1. The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History

2. Early Americans Between 100,000 and 10,000 years ago, people began crossing a land bridge between Asia and the Americas As they spread, new cultures and beliefs began to emerge Focus is on Mesoamerica, or the areas of Mexico and Central America

3. The Maya and Toltec Maya –Between A.D. 300-900 –Yucatan peninsula –Up to 100,000 inhabitants in cities surrounding temples –City-states governed by hereditary rulers –Advanced in astronomy and other sciences Toltec –Around A.D. 900-1200 –Controlled upper Yucatan

4. The Aztec Began building a civilization in 1325 By 1500, four million lived under Aztec control Pyramids, temples, and palaces destroyed by Hernan Cortes in 1520

5. The Inca Began in the 1440s A state built on war 200,000 armed forces made it the biggest and best armed army Diminished due to an epidemic of smallpox Francisco Pizarro and Incan allies destroyed the capital and took control in 1535