1. People and Empires in the Americas, 500–1500
UNIT 3
CHAPTER 16:
People and Empires in the Americas, 500–1500
MAIN IDEA: Societies in the Americas range from small tribal bands to the vast empires of the Maya, the Aztecs, and the Inca.

2. People and Empires in the Americas, 500–1500
SECTION 1
SECTION 1
North American Societies
SECTION 2
SECTION 2
Maya Kings and Cities
SECTION 3
SECTION 3
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
SECTION 4
The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
These are my notes for slide 2

3. SECTION 1: North American Societies
MAIN IDEA: Complex North American societies are linked to each other through culture and economics.

4. North American Societies
Complex Societies in the West
Regional Differences
North American cultures less complex than other American cultures
Cultures of Abundance
Pacific Northwest—from Oregon to Alaska—rich in resources
People rely on both sea and land resources for food
Plentiful resources lead to society with differences in wealth
Potlatch ceremony=wealthy people give gifts to demonstrate status
Continued . . .

5. Accomplished Builders
Complex Societies in the West {continued}
Accomplished Builders
Desert Southwest is harsher environment than that of Pacific Coast
Hohokam of central Arizona use irrigation to grow corn, beans, squash
Use of pottery shows contact with Mesoamerica
Anasazi, to the north, build pueblos—villages of stone, adobe, clay
Pueblos abandoned around 1200; descendants of Anasazi—Pueblo peoples
Hopi and Zuni continue Anasazi customs; create trade goods

6. Northeastern Tribes Build Alliances
Mound Builders and Other Woodland Cultures
The Mound Builders
Mound Builders= Peoples who live east of Mississippi River in woodland areas
Adena and Hopewell peoples build mounds for burials, ceremonies
Mississippian—last Mound Builder culture, from 800 to 1500s
Cahokia, leading city, has many as 30,000 people
Northeastern Tribes Build Alliances
Iroquois—five allied tribes of eastern Great Lakes (military-like warriors)
Goals of Iroquois League: joint defense and cooperation

7. Trading Networks Tie Tribes Together of Life
Cultural Connections
Trading Networks Tie Tribes Together of Life
Mississippian trade network: Rockies to Atlantic, Great Lakes to Gulf
Religion Shapes Views of Life
Most Native Americans believe in many sacred spirits (animism)
Beliefs also include respect for land as source of life
Shared Social Patterns
Family= basis for social organization; some organize into clans
Totems—natural object that person, family, or clan identifies with
Totem is symbol of unity of family, clan, or group

8. SECTION 2: Maya Kings and Cities
MAIN IDEA: The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states elaborate religious practices.

9. Maya Kings and Cities The Land of the Maya Urban Centers
Maya Create City-States
The Land of the Maya
Maya live in southern Mexico and northern Central America
Land, vegetation of this region varies
Maya culture influenced by Olmec civilization 
Urban Centers
In Classic Period (250 to 900) Maya build spectacular cities
Cities, like Tikal, have pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings
Each has a court where ritual ball game is played
Continued . . .

10. Agriculture and Trade Support Cities
Maya Create City-States {continued}
Agriculture and Trade Support Cities
Cities linked by alliances, trade
Farming maize, beans, squash is foundation of Maya life
Maya use different farming techniques
Kingdoms Built on Dynasties
Farming success leads to rise of social classes
King is leader, holy figure; priests, warriors at top of social class
Middle class: merchants, artisans; bottom: peasants

11. The Importance of Religion
Religion Shapes Maya Life
The Importance of Religion
Maya believe in many gods, who could be good, evil, or both
Each day is a god whose behavior could be predicted with calendars
Religious Practices
Many ways of worshiping: prayer, offerings, giving blood
Maya also make human sacrifices to please gods and balance world
Continued . . .

12. Written Language Preserves History
Religion Shapes Maya Life {continued}
Math and Religion
Religion leads to advances in calendar, math, astronomy
Maya use two calendars: one religious (260 days), one solar (365 days)
Use calendars to find best days for life activities
Written Language Preserves History
Writing system has 800 glyphs—symbols
Use writing to record history in a codex—bark-paper book
Popul Vuh—famous codex that contains Maya story of creation

13. The End of the Maya Mysterious Maya Decline
In late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for abandonment unknown
Signs of social problems:
-In 700s, fighting among many Maya city-states
-Population growth, over-farming might have hurt environment
-By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states

14. SECTION 3: The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
MAIN IDEA: Through alliances and conquest, the Aztecs create a powerful empire in Mexico.

15. The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
Geography of Valley of Mexico
Mountain basin 7,500 feet above sea level, large lakes, fertile soil
Teotihuacán and Toltec settle in valley, develop civilizations
An Early City-State
Teotihuacán city-state rises in first century A.D.
At peak, in 500s, city has up to 200,000 people
Serves as center of trade, especially of obsidian—volcanic glass
City quickly declines; by 750 is abandoned
Continued . . .

16. Toltecs Take Over The Valley of Mexico {continued}
About 900, Toltecs rise to power; rule for about 300 years
A warlike people, they rule by conquest
They worship fierce war god and offer human sacrifices
Toltec ruler Topiltzin tries to change religion, end human sacrifice
Encourages worship of Quetzalcoatl—“Feathered Serpent”—a new god
He is exiled to Yucatán Peninsula; by early 1200s, Toltec rule ends

17. Arrival of the Aztecs Aztecs Grow Stronger The Aztec Empire
Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive around 1200, begin working as soldiers
By own legend, a god leads them to found city of Tenochtitlán
Aztecs Grow Stronger
Triple Alliance—1428 agreement of Aztec and two other city-states
By early 1500s, Aztecs have large empire and rule 5–15 million people
Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests
Continued . . .

18. Nobles Rule Aztec Society
The Aztec Empire {continued}
Nobles Rule Aztec Society
Noble class—military leaders, officials, priests—rules Aztec society
Nobles own vast estates, live life of wealth and luxury
Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers
Lowest class: enslaved people
Emperor’s power is absolute, lives in palace, is revered

19. Extraordinary Urban Center
Tenochtitlán: A Planned City
Extraordinary Urban Center
Causeways connect island city to mainland areas
Canals enable people to carry goods to city and its huge main market
Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops
Central area has palaces, temples, government buildings

20. Sacrifices for the sun God
Religion Rules Aztec Life
Many Gods
Religion includes 1,000 gods, many adopted from other peoples
Religious Practices
Center of religion is public ceremonies to win gods’ favor
Many religious festivals throughout year
Sacrifices for the sun God
Most important rituals are for sun god, Huitzilopochtli
He needs human sacrifices to be strong
Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these sacrifices

21. A New Ruler Problems in the Aztec Empire
In 1502, Montezuma II becomes emperor; he calls for more tribute
These sacrifices lead to revolt in outlying areas
Emperor tries to make life easier, but Aztecs worry about future
Soon after, Spanish (CORTES) arrive and take over

22. SECTION 4: The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
MAIN IDEA: The Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by extensive road systems.

23. The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
The Inca Build an Empire
Incan Beginnings
Inca live first in high plateau of Andes Mountains
By 1200s, they have a kingdom in Valley of Cuzco
Inca believe that their ruler is descended from sun god, Inti
Pachacuti Builds an Empire
Pachacuti, a powerful and ambitious emperor, takes control in 1438
Under Pachacuti, Inca conquer lands holding 16 million people
Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve conquests

24. Incan Cities Show Government Presence
Incan Government Creates Unity
Organized Rule
Inca divide conquered lands into smaller units to govern easily
Make Quechua official language of entire empire
Incan Cities Show Government Presence
Inca build cities with same architecture for government buildings
Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas, palaces
Inca are very skilled builders
Continued . . .

25. Incan Government Incan Government Creates Unity {continued}
Inca government controls economy and society
Use ayllu—extended family group—to control how people live, work
Divides society into groups of 10; 100; 1,000; 10,000
Chain of command stretches from central government to smallest unit
Demands mita—requirement that people work for state
Cares for the aged and disabled
Continued . . .

26. Government Record Keeping
Incan Government Creates Unity {continued}
Public Works Project
Government creates public works, including 14,000-mile road network
Runners carry messages along the roads to different places
Government Record Keeping
Inca do not develop system of writing
Use quipu—set of knotted strings—as accounting device
Might also have had elaborate two-calendar system

27. Inca Gods Religious Practices Great Cities Religion Supports the State
Inca have fewer gods than Aztecs
Creator god and sun god are most important
Religious Practices
Priests draft young women to assist in ceremonies
Some young men also become specialized religious workers
Great Cities
Cuzco has magnificent Temple of the Sun decorated in gold
Other cities might have had religious importance as well

28. Problems Arise Discord in the Empire
In early 1500s, Inca Empire reaches its height under Huayna Capac
Capac dies, perhaps of smallpox, while touring newly conquered Ecuador
In 1520s, his sons Atahualpa and Huascar split empire
Atahualpa wants control of whole empire and begins civil war
This war weakens Inca state just before Spanish (PIZZARO) arrive and take over

29. This is the end of the chapter presentation of lecture notes.
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