1. Development of South and Central America Societies
Engineering an Empire: Aztec 1
SSWH8

2. Warm Up Feb. 25 What is the oldest known Mesoamerican civilization
Aztec
Incan
Mayan
Olmec

3. Intro Early Inhabitants
Migrated from Asia during the last Ice Age, crossing the Bering Strait by foot

4. Intro Hunter-gatherers:
During global warming, they migrated east and south to follow the herds.
Different cultures formed as they spread out.
Cut off from Asia as Ice Age ended, they developed independently from cultures in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Intro

5. Engineering an Empire: Aztec 2
OLMEC
Engineering an Empire: Aztec 2 BC
1st structured civilization in the Americas.
Called “Rubber People”
Located in Southern Mexico
Farmers
slash and burn
The Olmecs

6. The Olmec Arts: Stone Carving They made Pyramids, mounds, monuments
Sculptured heads
Religion: polytheistic
many nature gods: Chief god was the jaguar god
Influenced - design, ceremonial centers, ball games, elite ruling class
Performed ritual sacrifices
Government: ruler - god like

7. Olmec Achievements: Decline: Long Count Calendar
System of Writing like Hieroglyphics
Decline:
No certain cause for their decline
Probably a combination of climate, crop failure, and conflict.

8. In many of their great city-states, temple-pyramids formed the center of public life and were the site of much holy ritual, including human sacrifice.

9. Ancient City of Teotihuacan

10. Engineering an Empire: Aztec 3
Maya
Engineering an Empire: Aztec 3

11. Mayans 2000 BC -900 Ad Rise: Reached its peak around 250 AD
May have reached a population of 2 Million
40 major cities ranging from populations of 5,000 – 50,000
Social classes - warriors, priests, merchants, craft workers, peasants
The Mayans

12. MAYANS Government: Religion: Economy: City States Polytheistic
two layers (now and otherworld)
Major role in society and rule
Human sacrifice
Economy:
Trade with other city-states
Slash and Burn Agriculture
MAYANS

13. El Castillo, Chichen Itza: El Castillo "The Castle"
It rises 79 feet above the Main Plaza of the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza in Mexico (founded c. AD 600 ).
Chichén Itzá

14. Mayans Arts: Pyramids Stone Carvings Pottery
Astronomy, math, 2 calendars - 1 for sun, 1 for religion
Math and astronomy to support religious beliefs
Glyphic writing system
Fall:
No explanation for their decline
Possibly: war, drought, infighting

15. Warm Up Feb. 26 The Mayan Civilization was
the earliest form of utopianism known to exist.
a peaceful state that produced some remarkable technological advances.
composed of city-states, each governed by a hereditary ruling class. A
destroyed by floods, leaving scant evidence of its existence.

16. Engineering an Empire: Aztec 4

17. Aztec Rise AD
Developed into powerful civilization in central and southern Mexico through conquering smaller groups.
The capital city was Tenochtitlan.
Located on islands in Lake Texcoco – 1200.

18. Tenochtitlan

19. The Aztecs

20. Aztec Government Religion Warriors Social structure Polytheistic
Military strength
Social structure
Emperor
Nobles
Commoners
Enslaved persons
Religion
Polytheistic
Their main god was the “sun god”
“fed” the god with human sacrifice

21. Quetzacoatl - feathered serpent god
Legend -- left city and will return one day

22. Aztec
Economy
Tribute states
Trade within the
Empire.

23. Aztec Civilization Rise Developed a complex and rich society
A trade network
A mathematical system to keep up with the empire
Two different calendar systems
A Farming system that used irrigation to keep their crops growing even during dry periods.

24. Chinampas floating gardens

25. Aztec Art Stone carvings, pottery, and sculptures.
Religion, Nature, and History were major themes.

26. Aztec Civilization
The pyramid temple was the center of this great city

27. Aztec Civilization
An important part of their culture was the sacrifice of animals and humans.
People who were conquered were required to pay large taxes.
They also had to provide people to offer as sacrifices to the Aztec gods.

28. Aztec Sacrifice

29. Aztec Fall Arrival of Spanish led to the fall of the Aztec in 1541.
The Spanish destroyed much of the Aztec building and artwork.
They destroyed the city of Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City in its place.
Aztecs

30. Montezuma Cortes

31. Engineering an Empire: Aztec 5
The Inca

32. Inca Located in South America 1400-1534 Built Cuzco - capital – Peru
Andes Mountains
Built Cuzco - capital – Peru
Lost Cities of the Inca

33. Inca Government: Theocracy Strong central government
huge empire extending length of South America
Leader - descendent of sun god

34. Inca Religion: Religion ruled state – theocracy Mummies
Polytheistic
Religion ruled state – theocracy
Mummies
Animal sacrifice
Economy:
Roads made trade easier
All roads lead to Cuzco

35. Machu Picchu

36. INCAN Arts
Built paved roads & suspension bridges - used running messengers
Instead of writing system used knotted string to communicate messages & keep records - quipu

37. Quipu

38. Inca terraces

39. Suspension bridge

40. Atahualpa Pizarro Fall
The Inca were conquered by the Spanish conquistador Pizarro in 1531.
Atahualpa Pizarro