced calendar. The Maya were one of the most sophisticated civilizations in the Americas, building great temples and using a very advanced calendar.

Maya civilization was made up of many city-states, such as Tikal, who were governed by hereditary rulers and were often at war with one another. Maya civilization was made up of many city-states, such as Tikal, who were governed by hereditary rulers and were often at war with one another. When soldiers were captured they were used as slaves. When soldiers were captured they were used as slaves. When nobles were captured they were used for human sacrifice. When nobles were captured they were used for human sacrifice.

The Maya held the belief that sinkholes were portals to the underworld and sacrificed human beings to please the water god. The Maya held the belief that sinkholes were portals to the underworld and sacrificed human beings to please the water god. The remains of 42 young men were found in this sinkhole. The remains of 42 young men were found in this sinkhole.

Human sacrifice was so important in Maya culture that in 790 one Maya ruler took his troops in to battle so that he could gain prisoners for human sacrifice and beheading as part of a celebration for his son. Human sacrifice was so important in Maya culture that in 790 one Maya ruler took his troops in to battle so that he could gain prisoners for human sacrifice and beheading as part of a celebration for his son. Human Sacrifice

The Maya Calendar The Maya used a sophisticated writing system based on hieroglyphs or pictures. Unfortunately very little of this writing survived when this area of the world was eventually conquered by the Spanish who did not see it as valuable. The Maya used a sophisticated writing system based on hieroglyphs or pictures. Unfortunately very little of this writing survived when this area of the world was eventually conquered by the Spanish who did not see it as valuable.

The Maya Calendar One of the calendars the Maya used was the Long Count which states that the world was created in 3114 B.C. and will end on December 23 rd One of the calendars the Maya used was the Long Count which states that the world was created in 3114 B.C. and will end on December 23 rd 2012.

The Maya Calendar The Maya also used two other calendars. The Maya also used two other calendars. One was a 365 day calendar that used 18 months of 20 days, with an extra five days at the end. One was a 365 day calendar that used 18 months of 20 days, with an extra five days at the end. Another calendar was 260 days split into 13 weeks of 20 days and was used for religious purposes. Another calendar was 260 days split into 13 weeks of 20 days and was used for religious purposes.

The Maya Calendar The Maya knew much about the solar and lunar cycles and some of the pyramids were built to create shapes and figures with the shadows on the spring and fall equinoxes (days when day and night are equal length.) The Maya knew much about the solar and lunar cycles and some of the pyramids were built to create shapes and figures with the shadows on the spring and fall equinoxes (days when day and night are equal length.)

The Pyramid of Kukulcan

The Toltec Near the same time that the Maya were declining, a new group called the Toltec were rising to power in western Mesoamerica. Near the same time that the Maya were declining, a new group called the Toltec were rising to power in western Mesoamerica. The Toltec were a warring people who conquered much land and brought metal-working to Mesoamerica. The Toltec were a warring people who conquered much land and brought metal-working to Mesoamerica.

The Toltec The Toltec believed that their rulers were connected to their gods. For instance their leader Topiltzin was thought to be related to Quetzalcoatl. The Toltec believed that their rulers were connected to their gods. For instance their leader Topiltzin was thought to be related to Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was the sky god and the creator god. Quetzalcoatl was the sky god and the creator god.

Quetzalcoatl was a god in many Mesoamerican cultures. Quetzalcoatl was a god in many Mesoamerican cultures.

Because of their warring culture and constant fighting, the Toltec civilization eventually began to decline around Because of their warring culture and constant fighting, the Toltec civilization eventually began to decline around Around 1170 the Toltec city of Tula, which was the center of the empire was sacked and burned down, ending the Toltec Empire. Around 1170 the Toltec city of Tula, which was the center of the empire was sacked and burned down, ending the Toltec Empire.

The Aztec The Final group to gain power in Mesoamerica were the Aztec. The Final group to gain power in Mesoamerica were the Aztec. In 1325, under attack from other cultures, the Aztec established their capital city Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City) on an island in Lake Texcoco. In 1325, under attack from other cultures, the Aztec established their capital city Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City) on an island in Lake Texcoco.

The Aztec quickly rose to power and by 1500 there were four million Aztecs. The Aztec quickly rose to power and by 1500 there were four million Aztecs. To govern this many people the Aztec ruler allowed local lords to govern semi-independent states. These local rulers were required to pay a tribute of goods or money to the Aztec ruler To govern this many people the Aztec ruler allowed local lords to govern semi-independent states. These local rulers were required to pay a tribute of goods or money to the Aztec ruler

Like many people of Mesoamerica, the Aztec had many gods. Like many people of Mesoamerica, the Aztec had many gods. Ometeotl was their supreme god. Ometeotl was their supreme god. Huitzilopochtli was the god of sun and the god of war, which made him very important as Aztec warriors fought regularly to gain more land for the Aztec Empire Huitzilopochtli was the god of sun and the god of war, which made him very important as Aztec warriors fought regularly to gain more land for the Aztec Empire

The Aztec also believed in Quetzalcoatl, but their tradition stated that he had left the Valley of Mexico in the tenth century and would someday return. The Aztec also believed in Quetzalcoatl, but their tradition stated that he had left the Valley of Mexico in the tenth century and would someday return. When Spanish explorers eventually arrived in Mesoamerica, the Aztec first thought that they were Quetzalcoatl’s representatives. When Spanish explorers eventually arrived in Mesoamerica, the Aztec first thought that they were Quetzalcoatl’s representatives.