1. Chapter 7 - The Americas Section 2: Mesoamerica
Aztec and Mayan Empires

2. Section 2: Mesoamerica Main Idea
Civilizations in Mesoamerica were some of the earliest and most advanced in the Americas.
Objectives
What were the first civilizations in Mesoamerica like?
What were some characteristics of Maya civilization?
What made the Aztec empire one of the strongest in the ancient Americas?

3. I. The First Civilizations
Mesoamerica - first farming settlements in the Americas

4. The Olmec carved giant heads from basalt that came from 50 miles away
A. The Olmec
1200 BC - AD 300; built first large towns - pyramids, courtyard, giant stone heads
The Olmec carved giant heads from basalt that came from 50 miles away

5. La Venta was the largest Olmec town from 900 BC & 400 BC.
A. The Olmec
Olmec rulers, priests, and their families lived in towns. Everyone else lived outside town and supported them
La Venta was the largest Olmec town from 900 BC & 400 BC.

6. Artist’s conception of the ancient Olmec city of La Venta
A. The Olmec
Elite led ceremonies, controlled trade from Gulf of Mexico to Pacific coast
Artist’s conception of the ancient Olmec city of La Venta

7. One of the ballcourts at Xochicalco
One of the ballcourts at Xochicalco. Note the characteristic -shape, as well as the ring set above the apron at center court. The setting sun of the equinox shines through the ring.

9. Ceramic sculpture from a Mexican tomb showing the Mesoamerican ballgame

11. B. The Zapotec
1500 BC to AD began as farmers in southern Mexico; 500 BC - built capital city of Monte Albán

12. B. The Zapotec
City of Monte Albán showed Olmec influence - main plaza with pyramids, temples, ball court

13. C. The Toltec AD 900 to 1200 - highlands of central Mexico;
militaristic society - warriors dominated region

14. Tula, capital city of the Toltec
C. The Toltec
Built pyramid-shaped temples and spread the
worship of their god, Quetzalcoatl
Tula, capital city of the Toltec

15. II. The Maya 1000 BC - Advanced people; occupied
Yucatán peninsula – 10 million people in 40
cities

16. A. Early Maya Civilization
AD 250 to Mayan Classic Age, city-states with own ruler and government
The Great Plaza (center) and North Acropolis (top) at Tikal

17. A. Early Maya Civilization
Worshipped many gods; performed rituals – blood offerings and occasional human sacrifice
The shaman is about to perform a cha-chac ceremony: a petition to the god, Chac, to send rain

18. Maya Calendar, called the Sunstone
B. Achievements
Many advancements in:
architecture
math - concept of zero
astronomy – calendars 365-day farming, 260-day religious
Maya Calendar, called the Sunstone

19. B. Achievements
Writing system – glyphs represent objects and sounds; wrote in stone and bark-paper book called a codex

20. Pot used by the ancient Maya for drinking cacao

21. III. The Aztecs
Early Aztecs - separate farming tribes from northwestern Mexico

22. A. Rise of the Empire
AD 1100s – migrated to Valley of Mexico, settled when they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake

23. A. Rise of the Empire
Saw eagle and snake on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco; founded city of Tenochtitlán

24. A. Rise of the Empire
Formed alliance with nearby cities; gained control over huge region beyond Lake Texcoco

25. TYPICAL AZTEC WARRIOR AND WEAPONS
A. Rise of the Empire
Aztecs were fierce warriors; conquered 400 to 500 city states; required people to pay tribute
TYPICAL AZTEC WARRIOR AND WEAPONS

26. A. Rise of the Empire Tenochtitlan was the capital city; had temples,
markets, palaces and 200,000 people

27. B. Society and Religion Society organized with king at the top, then
priests, warriors, merchants, farmers, and slaves
Aztec Tribute List

28. B. Society and Religion Believed gods needed blood; sacrificed
prisoners and slaves to “feed” their sun god

29. Hernan Cortes and Malinche meet Aztec emperor Moctezuma II
B. Society and Religion
Late 1400s - Declined due to unrest among
conquered peoples; defeated by Spanish in
1521
Hernan Cortes and Malinche meet Aztec emperor Moctezuma II