What is a Civilization? Maya Aztec Inca

A civilization is defined as an advanced culture. What does that mean?

Basic Features of a Civilization 1: Building of cities 2: A well organized government 3. A system of social classes 4. Specialized jobs 5: A complex religion 6: Some method of keeping records

The Maya lived on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and present day Guatemala and Belize.

Mayan Cities

Structure of the Mayan Cities Each one had its own ruler Traded peacefully with each other Linked together by roads Stone pyramids towered over each city On top of each city sat a temple

Mayan Society King Priests & Nobles Merchants & Traders They had a complex System of Social classes King Priests & Nobles Merchants & Traders Commoners and Farmers Slaves

Mayan Government Each city-stated ruled by a King Kings had both political and religious authority

Mayan Religious Beliefs They believed in many gods and held religious ceremonies to worship them and give thanks for their kindness. This is a dance by nobles to thank the rain god for watering the crops.

Mayan Advances in Learning Had a written language which used glyphs or pictures to represent words Had highly developed system of numbers which included the concept of zero Child House Sky

Mayan Hieroglyphics

The Aztecs lived in what is today Mexico City, Mexico Right Here

Technochitlan The Aztec capital city—over 30,000 people lived here Built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco Built causeways or raised roads to connect the islands to the mainland The Aztecs made the swampy, shallow lake into chinampas(islands.) The islands were made by piling mud from the lake bottom. They farmed on these islands

Aztec Religion Religion was extremely important in Aztec life. War and Sun God Aztec Religion Religion was extremely important in Aztec life. They worshipped hundreds of gods and goddesses. The Aztecs thought that the power of the gods should be acknowledged and thanks given to them. They built large temples to worship them Also offered sacrifices, including humans, to keep gods happy

The Aztec System of Writing Like the Maya they used a series of glyphs that represented words

Aztec Society The Aztecs were considered They had a complex and Strict system of classes The Aztecs were considered great warriors. They often had to defend their boundaries or raid other people to survive and flourish. This is why warriors had a high status

The Incas lived along the West Coast of South America, in the Andes Mountains

Inca city of Machu Pichu

Inca Society—Also complex Emperor Nobles and High Priests Government Officials—memory experts, messengers Common People—Farmers, Herders And soldiers

Incan Accomplishments Built more than 19,000 miles of roads in some of the most mountainous areas on the Earth Built canals and aqueducts to carry water to dry areas—helped grow many crops Build long rope bridges over deep canyons Advances in medicine—surgery and anesthesia

Incan Quipus The Incas did not have a system of writing….but government officials and traders recorded information about births, death, taxes and money on knotted strings called quipus

Incan Religion They too worshipped many gods Main god was the sun god—Inti All Incas were descendents of Inti Believed in a life after death, they embalmed the dead and placed them in a tomb

The End