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Mesoamerican & Andean Civilizations Part 1 – The Olmec and Maya Mesoamerica • In what is now southern Mexico and Central America • Rain forests cover the region • Fertile soil made this a good area for farming • Transition from hunter-gatherer tribes to agricultural settlements as early as 7000 BC • Maize (corn) first grown around 3500 BC in Mexico and spread through the Americas • Also domesticated beans, squash, turkeys and dogs The Olmec • First urban civilization formed in Mesoamerica – around 1200 BC • Built the first pyramids in the Americas • Developed the first writing system in the Americas • Used a calendar and hieroglyphic writing The Olmec • Most recognizable art was their massive stone heads • Other Mesoamerican firsts: – Chocolate – Ritual bloodletting – Ball games • Traded with others in the region • Civilization ended around 400 BC The Maya • The Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America • Originated around 2600 BC • Region was mainly composed of tropical rain forests • Mayan civilization reached its peak from 250-900 AD (the “Classic Age”) Mayan Developments • Developed astronomy, mathematics, art, architecture, calendars, and hieroglyphic writing. • Also skilled farmers, weavers, potters, and traders. • Developed a sophisticated number system which gave a symbol to the number zero The Mayan Calendar Mayan Cities • During the Classic Age, Maya civilization grew to include more than 40 cities of 5,000 to 50,000 people each • Cities included large pyramids, temples, and plazas for public events • Canals were built to control the flow of water through cities • One of the largest and most important cities was Chichen Itza Mayan Cities Mayan Society • Complex class structure • Upper class included kings, priests, warriors, and merchants • Lower class included most of the Maya • Farmers had to give crops to ruler and serve in the army • Slaves held the lowest position in society • Mayans played or watched ball games in large stone arenas – losers were sometimes killed Mayan Religion • Worshipped many gods • The most important god was the creator • Other gods included a sun god, moon goddess, and maize god • People believed they had to please the gods by offering human blood Mayan Religion • When more blood was needed, the Mayans practiced human sacrifice – usually involving ritual decapitation or the removal of a person’s heart Mayan Warfare • Mayan cities usually battled each other to gain power • Warfare very bloody • Fought hand-to-hand using spears, flint knives, and wooden clubs • Often killed enemy prisoners • Burned enemy towns and villages • Warfare may have led to the destruction of the Mayan civilization Decline of the Mayan Civilization • • • • Began to collapse around 900 AD The cause of the collapse is unknown Warfare may have contributed Kings made demands of people and they may have rebelled • A long period of dry weather may have made it hard to grow crops • A mix of events probably led to the decline The Maya Today • There are about seven million Maya today living in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize • Some are quite integrated into the majority cultures of the nations in which they live • Others continue a more traditional, culturally distinct way of life