1. Bell Ringer Provide evidence to support the following claim:
The African continent is not made up of a single group of people or way of life, in fact, it is incredibly diverse.

2. BANTU DESERTIFICATION ISLAM ARABIC CAMELS GOLD/SALT TRADE SONGHAI GHANA MALI CHRISTIANITY MANSA MUSA TIMBUKTU AXUM SWAHILI ZIMBABWE INDIAN OCEAN MEDITERRANEAN SEA SLASH AND BURN MATRILINEAL PATRILINIEAL LINEAGE GRIOTS

3. Mesoamerican Civilization
EQ: What advancements were made by the civilizations of Mesoamerica?

4. Populating the Americas
30,000 BCE (Last Ice Age)
Beringia – Exposed land bridge connecting Asia & the Americas

5. Olmec Civilization 1400-500 B.C.E.
“Rubber People” - known for rubber production
Played a ball game for ritual purposes
Well defined social structure, ruled by priests
Traded with neighboring regions
Developed a calendar

7. Mayan Civilization (300-900 c.e.)
Developed complex irrigation methods for farming.
Supported the mass production of maize.
Built towering pyramid temples in Tikal
Priests performed sacrifices of captured enemies.
Were the tallest buildings in North America up until the 20th century.

8. Mayan Civilization Traded extensively across Mesoamerica
Honey, cocoa, cotton cloth, and feathers
Complex social class system
Chiefs, nobles, powerful priests, farmers (majority)
Developed hieroglyphic writing system
Most books were destroyed by the Spanish but a few survived in European museums.
Developed accurate calendar and numbering system.
365 day solar calendar

9. Mayan Calendar =

10. Mayan Calendar
Or?

11. Aztec Civilization
Capital city of Tenochtitlan – “promised land” (modern day Mexico City)
Built chinampas, artificial islands made of earth piled on reed mats that were anchored to the shallow lake bed.

13. Aztec Civilization
The Aztecs were constantly expanding their power by conquering new lands
Tribute, or payment from conquered peoples.

15. Aztec Society
Priests performed rituals to please the gods and prevent disasters
The sun god was the main Aztec god.
Practiced ritual human sacrifice to appease the gods.
Mostly prisoners of war but sometimes noble families gave up some of their own family members.
Constant state of warfare supplied a constant stream of sacrifices.

16. Aztec Society Education and Learning Medicine
Priests were keepers of knowledge
Astronomy or mathematics – used to create a 365 day solar calendar
Medicine
Used herbs and other medicines to treat fever and wounds
Set broken bones and treated dental cavities.

17. Assessment
Which Mesoamerican civilization started the tradition of a “rubber” ball game?

18. Assessment True or false
The Amerindians were incapable of utilizing irrigation techniques to support agriculture.

19. Assessment
What was the capital city of the Aztec?

20. Assessment
Why did the Aztec perform ritual human sacrifice?