1. People and Empires in the Americas 900 - 1500

2. North American Indians adapted to their environments 1. Ex: North west coast –Rich resources led to large population –Food from the sea and forest

3. Ex: Indians of the Southwest lived in a desert environment  Irrigation  Pottery Cliff dwellings

4. Common Features of North American Indians 1. Trading networks 2. Religion - nature spirits - for some, a Great Spirit -respect for the land

5. Common Features of North American Indians 3. Extended families -- the basis for social organization.

6. The Mayan Civilization - Yucatan Peninsula -built great urban centers – independent city states -giant pyramids, temples, palaces

7. The Mayan Civilization Religion influenced most of Mayan life -worship included human sacrifice

8. The Mayan Civilization Religion led to the development -calendars -mathematics

9. Mayan Math

10. The Mayan Civilization Developed a hieroglyphic form of written language.

11. Aztecs: -Central Mexico -built planned cities, pyramids. -inherited much from earlier cultures

12. Aztecs An empire based on military conquest and tribute Practiced human sacrifice – to keep the sun from falling from the sky

13. The Inca Empire 1438 - 1535 - west coast of South America - linked the empire with an extensive system of roads - in the high plateau of the Andes Mountains

14. The Inca Empire 1438 - 1535 - The Inca controlled all economic activity. - farmed on terraces in the Andes Mountains - kept records on a quipu