WORLD HISTORY PERIOD 7 JUNE 10, 2011 Accomplishments of the Early Americas KAROLYN OLSEN CHRISTIE SLAYTON ADDIE NIX KATELYN RUTTY

Accomplishments of the Maya Civilization A.D.

Language Only known writing system of the Pre-Columbian world to represent its community’s spoken language Logo syllabic writing system Script contains over 1,000 glyphs Mayans wrote the Dresden Codex, believed to be the oldest book in the Americas

The Mayan Calendar

The Calendar Created an extremely accurate calendar later adopted by many civilizations Used three dating systems: The Long Count, The Tzolkin (divine calendar), and The Haab (civil calendar) The Mayans invented the number zero in the 2 nd century AD for their calendar

The Long Count 1 uinal = 20 days 1 tun = 1 year 1 katun = 20 years 1 baktun = roughly 394 years The 2012 doomsday prediction is based off the Long Count. It went into use in 3114 BC, and was calculated to last 5126 years, so it “runs out” of days in However, most likely, it is just that the Mayans didn’t feel the need to continue the calendar for any longer

The Tzolkin Count The Tzolkin represented “week” lengths A numbered week lasted 13 days A named week lasted 20 days

The Haab Count Haab consists of 18 “months” of 20 days each followed by a length of 5 extra days called the Uayeb, adding up to 365 days The names of Haab “months” are Pop, Uo, Zip, Zotz, Tzec, Xul, Yaxkin, Mol, Chen, Yax, Zac, Ceh, Mac, Kankin, Muan, Pax, Kayab, and Cumku.

The pyramid Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá was also used as a calendar. It had four stairways, each with 91 steps, and a platform on the top– adding up to 365 days. This marvel was built in 1050 during the Late Maya Period in history.

Astronomy “[The Mayans] produced extremely accurate astronomical observations; their charts of the movements of the moon and planets are equal to or superior to those of any other civilization working from naked eye observation.” --Wikipedia, Maya Civilization

Accomplishments of the Aztec Civilization A.D.

Chocolate The Aztecs discovered how to grind the cocoa beans in order to remove the sweet sap for drinking. Chocolate was very expensive; it was even used as a form of payment in the Aztec culture. Chocolate was considered a tribute to the gods, and was used in sacrifices. The Aztecs were the first to make xocoatl, a drink containing cocoa beans, corn flour, water, and chilies. Xocoatl was also extremely valuable and was therefore only served to nobility. Chocolate was said to symbolize life and fertility and was occasionally used as medicine.

Chewing Gum Aztecs were first to realize that the sap of the sapodilla tree was chewable Sap had previously held other uses by commoners of the Aztec civilization Liquid sap was referred to as chicle Drained sap and hardened it into chewable gum However, when Spanish conquered the Aztecs, they saw no use for the sap and cut off all trade routes that provided it

Mathematics & Calendar Aztecs are also credited with acknowledging and using the number zero Had an advanced understanding of mathematics  Used symbols in the shapes of hands, hearts, and arrows to represent fractions  Understood how to calculate land area and use the symbols when doing so Devised surprisingly accurate calendar that consisted of measurements and dates that match up with today’s modern calendar

Compulsory Education One of first ancient civilizations to require that all children received education Schooling was free to all Aztec children

Anti-Spasmodic Medication Aztecs were very advanced in their medical procedures (able to perform brain surgery) Developed anti-spasmodic medicine, derived from the passionflower, that relaxed muscles during surgery, making the operations much more successful

Accomplishments of the Inca Civilization A.D.

MATH, SCIENCE, & TECHNOLOGY The Incas used a system of knotted, colored string called quipu to keep track of livestock and other business. However these strings required special “rememberers” to interpret what the strings meant. Successful skull surgeries were performed to treat mental illnesses, head aches, and head injuries. The surgeries were used strictly for high nobility. Surgical tools were made of bronze and volcanic rock.

Architecture The Inca built their buildings by placing stones together in such a tight fashion that not even a thin knife blade could fit between them. This method of building required no mortar and was extremely resistant to earthquakes and the shifting of the Earth’s plates Machu- Picchu was built using this method, and is still intact today.

Machu Picchu

Agriculture Incas developed ways to farm on mountain terrain. They would cut terraces into the sides of mountains and built large stair-like structure so that plants could be grown on the many mountains of their civilization. Constructed an irrigation system by digging canals through their fields and throughout their empire. First New World civilization to utilize the process of freeze-drying; Incas stored potatoes and other crops high on mountains, where the cold air and high altitude froze and dehydrated the food

Other Accomplishments First civilization of the Americas to conduct population censuses. Incas introduced tin, copper, and bronze to other civilizations; and used them to make weapons superior to that of any other civilization

Editorial