1. THE CULTURE OF THE INCAS, AZTECS, AND MAYA
EARLY AMERICAN
CIVILIZATIONS AND CULTURES
THE CULTURE OF THE
INCAS, AZTECS, AND MAYA
The Iroquois lived in present-day New York State.
Incas and Aztecs lived in
Central and South America. 1

2. -Corn (maize), pumpkins, peppers, beans, squash, cotton, and tobacco.
*Around 9,500 years ago, some groups of Native Americans in Central and South America learned how to farm. This is the beginning of civilizations in the Americas.
-Corn (maize), pumpkins, peppers, beans, squash, cotton, and tobacco.
-People could now settle down in one area and not live as nomads. People needed to stay in one area in order to plant seeds, tend crops, and harvest crops. Human civilizations begin to develop in the Americas.
Farming: Corn
Corn
Squash
Beans
Aztec priests conducting religious sacrifice.
Aztec city.
NOMAD: Person who moves from
place to place in search of food.
CIVILIZATION: Advanced culture
with a religion, cities, government,
written language, and social classes.
Aztec government under the Emperor.

3. 3 Early American Civilizations:
*All 3 early American civilizations existed in Central and South America and are considered empires.
Aztec Empire (1200 AD – 1535 AD)
Mayan Empire (200 AD – 900’s AD)
Inca Empire (1200 AD – 1535 AD)
*These civilizations and other groups of Native Americans developed different and unique cultures.
EMPIRE: a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor or empress. Usually a territory of great size. Examples: Roman Empire, British Empire, etc..
CULTURE: The way of life for a group of people.
-Cultures were different mainly due to the geography or environment and the resources they had.
-Culture includes a people’s language, customs, religion, government, economy, traditions, etc.

4. 2. Inca Civilization: 1200 AD – 1535 AD
-South America along Pacific Ocean. -Government run by emperor.
-Built vast network of roads and bridges Built terraces on hills for farming.
Hieroglyphics - A form of writing in which pictures are used to represent words and phrases
Macchu Picchu: Inca Palace.
Built vast network of roads.
Much of Empire in Andes Mountains.

5. Incas had gold: They used gold for jewelry and artwork
Incan government ruled by emperor
Incan decorated pot
Emperor being carried; llamas used as pack animals
Statue of Llama: Gold
Incas had many gods

6. 3. Aztec Empire: 1200 AD – 1535 AD
-Located in Central and Southern Mexico.
-Built capital city of Tenochtitlan (IN A LAKE).
-Created a strict legal code.
-Created 365 day calendar.
-Created writing system using hieroglyphics.
-Built irrigation systems for crops.
-Religion was polytheistic: Believed in many gods.
-Used human sacrifices to satisfy gods.
-Conquered and ruled many other tribes
-Social Classes: Ruler, priests and nobles, warriors, merchants and artisans, farmers, and slaves.

7. Tenochtitlan: (Mexico City)
Lake Texcoco
-Over time, they conquered the area around the lake and eventually created large empire in Central Mexico.
-Warfare was important because they needed a constant supply of human sacrifices.

8. Tenochtitlan:
The only way to get to the city was by boat or over causeways.

10. Aztec Social Structure: -Aztec Empire was ruled by an emperor.
-Under the emperor were the priests and nobles who helped run the government.
-Next were the warriors who defended the empire and captured prisoners for religious sacrifices.
Emperor Moctezuma
Warrior in armor

11. AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICES:
-Sacrifices used to keep gods happy.
-Used prisoners captured in battle; Constant warfare.
Prisoners or slaves were held down and their chest was cut open and their heart pulled out. This was done while they were still alive.
Religious knife used to cut out hearts of human sacrifices.

12. Aztecs developed calendar in order to keep track of religious ceremonies.
Aztec god Quetzacoatyl.
Aztec god Huitzilopochtl: sun god.