1. Pre-Columbian America
Chapter 9.2 – Pages
Chapter 16.2 & 16.3 – Pages

2. 36a – explain the rise and fall of the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan empires
WARM-UP:

3. The Olmecs Geographical Location: Environmental Conditions:
Along Gulf Coast of Mexico
Environmental Conditions:
Covered with swamps & rain forests
Hot and humid climate

4. The Olmecs Rise of the Olmec: Civilization Rose Because:
Emerged around 1200 B.C. and thrived between B.C.
Civilization Rose Because:
Fertile river plains
Abundant resources of salt, tar, clay, wood, and rubber

5. The Olmecs Urban Design:
Combined pyramids, plazas, and giant sculptures
Built thriving urban communities at sites such as San Lorenzo and La Venta

6. The Olmecs Economy & Trade:
Largest trading network throughout Mesoamerica (Mexico City to the North and Honduras to the South)
Traded raw materials and various stones
Trade helped boost the economy and spread Olmecs influence

7. The Olmecs Social Structure: Had ruling class Had nature gods
Worshipped Jaguar spirit
Prosperous people

8. The Olmecs
Reasons for Decline:
Unknown
Because there are no records

9. The Olmecs Legacy: “mother culture”
Known as this because of their influence on other cultures
Left behind art styles, ceremonial centers, ritual ball games, an elite ruling class and stone symbols that may have led to writing
First known civilization builders in Mesoamerica

10. The Mayans Geographic Location: Environmental Conditions:
Yucatan Peninsula, SE Mexico, northern Guatemala
Environmental Conditions:
Dry scrub forests in Yucatan
Dense jungles elsewhere

11. The Mayans Rise of the Mayans: Traits of Mayans:
Emerged around 250 and thrived between
Traits of Mayans:
Religious beliefs important
Theocracy
Independent city-states
Intensive agriculture
Civilization Rose Because:
They had a united culture
They were loyal to their king
They had a wealthy and prosperous culture
They were able to produce more food to feed a larger population

12. The Mayans Reasons for Decline:
Many physical and human resources used for religious activities
Frequent warfare occurred between kingdoms
Population growth created a need for more land

13. The Aztecs Geographic Location: Environmental Conditions:
Central Mexico in the Valley of Mexico
Environmental Conditions:
Several shallow lakes
Fertile soil

14. The Aztecs Rise of the Aztecs: Traits of Aztecs:
Emerged around 1200 and thrived between s
Traits of Aztecs:
Religious beliefs important
Theocracy
Powerful army
Empire of tribute states
Civilization Rose Because:
They had a united culture
They were loyal to their emperor
They added lands through military conquest, power, and used prisoners for religious sacrifice
The adding of lands provided wealth

15. The Aztecs Reasons for Decline:
Many physical and human resources used for religious activities
The need for prisoners changed warfare style to less deadly and less aggressive
Tribute states became rebellious and needed to be controlled

16. The Incas Geographic Location: Environmental Conditions:
Andes Mountain region branching out from Peru
Environmental Conditions:
Highlands
Fertile soil in Valley of Cuzco

17. The Incas Rise of the Incas: Traits of Incas:
Emerged around 1200s and thrived between
Traits of Incas:
Religious beliefs important
Theocracy
Major road systems
Type of welfare state with a huge bureaucracy
Civilization Rose Because:
They had a united culture
They were loyal to their emperor
The entire empire was connected and that aided control
They cared for the entire population during good and bad times

18. The Incas Reasons for Decline:
Many physical and human resources used for religious activities
Enemies also used their road system to move troops
People struggled to care for themselves with the elimination of the welfare states
Ultimately, invasions by Spanish conquistadors led to their demise

19. 36b – compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology, and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas
WARM-UP:

20. The Mayans
Government
Independent city-states, each ruled by a god-king
Central city with giant pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings, and surrounding residential areas

21. The Mayans Economy Based on trade and farming
City-states linked through trade alliances
Sophisticated farming methods such as planting on raised platforms above swamps and on hillside terraces
Grew maize (corn), beans, & squash

22. The Mayans Religion Polytheistic
Prayed and offered gods food, blood, and human sacrifices

23. The Mayans Social Structure King Three Social Classes:
Seen as a holy figure, position was hereditary
Three Social Classes:
Nobles – priests, warriors
Middle Class – merchants, artisans
Peasants

24. The Mayans Technology Mayan Calendar Mathematics Astronomy
Supposedly predicts the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012
Mathematics
Understood the concept of zero
Astronomy
Calculated solar year at days (only off)
City-Building
Ex. Tikal
Sophisticated agricultural techniques

25. The Mayans The Arts Hieroglyphics Pyramids Ball Courts
Writing system, 800+ symbols
Pyramids
Ball Courts
For religious games
Jaguar Architecture
Steles (inscribed markers)

26. The Aztecs Government Small city-states
Empire divided into 38 provinces with 5-15 million people
Triple Alliance
Military state formed in 1428

27. The Aztecs
Economy
Ruled loosely, making conquered areas pay tributes to them
If people resisted tributes or revolted, they would destroy the villages and capture or slaughter its inhabitants
Trade connected by water and canals that canoes could bring directly to the city

28. The Aztecs Religion Polytheistic
Public ceremonies with human sacrifices
The city of Tenochtitlan was founded based on the Aztec legend of Huitzilopochtli (god of the sun and warfare)
Huitzilopochtli needed nourishment of human blood for the sun to rise each day
Over 1,000 gods
Elaborate ceremonies performed to win the favor of different gods – including ritual dramas, songs, and dances with masked performers

29. The Aztecs Social Structure Emperor Nobles Commoners Slaves
gov’t officials, generals, religious leaders
Commoners
Merchants, craftspeople, soldiers, farmers who owned land
Slaves

30. The Aztecs Technology Planned Cities Causeways Chinampas
Tenochtitlan was greater than any European city of the time – built on a lake bed to provide an easy defense system
Causeways
Roads built over the marshy lands & water
Chinampas
Floating gardens built on the marshy fringes of the lake

31. The Aztecs The Arts Elaborate temples Pyramids
Stone carvings & paintings for gods
Masks for religious ceremonies

32. The Incas Government Ruler Bureaucratic
Had to be a descendant of the sun god, Inti, to rule
Bureaucratic
Conquered territories were divided into manageable community units governed by a central bureaucracy
Can be compared to socialism or welfare state

33. The Incas Economy State controlled most economic activity
Regulated the production & distribution of goods
Macchu Picchu

34. The Incas Religion Polytheistic
Religion helped to reinforce the power of the state
Cuzco was both the administrative and religious capital of the empire
Mamakuna – “Virgins of the Sun”
Committed to a lifetime of religious service & activities
Yamacuna
Men who were full-time workers for the state who aided in religious activities

35. The Incas Social Structure Based on community cooperation Family
Social groups were identified by officially dictated patterns of clothing
Family
Divided into groups of 10, 100, 1000, 10000
A chief led each group
Local administration in the hands of local rulers
Language
Imposed a single, uniform language throughout the empire
Conquered Peoples
Were peacefully conquered whenever possible to gain loyalty
Were allowed to continue their traditional ways of life

36. The Incas Technology Road System Engineers & Stonemasons
14,000-mile long network of bridges and roads
All roads led to the capital
These roads tied the empire together
Engineers & Stonemasons
Accomplished their with using no iron tools, wheels, or mortar

37. The Incas The Arts Temple of the Sun (Cuzco) Gold
Most sacred shrine in empire, covered in gold
Gold
Extremely abundant
Covered city walls and used for decoration