Ancient Latin American Cultures MAYA, INCA, AZTEC. From Empires & Colonies to Free Nations

From Empires…  When Christopher Columbus came to the New World in he thought he had landed off the coast of India. Therefore, he gave the name “Indian” to all people living in Latin America.  The three major Native America groups of the past were Maya, Aztecs, and Incas.

LOCATION OF THE MAYA  The Yucatan Peninsula (southern Mexico) was the prominent Mayan settlement area.  The greatest city was Tikal, in modern day Guatemala.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE MAYA  Mayan culture was spread through military alliances and trade.  The lived in separate city-states. o Wars were fought to obtain tribute (payment) and to acquire prisoners for religious sacrifice.  Polytheistic – The Mayan kings were thought to be descendants of the ancient gods and used human sacrifice to worship and honor them.  Built temples on top of great terraced pyramids

MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS  Mayans developed one of the most sophisticated writing systems in ancient Latin America. o Spanish destroyed many records  Kept time & developed a 365 day calendar based on the seasons and solar rotation.  Fine mathematicians – understood the idea of 0, developed a counting system using bars and dots.  Slash-and-burn agriculture and used underground reservoirs to store water.

LOCATION OF THE AZTECS Lived in the highlands of central Mexico Lived in the highlands of central Mexico Their greatest city was Tenochtitlan, in modern-day Mexico City. Their greatest city was Tenochtitlan, in modern-day Mexico City.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE AZTECS Conquered surrounding natives and became rulers of Mexico Conquered surrounding natives and became rulers of Mexico Worshiped many gods (polytheistic) and held spiritual ceremonies to guarantee good harvests. Worshiped many gods (polytheistic) and held spiritual ceremonies to guarantee good harvests. The Aztec’s developed a complex political system in which conquered peoples would pay tribute to the Aztec Emperor. The Aztec’s developed a complex political system in which conquered peoples would pay tribute to the Aztec Emperor. o Believed in human sacrifice – killed victims and the blood and heart were offered to the gods.

AZTECS The Aztec maintained their subsistence by utilizing fishing, hunting, gathering and gardening techniques. Conquered and became rulers of Mexico

Aztec Culture (cont.) Chinampas – floating artificial islands. They used these “artificial” islands to grow beans and maize.

AZTEC ACHIEVEMENTS Great engineers and architects oBoBoBoBuilt bridges and canals throughout Tenochtitlan for transportation and irrigation Chocolate oToToToTook over the tribes that cultivated cacao and used it as a form of currency (money) Great farmers oGoGoGoGrew maize (corn), beans, squash, peppers, tobacco

THE INCA LLived in the highlands of the Andes Mountains, from Ecuador to Chile. TTheir capital was Cuzco, in Peru.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE INCA  Empire was run by a central government and an emperor.  Gained power by getting other tribes to join them, not by war.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE INCAS  Excellent road builders  Excellent bridge builders  Acurate record keeping with no written language (used a series of strings)  Built cities of stone  Highly productive farmers (terraced farms, canals for irrigation)  Maintained communication using runners/messengers

Inca Record Keeping  Quipo – (KEE poo). A rope with knotted cords of various lengths and colors. o The Inca used these to keep records and messages.

Review - Summary  Which group were located in modern-day Mexico?  Which group were located on the Yucatan Peninsula?  Which group used chinampas for agriculture?  Which group used quipu to keep messages and records?  What does polytheistic mean?  What were the major cities of each group?

New World Video  Tenochtitlan of the Aztecs7:26 – 16:43  Christopher Columbus Meets the Taino31:54 – 37:11  Hernan Cortes and His Conquest of the Aztecs37:11 – 44:11  UodTP3Y UodTP3Y