1. PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES
THE AMERICAS
PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES

2. INTRODUCTION
While complex civilizations were emerging in Asia, Africa, and Europe, equally striking developments had occurred in the Americas
The “encounter” of Europeans with the peoples of the Americas brought the major civilizations of the world together for the first time and had a profound impact on all peoples

3. THE BIG QUESTIONS
What were the major characteristics of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations?
How did the voyages of Christopher Columbus forever change the world?

4. THE FIRST AMERICANS
The earliest humans in the Americas are believed to have migrated from Asia across a land bridge that was exposed during the last Ice Age
From Alaska, the earliest Americans spread southwards throughout North and South America
Separate languages and cultures developed

5. EARLY MIGRATION

6. GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS
“Native Americans” experienced their own Neolithic Revolution (grew maize [corn], squash, and beans – the “three sisters”)
Several complex civilizations emerged in Mesoamerica (called pre-Columbian civilizations, because they existed before the arrival of Columbus)
These did not emerge in river valley, but in warm and humid rain forests
Supported by farming corn (a crop unknown to peoples of Africa, Asia, and Europe) and used creative farming techniques adapted to their environments

7. THE MAYA (1500 B.C. – 1546 A.D.)
The earliest civilizations in Meso-America were the Olmec and Toltecs
The Maya created a complex civilization over years ago in present-day Guatemala
Each city had its own chief ruler (considered half-man and half-god)
Engaged in frequent warfare
Practiced human sacrifice (developed a ball game that became popular throughout the Americas)

8. MAYAN CIVILIZATION

9. MAYAN SOCIETY
King – considered half-man and half-god Nobility – a small hereditary class who performed sacred ceremonies and assisted rulers (astronomers/scribes) Craftsmen – made luxuries for nobles Peasant farmers – laborers who grew corn and lived in thatched huts
KING
NOBILITY
CRAFTSMEN
PEASANTS

10. MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS
BUILDERS – built huge cities, large palaces, temples, and pyramids
WRITING SYSTEM – hieroglyphics (picture symbols)
MATH AND SCIENCE – complex number system, used zero, 365 day
calendar
ARTISTRY – painted
colorful mural, invented
popular ball game

11. DECLINE OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION
Around the 9th century, experienced a great crisis (possibly food shortage, epidemic, or great war)
Mayans migrated northward to Yucatan Peninsula (in present-day Mexico) and built new city-states
Constant warfare from 13th to 16th centuries and pressures from neighboring wandering peoples, led to the final decline

12. MAYAN POTTERY
MAYAN CALENDAR
HIEROGLYPHS

13. THE AZTECS (1200 – 1521)
Created by an alliance of several local peoples of the high valley in Mexico
Created the city of Tenochtitlan
An island in the center of the Valley of Mexico
Grew crops in “floating gardens” in wet marshy land
Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer other people in the region
Made careful observations of the sky and aligned their temples based on the movements of the sun and moon and developed an accurate calendar.

14. AZTEC SOCIETY
EMPEROR
NOBILITY
COMMONERS
SLAVES
Emperor – all-powerful Nobility – held high positions in the government, army, or priesthood Commoners – farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, warriors Slaves – prisoners of war (laborers)

15. AZTEC CULTURE Worshipped many gods (most important was Sun God)
Constructed calendars of stone based on observations of the sky
Believed Sun God needed human blood to continue daily journeys across the sky
Practiced human sacrifice on a massive scale (used prisoners of war and others who volunteered for the honor)
Believed it was necessary to keep universe in motion

16. AZTEC ART
HUMAN SACRIFICE OF THE AZTECS
AZTEC GOD
QUETZALCOATL

17. AZTEC CIVILIZATION

18. THE INCA EMPIRE ( )
Developed along the Pacific coast and in the Andes Mountains of South America
Terraced mountains (grew potatoes and other root crops)
Kept llamas and alpacas for their meat and wool and to carry goods
Incas built upon these achievements, and around 1400, began extending their rule across the Andes

19. INCA ACHIEVEMENTS
Built stone roads (over 10 thousand miles) to unite the distant corners of their empire
Preserved food and kept in storehouses
Never developed the wheel or writing
Instead of writing, used the quipu (bundles of knotted and colored ropes) to count and keep records and send messages
Constructed stone buildings (fit together perfectly with no cement)

20. MACHU PICHU
QUIPU
LLAMAS USED AS PACK ANIMALS

21. INCA CIVILIZATION

22. SUMMARY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN MESO-AMERICA
HIGHLY DEVELOPED CULTURE AND SOCIETIES
Artists made stone sculptures to decorate temples and palaces
Made ceramic bowls carved with human and animal forms for religious ceremonies
GENDER ROLES
Established at birth
Boys were given a machete by their fathers to establish their masculine role and were taught crafts
Girls received a stone instrument for grinding maize and were taught to cook
Women harvested grain, prepared food, cared for animals, bore children, made flour, and could hold jobs outside the home (artisans, priestesses, merchants)

23. LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY
CREATE A COMPARISON CHART SUMMARIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA
PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS
MAYAS
AZTECS
INCAS