1. Mesoamerican Civilization

2. Agenda 1. Bell Ringer: What is a major technological achievement of Classical Civilization? 2. Mesoamerican Civilization 3. The Bridge of Technology? 4. Exploration and the Aztecs Video 5. Comparative Essay Outline 1. Rome and Han 6. Review Guide Unit 1 Test 1. The Vote, Tuesday or Thursday

3. How did they get here? Ancestors travelled across the Bering Land Bridge 15,000 BCE. Inhabited Incan empire around 11,000 BCE.

4. Mayan Located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Majority were farmers, but a noble class develops owning land. Religion is polytheistic. Human sacrifice is practiced (decapitation) “Ball Court”- religious significance, losers were sacrificed.

5. Mayan Culture Mayan Calendar (yeah, that one) Hieroglyphs used on calendar. Astronomy and Mathematics used. Language was deciphered through the calendar. City-State culture, warfare among individual areas.

6. Incan Empire Last civilization to keep ancient traditions prior to conquistadors. Empire divided into four quarters Quipu was the records keeping system, utilizing a series of knots to record data numerically. State created through warfare, ended through conquest.

7. Aztec Became the dominant city-state through warfare. Aztec ruler claimed to descend from the gods. Council of Lords assisted the King. Remainder of society were commoners Class system strict. No movement.

8. Aztec Culture Religion was based on the destruction of the world. Human sacrifice to appease gods, and prevent destruction. Hearts ripped out of their chests. Writing System based on hieroglyphs. Most writing was destroyed by Cortez in his invasion in 1519 CE.