1. MAYA, AZTEC, INCA CIVILIZATIONS

2. THE MAYANS Civilization begins around 2000 BCE, but Classical Period of civilization is 250 – 900 CE Located in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico Covered highlands in the mountains, lowlands that were covered in thick jungle

3. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MAYANS Cities – archaeologists have found over 50 Government broken up into independent city- states Alliances, trade, and wars between these Government of all city- states centered around religion – a theocracy Built large stone pyramids in cities Cities also had ball courts for games

4. ADVANCES BY THE MAYANS Math – math system that included zero Own number system similar to Egyptian Calendars – used to time agricultural season properly One calendar for religion, one based on the sun Writing system – most advanced in Western hemisphere at the time

5. COLLAPSE OF THE MAYANS Mysterious – no one really knows why civilization collapsed Cities emptied out in the late 800s Possibilities include war, overfarming, population growth, etc.

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47kRdCLALgohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47kRdCLALgo – Mayan calendar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA8Bjzj-aLshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA8Bjzj-aLs – human sacrifice

7. AZTECS Begins around 1200 CE In Mexico, as well – northwest of Mayans Extremely hot and dry Lots of valuable resources and fertile soil Obsidian – volcanic glass that was valuable in trade Extremely religious – a theocracy Worshipped gods like Quetzacoatl (serpent god) or sun gods Religion dictated everyday life – everything centered around it

8. CONQUERORS Aztecs were an empire – looking to expand Forced conquered people to pay tribute (taxes) Slaughtered villages when they failed Many conquered people were used in human sacrifices

9. CITY BUILDERS Aztecs built cities in what they felt were important religious sites Most famous was Tenochtitlan Population between 200,000 and 400,000 Built on an island – very advanced bridges built to get to island City was completely planned out

10. FALL OF THE AZTECS 1502 – many tribute states revolted – tired of huge taxes, human sacrifices Leader at the time was Montezuma II – tried easing the taxes, but not enough Eventually, Spanish conquerors arrive in search of God, glory, and gold – wipe out Aztecs

11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nS6MpVbB_g - Tenochtitlan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nS6MpVbB_g

12. INCAN CIVILIZATION Begins around 1200 in Andes Mountains in western South America Believed their ruler was a descendant of their sun god

13. INCA EMPIRE Empire stretches for 2,500 miles over Andes Mountain range – one of biggest mountain ranges in the world Government had complete control over people Complete control over economy – distributed goods to people Very little trade – positives and negatives of this?

14. CITIES Cities built high up in mountains Carefully planned, connected by roads Famous cities include Cuzco, their capital, and Machu Picchu Cities were carefully planned

15. MACHU PICCHU Famous city that was re- discovered in early 1900s Built high up in the Andes – a resort town for high class members of society Carefully planned Many of the ruins have been reconstructed http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=P2YBVlgqqco

16. WHY DO THEY DISAPPEAR? Disease – smallpox wipes out large part of civilization Civil war – weakens entire empire As civil wars are going on, Spanish arrive, finish off civilization