1. Chapter 16 Section 2

2. THE MAYAN

3. PETEN Mayan word for “flat region” Mayan word for “flat region” present-day Guatemala present-day Guatemala dense forests dense forests swamps swamps sinkholes sinkholes –year-round water source –connected huge system of underground rivers and streams –Mayan wells

4. The Maya civilization encompassed all of the Yucatan Peninsula in present-day Mexico and parts of present-day Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

5. MAYAN GOVERNMENT organized government organized government –city-states  independent state made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages  often fought with each other rulers supplied for building projects rulers supplied for building projects –leadership  passed from one king to the next –military force

6. Ruins of Mayan City Served as an indication of the skill and artistry of their architects.

7. MAYAN RULERS descended from sun descended from sun –right to rule as god-kings –expected every person to serve them  example: build huge monuments to honor ruler –taught subjects to please gods  human sacrifice –gods gave rain (life-giving fluid) to keep humans strong –humans given blood (life-giving fluid) to keep gods strong

8. god of rain and sunlight god of rain and sunlight believed to live in waters below sinkholes believed to live in waters below sinkholes captives more valuable than land captives more valuable than land  offered during drought  thrown into watery pits to earn favor CHAC CHAC

9. RELIGION core of Mayan life core of Mayan life –gods controlled everything –pyramid with temple on top towered cities –priests  claimed to know what gods wanted  set up a strict class system

11. Quenzacoatl Pyramid (located in Teotihuacan)

12. MAYAN WOMEN royal Mayan women royal Mayan women –played large role –married into distant city-states royal families  strengthened trade  formed alliances –political agreements to work together

13. MAYAN SCIENCE AND WRITING astronomy astronomy –belief = god revealed plans through movement of sun, moon, and stars 365-day calendar 365-day calendar counting based on 20 counting based on 20 written language - system of hieroglyphics written language - system of hieroglyphics –symbols represented sounds, words, or ideas –invented to record numbers and dates –only nobles could read until collapse –recently, scholars unlocked stories/language

14. MAYAN MATH

15. MAYAN ALPHABET

16. MAYAN COLLAPSE For reasons still unknown, the Maya civilization collapsed in about AD 900.

17. THE AZTEC

18. AZTEC GOVERNMENT warlike nomads warlike nomads sun god – Quetzalcoatl sun god – Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent) (feathered serpent) –promised they would know their new home  when an eagle “screams and spreads its wings, and eats… the serpent.”  sacrificed a local princess to one of their gods settled in Valley of Mexico settled in Valley of Mexico –swampy island of Lake Texcoco

20. BUILDING A CITY priest, speaking for gods, told Aztecs to build a great city priest, speaking for gods, told Aztecs to build a great city built bridges built bridges –dug soil from bottom of lake built floating gardens built floating gardens –piled soil on rafts –anchored to bottom of lake city called Tenochtitlan city called Tenochtitlan –means “place of the prickly pear cactus”

21. AZTEC RULERS strong kings strong kings –claimed descent from gods –council of warriors, priests, and nobles pick king from royal family  usually son of last king (but not always) –expected to prove themselves by leading troops into battle

22. AZTEC SOCIETY king at top king at top nobles nobles commoners commoners –largest group –farmers, artisans, and traders –could join noble class through act of bravery  if soldier dies, children receive land and noble rank unskilled laborers unskilled laborers enslaved people enslaved people

23. AFTERLIFE Aztec saw death as honorable Aztec saw death as honorable those worth… those worth… –soldiers who die in battle –captives who gave lives in sacrifice –women who die in childbirth others went to “Land of the Dead” others went to “Land of the Dead” –lowest level of the underworld

24. AZTEC CHILDREN’S FUTURE learn learn –about glories of war at early age –their duties as an Aztec boys boys –“You must understand that your home is not here where you have been born, for you are a warrior!” girls girls –“As the heart stays in the body, so you must stay in the house.”

25. TENOCHTITLAN huge pyramid huge pyramid –built to honor the gods –known as the Great Temple  135 ft high and more than 100 steps  thousands of victims sacrificed to gods

26. THE INCAN

27. PACHACAMAC highest Incan god highest Incan god “Lord of the Earth” “Lord of the Earth” blamed for earthquakes blamed for earthquakes –lost his temper, earth shakes

28. PACHACUTI means “Earthshaker” means “Earthshaker” greatest Incan leader greatest Incan leader with son, Topa, built largest ancient empire in Americas with son, Topa, built largest ancient empire in Americas stretched 2,500 miles north to south stretched 2,500 miles north to south set up a strong central government set up a strong central government let local rulers stay in power let local rulers stay in power –ensured loyalty, took sons to Cuzco (capital) for training

29. INCAN SOCIETY royal couple royal couple –rulers and Coyas (wives) on top head priest and commander of army head priest and commander of army regional army leaders regional army leaders temple priests, army commanders, and skilled workers (musicians, artisans, and accountants) temple priests, army commanders, and skilled workers (musicians, artisans, and accountants) farmers, herders, and ordinary soldiers farmers, herders, and ordinary soldiers

30. further divided society into twelve job categories further divided society into twelve job categories every man, woman, and child over five years of age worked every man, woman, and child over five years of age worked –young girls were babysitters –young boys chased birds from gardens

31. INCAN CULTURE honored gods with human sacrifices honored gods with human sacrifices –only in times of trouble (earthquakes, etc) –children thought more pure than adults  worshiped sacrificed children as gods built large works of stone built large works of stone no system of writing no system of writing no wheels no wheels no iron tools no iron tools yet, built Machu Picchu yet, built Machu Picchu –retreat for kings

32. QUIPU rope with knotted cords rope with knotted cords of different colors of different colors each knot represented each knot represented a number or item a number or item used for keeping records used for keeping records

33. SKILLED ENGINEERS fit stones tightly fit stones tightly no mortar no mortar stone blocks could slide up and down without collapsing stone blocks could slide up and down without collapsing structures withstood earthquakes structures withstood earthquakes