1. 36a – explain the rise and fall of the Olmec (p. 240-245)
AKS 36 – Demonstrate an understanding of the developent of societies in Central and South America (GPS) (SSWH_D )
36a – explain the rise and fall of the Olmec (p )
1. Who was Mesoamerica’s first known civilization builders? (240)
The Olmec

2. What time period did the Olmec civilization emerge? (240)
Around 1200 B.C.
Why were the Olmecs referred to as Mesoamerica’s “mother culture”?
They were the first known civilization builders and influenced neighboring groups, as well as later civilizations of the region.

3. Chart; (p )
Geography (where is it located and climate?)
Jungles of Southern Mexico (Veracruz and Tabasco) (hot and humid)
How did their civilization arise?
Emerged around 1200 B.C. and thrived from B.C. Had rivers, abundant natural resources, flooding provided fertile land for farming.

4. Decline – reasons unkown.
Social Structure – Had rulers, gods (nature), worshipped Jaguar spirit. Very prosperous
Trade – Abundant supply of salt, tar, clay, wood, rubber. Had largest trade network throughout Mesoamerica (Mexico City to the north and Honduras to the south.). Traded raw materials and various stones. Trade boosted the economy and spread Olmec influence.
Decline – reasons unkown.

5. Contributions – (legacy) “mother ritual” –
Left behind art styles, ceremonial centers, ritual ball games, an elite ruling class and stone symbols that may have led to writing. First known civilization builders.

15. Cuicuilco Some consider it the oldest pyramid on earth.

16. Rise and Fall of the Maya
36a – Explain the rise and fall of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca Empires
Rise and Fall of the Maya
Traits of Civilization
Religious beliefs and theocracy
Independent city-states
Intensive agriculture

17. Strength Leading to Power
United culture
Loyalty to the King
Wealthy and prosperous culture
Production of more food feeds a larger population

18. Weakness leading to Decline
Many physical and human resources funneled into religious activities
Frequent warfare occurs between kingdoms
Population growth creates need for more land

21. Tikal

28. Chichen Itza Ruins, Maya Civilization, Yucatan, Mexico

33. Maya Gods

34. Rise and Fall of the Aztec
Traits of Civilization
Religious beliefs and theocracy
Powerful army
Empire of tribute states

35. Strength Leading to Power
United culture
Loyalty to the Emperor
Added land, power, and prisoners for religious sacrifice.
Provides wealth and power and prisoners for religious sacrifice

36. Weakness Leading to Decline
Many physical and human resources funneled into religious activities
Need for prisoners changes warfare style to less deadly and less aggressive
Tribute states are rebellious and need to be controlled.

37. Aztec Temple Tenayuca

38. Skull rack or Tzompantli

47. One of the greatest rulers of the empire was Ahuitzotl (ah WEE soh tl).
From 1486 until his death in 1502, he led Aztec armies in conquest throughout Mexico and Central America. He made lightning-quick attacks that took his enemies by surprise

48. Ahuitzotl also completed the pyramid of the Great Temple, which he dedicated to the god Huitzilopochtli.

49. When Ahuitzotl died in 1502, his nephew, Monteczuma, became the new ruler. 

50. Aztec social structure

52. Two most important Aztec gods were Tlaloc god of rain

53. Huitzilopochtli , god of sun and war

54. Aztec weapons

55. Tenochititlan

56. Tenochititlan

60. Rise and Fall of the Inca
Traits of Civilization
Religious beliefs and theocracy
Major road system
Type of welfare state with huge bureaucracy

61. Strength Leading to Power
United culture
Loyalty to the Emperor
Roads connected entire empire and aided control
Care for entire population during good and bad times

62. Weakness Leading to Decline
Many physical and human resources funneled into religious activities
Enemy could also use roads to move troops
People struggled to care for themselves with elimination of welfare state

64. Macchu Picchu

67. Incan Skull surgery

69. Puente del Inca – Bridge of the Incas

72. Sacred Valley of the Incas

73. Fighting Pizzaro’s troops

74. Lost City of the Incas

75. Hiram Bingham-inspiration for Indiana Jones

78. Incan Emperor

79. Sacred Valley of the Incas

80. Sacred Valley of the Incas- Ollantaytambo

83. Valley of the Incas

84. 36b – compare the culture of the Americas including government, economy, religion, social structure, technology and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas
Mayans (p )
Geography – Southern Mexico and northern Central America- Cool cloudy mountainous
Yucatan Peninsula (steamy jungles)

85. Social Structure – Top of Society; Middle; King Nobles
Leading warriors
Middle;
Merchants and people with specialized knowledge such as artisans
Bottom;
Peasant majority

86. Contributions of the Mayans;
Had the most advanced writing system in ancient America (Hieroglyphic symbols) aka, glyphs.
Developed bark-paper books, developed a calendar, were gifted in math, used the concept of 0.0, (decimals) and studied astronomy (calculated the solar year at days – only off.)

87. Religions of the Mayas;
Polytheistic, prayed to gods
Gave offerings of food and flowers and incense.
Practiced human sacrifices to the gods.

88. Government of the Mayans;
Independent city states
Theocracy
Economy;
Agriculture and trade
City-sates linked through trade alliances
Agriculture-particularly maize, beans, and squash

89. Technology;
Math concept of 0.
Calendar
Astronomy
City building
Slash and burn faming
Sophisticated planting on raised beds above swamps and on hillside terraces

90. Arts;
Hieroglyphics – 800 symbols
Sacrifices
Pyramids
Ball Courts for religious games
Jaguar architecture
Stele’s (Inscribed markers)

91. Aztecs (p. 452-458) Geography; Tenochtitlan – capital
Modern day Mexico City
Built on an island on Lake Texcoco

92. Social Structure of the Aztecs;
Emperor
Nobility - Government officials, religious leaders
Commoners – merchants, craftspeople, soldiers, farmers who owned land
Slaves

93. Contributions of the Aztecs;
Causeways over water.
Floating gardens
Two calendars believed to have been derived from the Mayans
Aztec Sunstone

94. Religions of the Aztecs;
Polytheistic, public ceremonies, human sacrifices
Founded their capital city based on the Aztec legend of Huitzilopochtli (god of the sun and warfare)
Over 1,000 gods
Elaborate public ceremonies to win favor of different gods.
Ritual dramas, songs, and dances

95. The Aztecs believed the Sun god Huitzilopochtli needed nourishment of human blood for the sun to rise.
Government of the Aztecs;
Small city states
Military State-Triple alliance in 1428 divided Empire into 38 provinces with 5 to 15million population.

96. Economy of the Aztecs;
The government ruled loosely over the empire making conquered areas pay tributes.
If people resisted tributes or revolted, Aztecs would destroy village and capture or slaughter it’s inhabitants.
Trade connected by water and canals so canoes could bring products directly to cities

97. Technology of the Aztecs;
Tenochtitlan was a planned city greater than any in Europe of the time
Engineers built causeways over marshy land and water.
Floating gardens (Chinampas) built on marshy fringes of the lake.

98. Aztec Art;
Temples
Pyramids
Stone carvings and paintings for the gods.
Masks for religious rituals

99. Incans (p )
Geography;
Largest empire in the Americas
Most of the West coast of South America from Ecuador to Chile

100. Social Structure of the Incas;
Based on community cooperation
Allyu (extended family group that would undertake tasks too big for the single family).
Divided family in groups of 10, 100, 1000.
A Chief led each group. Local administration in the hands of local rulers.
Conquered peoples were allowed to continue their traditional ways of life.
Peacefully conquered peoples to gain their loyalty whenever possible.

101. Incan Social Stucture con’t
Incans imposed a uniform single language throughout their empire
Social groups identified by officially dictated patterns on clothing.

102. Contributions of the Inca’s;
Uniform architecture throughout the empire
Took care of indigent and elderly
Freeze dried potatoes (chumo)
Gov’t storehouses for times of famine and shortages
Public works ie mile network of roads and bridges.
Guest houses for travelers

103. Contributions of Inca’s (con’t)
Postal service
Quipi knotted strings to record data
Never developed a writing system
Everything was oral

104. Religions;
Two calendars-one for night, one for day
Believed gods ruled night and day
Reinforced power of the state
Creator god – Viracocha
Sun god - Inti

105. Viracocha

107. Incan Religions
Mamakuna-”Virgins of the sun”
Committed to lifetime of religious service, religious activities, teachers, spinners, weavers.
Yamacuna- men- workers for the state and to aid in religious activities.

108. Incan Government;
Largest Empire in western hemisphere
Had to be a descendant of Inti to rule
Had 80 provinces and about 16 million people.
Conquest was through diplomacy and military force.
Large bureaucracy
Tributes were paid with labor.
Compatible to socialism today.

109. Incan Economy;
Efficient system
Extensive road system to tie empire together.
Regulated production and distribution of goods throughout the empire.

110. Incan Technology;
Masterful engineers and stonemasons
No iron tools or wheels or mortar
Incan Arts;
Temple of the Sun in Cuzco (religious capital)-most sacred shrine covered in gold
Gold covered walls in city and was extremely abundant.