1. Early Civilizations of Middle America*, Unit 2, Quiz 1 Review
Mayan Empire
Incan Empire
Aztec Empire
*Middle America – a term used to mean Mexico and the 7 countries of Central America, (Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador)

2. The Incas: People of the Sun!
During the reign of Topa Inca, the Incan Empire grew to over 2,500 miles with 12 million people under his rule.
During the reign of Topa Inca, the Incan Empire traveled south, from Ecuador to Argentina, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

3. Aqueduct
A combination of bridges and tunnels, using stone pipes which would bring water from rivers to people a few hundred miles away.
The Inca built great aqueducts (bridges and tunnels to transport water) in order to bring water into their villages from the mountaintops.

4. A Census is an official count of all people living in an area
A Census is an official count of all people living in an area. Quipas was a knotted string used by the Incas as a method of keeping records
_____
3,643

5. Census Official count or total number of people in an area.
The Inca kept excellent census records (population count and collecting taxes) with their quipus, but most were destroyed during their conquest.

6. Conquistador Conqueror, defeater
A wave of Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) in the early 1500s disrupted and destroyed many nations native to the Americas.

7. Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who sailed to South America, in 1531.

8. Civil War A war fought between 2 groups of same nation/civilization
A war fought between two groups within the same nation/civilization
The Inca were fighting a civil war (a war within a nation) in the 1520s, which allowed the Spanish to easily defeat them.

9. Introduction to the Aztec Empire
Main Idea: The Aztec built their empire in Mexico during the 1400s, with their capital in Tenochtitlan.
Its importance is the Aztec transformed a lake into their capital city and ruled a huge empire.

10. Image found on the flag of Mexico
The Aztec looked to their king and gods for guidance. Below is the story of how the Aztec found the right spot for their city
The Sun God, Huitzilopochtli (Wi–tsilo–pok– tly) told the Aztec leader to settle his people where he finds an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake in the middle of a lake.

11. The Aztec Civilization began in the Valley of Mexico
The Aztec Civilization began in the Valley of Mexico. They settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, in It took time to develop, but lasted through the early 1500s.

12. The Aztec people were able to change a swampy lake into a great city, which was called Tenochtitlan which was its capitol city.

13. The floating island Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs are remembered for great farming.
The illustration above shows an Aztec farmer sowing the seeds.
The illustration below shows an Aztec farmer reaping what he sows.
Anchored to a lake, Tenochtitlan had an endless supply of water.

14.  Farming Main Idea: Most Aztec were farmers, and they built floating gardens (chinampas).
Then
And
Now 
Its importance is even if there’s no rain, the crops still have water. There will have water to drink and food to eat.

15. Building an Empire   Main Idea: The Aztec conquered other people and forced them to pay tribute (or become a slave).
Its importance is this allowed the Aztec Empire to expand and become rich with resources.
Later, these conquered tribes joined forces (formed alliances) with the Spanish Conquistadors to conquer the Aztec

16. Alliances Agreement in which people cooperate for a common reason
Some nations or people form alliances in which they have an agreement or truce to look out for and protect each other.
In the case of the Aztec neighboring tribes, they formed alliances with the Spanish to defeat the Aztec nation. The Aztec were not kind to their neighbors forcing many into slavery or human sacrifice.

17. Moctezuma was the leader of the Aztec Empire when the Spanish arrived in the New World. He demanded much from his people. He also made enemies with tribes near the Aztec Empire, meaning very little peace with neighboring tribes...

18. When Cortes arrived in Mexico, he found many of the Aztecs were willing to assist him overtake Moctezuma. The Spanish and Aztec enemies formed alliances.

19. By 1521, the Aztec people were defeated by Cortes

20. Exploit To take advantage of someone
Hernan Cortez exploited (took advantage of) the natives that helped his own needs of waging war against the Aztec. Afterwards, he enslaved them.

21. Aztec Culture and Religion
Main Idea: Aztec culture was active with a strict guidance to their religion which included human sacrifice, to please their gods.
Its importance is they took what the Maya knew and extended it to a new level.
It is also important to remember that the Mayan Empire came first and lasted much, much longer than the Aztec Empire

22. However, they could not develop…
Aztec doctors were able to make over a thousand types of medicine from using plants.
However, they could not develop…

23. Immunity Resistance to diseases
It’s too bad the Native Americans did not have immunity (defenses) to European diseases; it would have made for a much fairer fight.

24. It only took 15 years for the Spanish to defeat 2 powerful empires in America (Aztec and Incan Empires).
The Spanish brought disease to America, which the Native Americans had never experienced, nor the immunity to protect them.

25. The Fall of the Aztec Empire
A combination of factors led to the fall of the Aztec Empire.
Their limited protection and weapons were no match to superior guns, cannons and armor.
The Spanish fought on horses as well!
Cortes persuaded the local tribes to fight with the Spanish against the Aztec.
But probably the biggest reason of all was small pox.
The Aztec had no immunity against the disease and tens of thousands died within years of the Spanish arrival.

26. Different groups of people ruled by one leader or government
Empire
Different groups of people ruled by one leader or government
Much like ancient Rome, the Aztec built an empire (expanding nation) in which they conquered other Natives Americans and took their land and resources.

27. The Aztecs are remembered for developing hieroglyphics, medicine, designing jewelry, fine crafts and predicting eclipses.

28. The Aztec and Mayan form of writing was known as hieroglyphics.
This is a form of graphic writing, using signs and symbols instead of letters, as we do.

29. The Mayan Civilization lasted from A.D. 250 – 900.

30. The Mayan Empire was the earliest of the three empires and was located in Central America and Mexico.

31. Although the Mayan farmer grew a variety of crops, corn, known as maize was its most important crop.

32. The Mayans are remembered for being astronomers and developing an accurate calendar. They had an alphabet. They, built pyramids and temples. They introduced the value of zero, in math.
The Mayans accomplished many things during their empire’s reign, 250 – 900 CE

33. The Fall of the Mayan Empire
One theory about the fall of the Mayans has them relying heavily on their king.
As time went on, things started to go wrong.
There were wars and there was crop failure from drought and soil erosion.
The people turned to their king to save the day.
The king would respond with more human sacrifice.
These sacrifices did nothing but deplete the population and cause frustration among the people.
In turn, the people lost faith in the king.
Eventually, the people abandoned, left the cities to live on their own.

34. For taking time
Thank you
To review the histories of
The Aztec, Incan and Mayan Empires