Download Pre-Columbian Civilizations in the Americas

Original PPT by: Ms. Susan M. Pojer
Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Early Human Migrations
Early North Americans
Pacific NW
– Used the ocean for survival
Southwest
– Used irrigation for agriculture
Mound Builders
– Built burial mounds
Mississippian
– Used the rivers as highways…trade
Early Middle American Cultures
Olmec
– S. Mexico, near Gulf
– San Lorenzo and La Venta
– Stone carved heads
Zapotec
– S. Mexico in Oaxaca Valley
– Monte Alban
– Pyramids
Early South American Cultures
Chavin
– “mother culture” of S. America: arts, religion
Nazca
– Irrigation, Nazca lines, headhunters
Moche
– Pottery, jewelry
Sculpture from the Americas
Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Location
Cities
Tikal
Chichen Itza
Copan
Chichen-Itza - Pyramid
Chichen-Itza - Observatory
Tikal:
Temple of
the Masks
Tikal - Main Court
Tikal Jungle View at Sunset
Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God
Religion
Polytheistic
Each day was a living god
Led to development of
– Calendar, numbers, astronomy
– Solar calendar and religious calendar
Some human/blood sacrifice
Government
Individual city states
Kings worshipped as gods
Family dynasties
Achievements
Trade within empire
Sophisticated farming
Temples and pyramids
Religious and solar calendars
Math system based on 20
Written language
Game: pok-a-tok
Mayan Underground Granaries: Chultunes
Ball Court for Pok-a-tok
Pok-a-tok
Mayan Cultivation
of Maize
Chac, God of Rain -->
Mayan Glyphs
Mayan Drinking Cup for Chocolate
Mayan books: Popol Vuh
Mayan Glyphs
sky
king
house
Mayan
Mathematics
child
city
Decline
800s cities were abandoned
Toltecs invaded from the north
?? Warfare disrupted trade
?? Overpopulation and over-farming
– Food shortages, famine, disease
Lands of the Aztecs
Location
Central Mexico
Tenochtitlan: major city
–Island in Lake Texcoco
Present-day Mexico City
Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas
Aztec View of Tenochtitlan
Ruins of the City Center, Tenochtitlan
Religion
Polytheistic
Worshipped Quetzalcoatl
– a Toltec god
– Feathered serpent; myth of return
Human sacrifices for Huitzilopochtli
– Prisoners of war, slaves, criminals, etc.
Quetzalcoatl:
The God of Wisdom & Learning
Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to
the Sun God
Heart Sacrifice
on an Aztec Temple Pyramid
Sacrificial Statue, Tenochtitlan
Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan
Government
Emperor had total power;
theocracy
Military leaders, priests, gov’t
officials made up the nobility
Gained $ and land through
military conquest
The Aztecs Were
Fierce Warriors
Achievements
Trade within empire
Planned city: Tenochtitlan
Sophisticated farming: chinampas
Temples and pyramids
Religious and solar calendars
Written language
Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden:
15ft. to 30ft. wide
Tenochtitlan - Chinampas
Aztec Writing
Aztec Math
Aztec Sun Stone -- Calendar
Aztec Sun Motifs
Aztec Codex
(15c Manuscript)
Aztec Gold
Decline
Rebellions from within the empire
Arrival of Europeans
Lands of the Incas
Location
South America
o
Andes Mtns and valleys
Much larger than Maya, Aztec
Cuzco: capital city
–Also Machu Picchu
Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca
(11,000 ft. above sea level)
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Religion
Polytheistic: nature
spirits
Sacrifice of llamas;
mummification of the
dead
Inti, Sun god
Llamas in the Andes
Incan Mummies
Government
Emperor had total power; theocracy
United by common language: Quechua
Gov’t had total control of economy, farms,
trade
Made improvements through people’s mita
(required labor)
Pachacuti, Inca ruler
Achievements
Large size of empire
Extensive road system
Gov’t runners: chasquis
Day and night calendars
Terrace farming
Record keeping: quipu
– No written language
Incan Suspension Bridges
The Quipu: An Incan Database
Incan Terrace Farming
Incan Digging Sticks
Maize in Incan Pottery
& Gold Work
Incan Ceramic Jars
Peanut
Cacao God
Potato
Cacao Pod
Squash
Inca Gold & Silver
Decline
*Civil war b/w brothers after their father
died
*Arrival of Europeans