1. Maya Create City-States
Maya Kings and Cities
The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states elaborate religious practices.
Maya Create City-States
The Land of the Maya
Maya live in southern Mexico and northern Central America 
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
Agriculture and Trade Support Cities
Cities linked by alliances, trade
Farming maize, beans, squash is foundation of Maya life
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
Religion Shapes Maya Life
The Importance of Religion
Maya believe in many gods, who could be good, evil, or both
Many ways of worshiping: prayer, offerings, giving blood
Maya also make human sacrifices to please gods and balance world

2. The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
Math and Religion
Religion leads to advances in calendar, math, astronomy
Maya use two calendars: one religious (260 days), one solar (365 days)
Written Language Preserves History
Writing system has 800 glyphs—symbols
Use writing to record history in a codex—bark-paper book
The End of the Maya
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
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
The Valley of Mexico
Geography
Mountain basin, large lakes, fertile soil
Arrival of the Aztecs
Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive around 1200, begin working as soldiers
By own legend, a god leads them to found city of Tenochtitlán
Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests

3. Nobles Rule Aztec Society
Noble class—military leaders, officials, priests—rules Aztec society
Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers
Lowest class: enslaved people
Extraordinary Urban Center
Causeways connect island city to mainland areas
Canals enable people to carry goods to city
Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops
Central area has palaces, temples, government buildings
Many Gods
Religion includes 1,000 gods
Most important rituals are for sun god,
He needs human sacrifices to be strong
Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these sacrifices
A New Ruler
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 arrive

4. The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
The Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by extensive road systems.
Incan Beginnings
Inca live first in high plateau of Andes Mountains
Inca believe that their ruler is descended from sun god
Inca conquer lands holding 16 million people
Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve conquests
Organized Rule
Inca divide conquered lands into smaller units to govern easily
Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas, palaces
Incan Government
Inca government controls economy and society
Demands mita—requirement that people work for state
Cares for the aged and disabled
Public Works Project
Government creates 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
Inca Gods
Inca have fewer gods than Aztecs
Problems Arise
A civil war weakens the empire just before the Spanish arrive