Maya, Aztec, and Inca

Maya Located in S. Mexico Separated into city-states ruled by a god-king Polytheism and human sacrifice Develop an accurate calendar using astronomy Major city at Tikal Glyphs used for writing on codex (tree bark) Food shortages and warfare lead to the Maya decline

Aztecs Great fighters Build Tennochtitlan as their capitol Used Chinampas (floating islands) for farming

Aztec Religion Polytheistic Used Human Sacrifice and Terror Cannibalism The Sun god was the most important deity Quetzalcoatl: feathered serpent, believed he would return

Aztec Life Agricultural Limited Technology Nobles dominated Society Collected tribute from surrounding people

Inca Pachacuti expands the Inca empire in modern day Peru Government divided territory into many smaller units to control Government controlled most economic activity as well

Inca Religion Polytheistic with many nature spirits Sun god was most important Sacrificed animals, goods, and humans

Inca Rule Rulers were Divine (Theocratic) Ruled from the Cuzco Collected Land and Labor from those conquered (Mita System) All land was owned by the state

Inca Technology Known for their superior road building Roads helped unify and connect the empire Quipu used for Record Keeping Demise Civil war weakens the Inca empire, opening the door for Spanish invasion

Lack of Global Connections Isolation kept them from key technology No great world religion No immunity to Afro-Eurasian diseases