Download Maya Civilization

U8LG2 – MESOAMERICA
MAYANS, AZTECS,
INCAS
MAYAN CIVILIZATION
Located on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Flourished between A.D. 300 and 900.
It was one of the most sophisticated civilizations in the Americas.
Built splendid temples & pyramids and developed a complicated
calendar.
Came to include Central America southern Mexico.
Decline include invasion, internal revolt or a natural disaster such as
volcanic eruption.
POLITICAL & SOCIAL STRUCTURES
Mayan civilization was composed of city-states, each
governed by a hereditary ruling class.
1). Rulers claimed to be descended from the Gods.
Mayan society included nobles, scribes, townspeople,
officials, & merchants.
Believe their life was in the hands of divine powers.
The Maya practiced human sacrifice as a way to appease
the gods.
WRITING & CALENDAR
Mayans created a writing
system based on
pictures.
Two different system for
measuring time
A). One based on a solar
calendar of 365 days,
divided into 18 months
of 20 days each, with
extra 5 days at the end.
B). Based on a sacred
calendar of 260 days
divided into 13 weeks of
20 days.
Aztec Civilization
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Migrated to Mexico around A.D. 1200 and
was conquered by the Spaniards in the 1500s.
Had an advanced form of architectural
techniques
The kingdom was a collection of semiindependent territories governed by local
lords.
Power was vested in the hands of a monarch
that was assisted by a council of lords &
government officials (a form of social classes).
Aztec Social & Religious
Structure
 Women
were not equal to men but were
allowed to own & inherit property & enter
into contracts.
 Also permitted to become priestesses.
 Aztecs believed in many gods
(polytheistic).
 Aztec religion was based on a belief in an
unending struggle between the forces of
good & evil throughout the universe.
Aztec Destruction
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In 1519, a Spanish force under the command
of Hernan Cortes landed at Veracruz.
Tension arose between Spaniards & Aztecs.
Spanish took Montezuma (king) hostage, the
local population revolted in 1520 and drove
the Spaniards out.
Without natural immunity from European
diseases many Aztec became sick & died.
Cortes returned after 4 months & defeated
the Aztecs.
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In the late 1300s, the Inca were only a
small community in the area of Cuzco, a
city located in the mountains of Peru. The
incas adapted to their environment by
building a network of roads through these
mountains.
Inca Civilization
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Inca state was built on war, so all young men
were required to serve in the Inca army.
A noble of high rank was sent out to govern
each new territory.
Local leaders could keep their post as long as
they were loyal to the Inca ruler.
Pachacuti (Inca ruler) divided empire into 4
quarters each ruled by a governor.
The quarters were divided into provinces
each ruled by a governor.
Inca Political
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Inca had no writing system but instead
kept records using a system of knotted
strings called the quipu.
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The Inca’s (along with the Aztecs)
adopted creative farming techniques to be
used to get the most out of their land.
Inca Culture
In 1531, Francisco Pizarro landed of the
Pacific coast of South America.
 Incan Empire experienced an epidemic of
smallpox. (Killed the Emperor)
 Pizarro marched on Cuzco & captured the
capital.
 By 1535, Pizarro established a new capital
a Lima.
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Inca Destruction