1. Pre-Columbian
Civilizations
In the Americas
Unit 2, Chapter 11

2. Early Human Migrations

3. Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations

4. MesoAmerica

5. Classic Era – 600-900 Post-Classic Era – 900-1500
People of Teotihuacan
Maya
Post-Classic Era –
Toltecs
Aztecs

6. Teotihuacan Pre-Aztec Polytheistic Human sacrifice
Dependence on agriculture
Chinampas
No clear evidence of rulers
Probably elite families
Collapsed about 650

7. The Mayans

8. Lands of the Mayans
The Yucatan Peninsula

9. Overview Never politically united Individual city-states with rulers
Shared culture
Shifting (Slash & Burn) agriculture
No use of wheels, pulleys, carts, or metal tools

10. Astrology Cosmos divided into 3 layers connected on a vertical axis
Earth in between the heavens and the underworld
Priests communicated with gods through bloodletting & use of hallucinogens
Human sacrifice

11. Society
Patrilineal
Evidence of female roles in political and religious arena (2 female rulers)
Focus on war
Definite Class structure

12. Mayan Decline Between 800 and 900 Cities abandoned or destroyed
Theories
Epidemic disease
Disruption of trade
Population expansion led to environmental destruction and food shortages provoking warfare

13. Chichen-Itza - Pyramid

14. Chichen-Itza - Observatory

15. Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God

16. Quetzalcoatl: (Kate-Zahl-Co-At-L) The God of Wisdom & Learning

17. The Aztecs

18. Overview
Northern peoples who pushed into central Mexico after the collapse of Tula
Beginning – clan based
Adapted to the local political & social practices
Around 1325 built capital at Tenochtitlan (old site of Teotichuacan)

19. Political Monarchy Aristocratic families had much say
Not absolute or hereditary
Aristocratic families had much say
Sometimes war provided political legitimacy
Tribute system

20. Society Very focused on class distinction Commoners – monogamous
Nobles – polygamous
Prisoners of war used for labor
Class of merchants
Used bartering system

21. Achievements
Dikes
Chinampas
Canals
Writing system

22. Rituals Polytheism Dual natured gods
Cult of Huitzilopochtli (WEE-tsuh-loh-POHKT-lee)
Demanded diet of human hearts to bring sun’s warmth to the world

23. Lands of the Aztecs

24. Aztec View of Tenochtitlan

25. Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas

26. Tenochtitlan - Chinampas

27. Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God

28. Heart Sacrifice on an Aztec Temple Pyramid

29. TZOMPANTLI (Zom-Pont-Li) Wall of Skulls

30. Aztec Gold

31. Andean Civilizations 600 – 1500
Moche – northern coast of Peru
Tiwanaku & Wari – Peruvian coast
Inca – Chile & Ecuador, along Pacific coast, along Andes Mountains, into Amazon, and south into Argentina

32. Introduction to all Andean Civilizations
Fishing
Maize fields
Herds of llamas and alpaca
Terraced farming
Khipus – record keeping ropes
Roads
Ayllu (family clans) – communal land
Mit’a – labor draft

33. The Incas

34. Lands of the Incas

35. Imperial State By 1525, Centered in Cuzco valley Messenger Runners
more than 6 million
Centered in Cuzco valley
Messenger Runners
Increased empire by military expansion & forcing economic exchanges
Local rulers
Children required to live in Cuzco

36. Religion Polytheistic (Idols taken to Cuzco)
Royal family descendent from the Sun (Sapa Inca – “The Great Inca”)
Human & animal Sacrifice

37. With Your Partner
How did the Incas control their empire as it expanded? (List as much as you can)

38. Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca (11,000 ft. above sea level)

39. Machu Picchu

40. Machu Picchu

41. Incan Terrace Farming

42. Maize in Incan Pottery & Gold Work

43. Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Cultivated by the Incans

44. Quipu – Record keeping ropes

45. Incan Mummies

46. Inca Gold & Silver

47. Comparison List: Aztecs & Incas
Similarities
Differences