Download Name: Section: ______ 2.1 Early Civilizations of Middle America

Name: ______________________________________________
Section: ___________
2.1 Early Civilizations of Middle America
Objectives, 11-7-14
1. Find out what Mayan civilization was like.
2. Learn how the Aztecs built their empire
3. Understand the type of society Aztecs created
What was Mayan civilization
like?
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How did the Aztecs their
empire?
What type of society did the
Aztecs create?
Thrived in Middle America from AD 250 – AD 900
Played a game called pok-ta-tok
Engaged in frequent warfare
Maize (corn) was the main food
Number system that included the invention of zero
Economic, religious, and political centers
Farmers grew beans, squash, peppers, avocados, and
papayas
Used hieroglyphics
Used 2 calendars
Built temples
They disappeared mysteriously
Generalizations: intelligent, hard-working, know how to use
their resources, they were violent
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Settled in Lake Texcoco in 1325
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Their capital city was Tenochitlan (present-day Mexico City)
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Aztec warriors conquered other groups in the area
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Forced people to pay Tribute (taxes)
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Government, soldiers, trade routes, religion, and social
classes formed the Aztec empire
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Most people were farmers who used chinampas (“floating
gardens”)
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Wrote using hieroglyphics
2.2 The Incas: People of the Sun
Objectives, 11-13-14
4. Find out how the Incas created their empire.
5. Understand what Incan civilization was like.
6. Learn how the descendants of the Incas live today.
What was the Incan empire &
civilization like?
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How do the descendants of
the Incan empire live today?
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Incan civilization stretched along the western coast of South
America.
They lived in the Andes Mountains
Most powerful from 1420-1521
The Incas did not use hieroglyphics, but created quipus to
record information
Had a long system of roads for communication throughout
the empire
Used aqueducts for irrigation in farming
Topa Inca was a ruler who expanded the empire along the
Pacific coast
Cuzco (in present-day Peru) was the capital city
Used censuses so that people could be taxed
Worshipped many gods
Created earthquake-proof buildings without modern
technology
Modern-day descendants of the Inca are called Quechua
Many live high in the Andes and practice a combination of
modern beliefs and ancient traditions
Speak an Incan language called Quechua