Mesoamerica

Match Inca Inca Aztec Aztec Maya Maya Olmec Olmec Toltec Toltec Believed in a half-human half-jaguar god Believed in human sacrifices daily Had a system of writing that is a series of knots in a rope Believed in the god Quetzalcoatl Developed a complex writing and number system

Olmec Earliest culture in Mexico Earliest culture in Mexico 1200 BC to 400 BC 1200 BC to 400 BC Located in south central Mexico Located in south central Mexico Social Classes Elite Farmers

Olmec Society Elite held military, political, and religious power Elite held military, political, and religious power Worshiped a part jaguar, part human god Worshiped a part jaguar, part human god Left behind giant stone heads Left behind giant stone heads

Colossal Heads Best recognized aspect of Olmec civilization Best recognized aspect of Olmec civilization May be portraits of rulers May be portraits of rulers 17 Colossal Heads have been found 17 Colossal Heads have been found

Think with a Partner How do we honor great political leaders today? How do we honor great political leaders today? Come up with an political leader that: Come up with an political leader that: Has a statue of themselves Has a statue of themselves A movie about their life A movie about their life Buildings named after a political leader Buildings named after a political leader

Statues George Washington Bill Clinton

Movies

Buildings Thomas Jefferson Building Ronald Reagan Building

Think with a Partner Colossal Heads also might be a way they honored athletes Colossal Heads also might be a way they honored athletes How do we honor athletes today? How do we honor athletes today? Come up with an athlete that: Come up with an athlete that: Has a statue of themselves Has a statue of themselves A video game designed for them A video game designed for them A movie about their life A movie about their life

Statues Tommie Smith and John Carlos Hank Aaron Michael Jordan Karl Malone and John Stockton

Video Games

Movies

Possibly Invented The number zero The number zero The Mesoamerican calendar The Mesoamerican calendar Compass Compass 1 st culture in the Western Hemisphere to have a system of writing 1 st culture in the Western Hemisphere to have a system of writing 0

Olmec Decline Unsure of why the civilization declined Unsure of why the civilization declined Possibilities include: Possibilities include: Outside invaders caused the destruction Outside invaders caused the destruction May have destroyed own monuments after the death of rulers May have destroyed own monuments after the death of rulers Environmental changes Environmental changes

Maya

 1 st Mayan settlements started around 1800 BC

Arrived in the Valley of Mexico around AD 1200 Arrived in the Valley of Mexico around AD 1200 Originally called Mexica Originally called Mexica –Poor, nomadic people from Northern Mexico

Aztec Society Government officials, priests, and military leaders made up the Nobility Government officials, priests, and military leaders made up the Nobility Two other main classes Two other main classes –Commoners –Enslaved Persons SLAVES COMMONERS Merchants Soldiers Land Owners NOBLES Generals Gov’t Officials Priest EMPEROR

Tenochtitlan Larger than any European city at the time Larger than any European city at the time –Population between 200,000 and 400,000 Built in the middle of a lake Built in the middle of a lake

Aztec Religion Built hundreds of temples to honor thousands of gods Built hundreds of temples to honor thousands of gods Religion involved many ceremonies Religion involved many ceremonies None more important that satisfying the Sun God None more important that satisfying the Sun God

Inca Originally lived in high plateaus of the Andes Originally lived in high plateaus of the Andes Settled in the Valley of Cuzco in AD 1200 Settled in the Valley of Cuzco in AD 1200 Believed Incan rulers descended from the sun god, Inti. Believed Incan rulers descended from the sun god, Inti.

Inca Empire 2,500 miles long and 500 miles wide 2,500 miles long and 500 miles wide Home to 12 million people Home to 12 million people “Children of the Sun” “Children of the Sun” Mail traveled as fast in the Incan Empire as it does today Mail traveled as fast in the Incan Empire as it does today

The Inca Leader was the Emperor, called the Inca Leader was the Emperor, called the Inca Not an elected position Not an elected position Born into his position Born into his position All-powerful All-powerful Everything belonged to the Inca Everything belonged to the Inca

Government Strong central government Strong central government Government was responsible for taking care of the people Government was responsible for taking care of the people Built roads and bridges Built roads and bridges In hard time the government might even hand out food or blankets to those in need In hard time the government might even hand out food or blankets to those in need

The Common People People’s job to work for the government People’s job to work for the government Worked very hard Worked very hard Nobody went homeless or hungry in the Incan Empire Nobody went homeless or hungry in the Incan Empire

Crime and Punishment There was almost no crime in the Inca Empire. Inca laws were very harsh. Punishment was swift. There was almost no crime in the Inca Empire. Inca laws were very harsh. Punishment was swift. If you insulted the Inca, cursed the gods, or committed a murder, you were thrown off a cliff. If you insulted the Inca, cursed the gods, or committed a murder, you were thrown off a cliff. If you were caught stealing or cheating, you either had your hands and feet cut off. If you were caught stealing or cheating, you either had your hands and feet cut off. There were lesser punishments. You could be stoned. You could be tied to a wall and left to freeze. There were lesser punishments. You could be stoned. You could be tied to a wall and left to freeze.