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Mesoamerican Civilizations MAYA, OLMEC, AZTEC, INCA Migration to the Americas A small land bridge between Siberia and Alaska, Beringia, which is now the Bering Strait, is the most popular theory. Slowly people migrated south through the Americas, adapting to new climates and adjusting to a new way of life Lifestyle Changes A shift from hunter/gather life to farming and cultivating plants Farming and Animal Domestication ANIMALS PLANTS Llamas Beans Dogs Sweet Potatoes Turkeys Peppers Stingless Bees Maize Squash Tomatoes The Olmecs The Olmec The mother civilization Around 1200 BC-400BC Known for their use of stone in architecture as well as in sculpture Very little else is known about them The Olmec Civilization was located In what is Mexico today, along the Gulf of Mexico San Lorenzo, La Ventana, Tres Zapotes The Olmec Don’t know where they came from Evidence suggests a powerful class of nobles and priests were at the top of society Through artwork and and found temples Mesoamerican Ball Game Thought to be originally developed by Olmec and spread through region. Ball courts were often “I” shaped. Big, heavy, solid rubber ball used Mesoamerican Ball Game Most accounts of the game state only hips, knees, and elbows were allowed to move the ball. Object was to score ball thru hoop. At the end of the game, losing teams captain was sacrificed to the gods Great honor bestowed upon the winner People regularly placed bets on the outcomes Mayan Society Settled Yucatan Peninsula in Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize Mayan Empire Broken into City-States Each had its own theocratic ruler. Mayan Empire Tikal Largest Mayan city Surrounded by 5 pyramids Mayan Architecture Built large pyramids Temples rested at the top of the pyramids Temples were used for government and religious purposes Built canals to control flow of water through the city Large public squares Mayan Religion Polytheistic Practiced human sacrifice Human blood major source of nourishment for the Gods Priests believed Gods were visible in the stars, sun, and moon Mayan Writing Created a writing system using hieroglyphics Mayan Math Invented a counting system Allowed them to easily maintain their inventory, especially when it came to their crops Also very useful for trade Mayan Calendar Two major types of calendars Religious (Tzolkin) and Solar (Haab) Every 52 years the calendars would start on the same day 3rd historical calendar Long count calendar Haab’ Calendar Solar calendar 18 months/ 20 days per month 360 day total 19th month had 5 unnamed days Considered very unlucky Tzolkin Calendar The sacred calendar 260-day calendar This calendar has two cycles, a 20 day cycle and a 13 day cycle. Each day has a name and a number. The name comes from the 20 day cycle and the number from the 13 day cycle. Downfall of the Mayans Nobody really knows what happened to the Mayans Abandoned cities around 900A.D. Some theorize there was a major drought Others believe there was a slave and lower class revolt The Aztecs The Aztecs Group of warriors. Wandered into Central Mexico Wanted a permanent home Island in Lake Texcoco in 1325 Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan Capital of Aztec empire Eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in beak This was a sign from the gods Built roads out from the center of the island to land Filled parts of lake so they could grow crops Became one of the largest cities in the world Tenochtitlan Aztec Government Ruled through conquest Military empire Had one emperor and conquered rules paid tribute Some conquered people became slaves Stole crops, clothing, and anything else they could Aztec Religion Polytheistic Believed in human sacrifice Huitzilopochtli was the main Aztec god Built temples and pyramids to honor their gods Aztec Society Education was very important Parents taught children about…… Citizenship, responsibility, and life-skills Harsh punishments when children disobeyed Noble children attended formal schooling Aztec Farming Harvested Maize, Avocados, tomatoes, chili peppers, squash Produced tortillas, chocolate Similarities Amongst Mesoamericans Like the Mayas, and the Olmecs, Aztecs also played the ball game. Also used a series of symbols and pictures to constitute a written language. Aztec technology Aztecs also used a 365 day calendar very similar to the Mayans. Many advanced weapons (warrior society) Made and documented many medicines, in forms of ointments and drinks Weapons No iron or bronze Made axe blades with stone or copper Atlatl- weapon used to make throwing spears and fishing easier Macuahuitl- Wooden club containing volcanic glass. Used to neutralize or disable but not kill an enemy. Sundial Used to tell time Helped farmers know when to water plants and harvest crops Why else? Fall of the Empire 1519 Spanish soldiers entered Tenochtitlan Led by Hernan Cortes The Inca The Incas Small tribe in the Andes Mountains 1438-1532 Northern Ecuador to Central Chile 12 million people Capital city of Cuzco The Inca Quechua was the official language No written language Quipu Llamas They were very important to the Incan society They were native to the high altitude Easily domesticated Incan Warriors Emperor Pachacuti and son Topa Inca expanded the Incan empire Powerful Army Used weapons such as clubs, spears, spiked copper balls Civilization Built roads and rope bridges to connect their cities Mountain terraces for farming All land belonged to the Emperor. Descendant of sun god Inti Religion Polytheistic (like Mayans and Aztecs) Special cities devoted to religious ceremonies Machu Picchu Priests would teach locals about the gods and how to please them Fall of the Empire Spanish conquistadors Francisco Pizzaro Disease Sibling war
