1. Mesoamerican Civilizations and Empires
Olmec Civilization/Maya Civilization
Aztec Empire/Inca Empire

2. Mesoamericans the Olmec
Advancements in:
1. agriculture
2. astronomy and math
3. architecture

3. Mesoamericans
Cities were built upon raised platforms and they had pyramids devoted to worshipping gods

4. Teotihuacan first city state
100 BCE-750 CE
Located outside modern day Mexico City
City-State (later will be Aztec)

5. Teotihuacan and the Olmec
This city state is known for the role of religion and architecture
The architecture aligned with the mountains and reflected the movement of the stars
Pyramids were dedicated to the Sun and Moon gods

6. Teotihuacan
Chinampas- “floating gardens” narrow artificial islands constructed on lake shores

7. Teotihuacan

8. Mesoamericans
Olmec are the earliest Mesoamerican Civilization –Teotihuacan, first city-state

9. Mesoamerica – The Mayans
Present day Guatamala, Honduras, and Belize
250 CE- 900 CE
Moche
Northern Peru
200 CE

10. The Mayan The Maya rise after the fall of the Olmec
The use of slash and burn agriculture uses us the soil’s nutrients
As the population rose, the Mayans moved to more fertile areas and drained swamps.

11. The Mayan The Mayan made great achievements: Contributions
Mesoamerican calendar
Math that incorporated zero
Astronomy
Writing- similar to hieroglyphics

12. Mayan Civilization
Never establish a formal empire but created a unified political structures

13. The Mayan Made up of independent city-states
Share a single culture, but never created an empire – no emperor

14. The Aztecs
Located in modern day Mexico, and Tenochtitlan was the capital city and is located in what is now present day Mexico City.

15. Rise of the Aztec Empire
According to legend, the war god told one of the tribes’ leaders that they should look for a place where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. It was there that they should settle and build a new capital.
They built Tenochtitlan after the prediction came true, and it was on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco.

16. Tenochtitlan Size Architecture Population Five square miles
Approximately 3200 acres
Population
200,000
Architecture
Walled City
Pyramid
Temples
Palaces
Ball court
“Floating Gardens”
Chinampas
Canals
Markets

17. Aztec Religion Many deity in the Aztec religion – Polytheism
Human sacrifice was practiced heavily in the Aztec religion.
Believed that these sacrifices gave power to the gods which in turn would insure the survival of the Aztec civilization.

18. Fall of the Aztec Hernan Cortes Cortes Conquered Aztecs
Spanish Conquistador
Guns, germs, steel
Cortes Conquered Aztecs
Help of Mesoamerican allies who hated Aztecs

19. The Incas The Inca largest empire in Western Hemispheres
Innovative agriculture - Stepped terraces and one of the worlds best road systems.
Extensive road network – rivals Roman Road network

20. Francisco Pizzaro Spanish Conquistador Guns, germs, steel
With native allies conquered the Incas