1. Mesoamerica: Maya, Aztec, & Inca Empires

2. Climate of Mesoamerica
Warm Temperatures
Plentiful Rainfall
Rich volcanic soils
Maize, beans, and squash.

3. The Mayan Civilization
Yucatán peninsula
Developed around 1000 BC
At its height, Maya civilization consisted of some 10 million people spread among 40 cities.
Trade and agriculture helped support larger populations, and early Maya villages grew into cities.

4. Mayan Cities & Government
Classic Age
Mayans built:
Stone pyramids
Temples
Palaces
Local Rulers (Kings)
Gods

5. Mayan Society & Religion
Kings ruled with absolute power
Religious Ceremonies
Offering of blood to the gods.
Human Sacrifice
Priests & Warriors
Merchants & Skilled Craftsmen
Farmers & Slaves
The Maya practiced human sacrifice to appease their gods.
Human sacrifice was also used to mark special occasions.
Only allowed to use your elbows, knees, and hips to get a rubber ball through a hoop.

6. Mayan Calendar Maya had two calendars: 365 day farming calendar
260 day religious calendar
Talk to students about 2012, what are the commonalities in the theories?
The Mayan Calendar ends on that day.
The Earth and Sun will align with the center of the galaxy. Happens every 25,800 years.
The Earth’s Axis will complete a procession (full cycle of the rotation axis of a rotating body.) One circuit = 25,771.5 years.
NASA predicts more solar flares and near-Earth objects during the year 2012.
More accurate than the European calendar.
Architecture
Buildings
Canals
Astronomy
Math
Writing
Calendar System

7. Chocolate-Best Achievement Ever!
NOT sweet. Used cacao like money – only more elite could drink. Whipped up very frothy.

8. Decline of Mayan Civilization
Factors:
Environmental Damage
Overuse of resources
Warfare Increased
Competition over lands
Abuse of Power by Kings

9. Aztecs Modern day Mexico
Tenochtitlán was the capital city and is present day Mexico City.
According to legend, the war god told one of the tribes’ leaders that they should look for a place where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. It was there that they should settle and build a new capital.

10. Rise of the Aztec Empire
Population consisted of farmers & warriors.
Ruled 400 – 500 other city-states.
5 Million people under Aztec rule.

11. Aztec Empire Conquered people paid tribute.
Tax
Aztec Empire gained wealth:
Trade
Tribute

12. Aztec Religion
Human sacrifice was practiced heavily in the Aztec religion.
Believed that these sacrifices gave power to the gods

13. Inca Largest Empire in Pre-Columbian America.
Built with stone, terrace farming.

14. Quipus to keep records (knotted strings)

15. Incas did Brain Surgery!
Used a ‘Tumi’ scalpel