1. Central and South America
Maya, Aztec, and Inca

2. Maya Empire c. 250-900AD Present day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and
El Salvador

3. Maya Architecture
Temple of Tikal
Step pyramids

4. Maya Religion Rain deity Jaguar-Underworld Deity
Polytheistic-belief in many deities(gods)
Blood sacrifices done to keep cosmos in balance
Deities: Sun, Rain, Ruling-Lineage, Maize, Death, War and Human Sacrifice, Rainbow, etc.
13 upper world deities, and 9 lower world deities

5. Maya Society Maya Calendar Maya traditions Very precise
Off by less than
1 minute today
Maya traditions
and people still
survive today
Soothsayer/Wizard temple where they would use astronomy to predict events

6. Maya History Polytheistic religion Built tall pyramids
Made great advancements in mathematics and astronomy
Corn was principal crop
Powerful priest were able to predict eclipses
Civilization did not end by war or disease
The civilization simply disappeared

8. Aztecs Empire:Present Day Mexico

9. City of Tenochititlan

10. Aztec Society
Emerald
Mask
Human
Sacrifices
Aztec Calendar

11. Aztec History/Society
existed c
Most advanced in Americas
200, ,000 people lived in capital
Polytheistic religion
Bloody sacrifices
Quetzalcoatl-God of Civilization
Corn most important crop, slash & burn
Conquered by Hernanado Cortez and Spanish Conquistadors
Cortez was thought to be Quetzalcoatl by Aztecs
Spanish brought horses,guns, dogs, and disease

12. Incan Civilization Located in present day: Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and
Argentina
Empire stretched up to 2,500 miles

13. Incan Society
Incan Warrior
Incan Goddess

14. Incan Architecture
Royal Estate: Machu Picchu
Great craftsmanship

15. Incan History Largest and richest empire in Americas
Complex political system
Skilled engineers and architects
10,000 miles of roads for communication
Language: Quecha
No writing system or money
Conquered by Pizarro and 167 men
Conquistadors held Incan king for ransom
Empire ended in 1532AD

16. Cortez
Hernando Cortez
Disobeyed orders and sailed to Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)
Leader of several expeditions across Central America
Francisco Pizarro
Sailed with the 1st European Expedition to see Pacific Ocean
Captured Incan King and held him for ransom
Pizarro