Download Mesoamerica

EMPIRES OF THE
SOUTH:
MESOAMERICA
Mesoamerica
Located in present-day
Mexico, Central America,
South America, & SW USA
Formed civilizations—highly
advanced
Advanced cultures
Some form of writing,
organized govt, religion,
social classes
Specialized workers
Olmec Empire
1200 — 400 B.C.E.
Mother culture
Will influence others
Located around Gulf Coast of Mexico
Olmec cont.
Created number & calendar
system
Invented glyphs
Method of writing using
symbols to represent ideas
Maya Empire
300—900 C.E.
Area—present day Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)
Clearing land led to prosperous villages
Maya cont.
1. Skilled farmers
drained
marshes, built
terraces
moved rich soil
raised turkeys &
honeybees
trade w/ surplus
food
Maya cont.
2. Built cities
pyramids & temples
large palaces
Tikal
Maya cont.
3. Religion &
Science
priests were also
rulers
pleasing gods
was important
made calendars
& maps
system of
numbers w/ 0
Maya cont.
4. Culture &
Achievement
develop system of
writing
symbols instead of
letters (hieroglyphs)
paintings, jewelry,
fabric
1200—1520 C.E.
Located North of
the Mayan Empire
in Mexico
1. Building projects
causeways
Aztec Empire
raised highways
over water
aqueducts
channels or pipes for
flowing water
Aztec cont.
stone pyramids
Capital Tenochtitlan (present day Mexico City)
outdoor markets
floating gardens
Aztec cont.
2. Conquest &
Trade
fierce warriors
conquered areas
tribute paid by
conquered
people
tax paid in goods
or services
made wealthier
class system— very
rigid
nobles—inherit
govt offices & priests
commoners—own
land; warriors
peasants—farmers
slaves— captured
enemies—kids free
traveled for trade
feathers & gold for
chocolate
Aztec cont.
3. Religion & priests
most sacred god was god of sun & war
priests had religious duties & kept history
also were teachers
Inca Empire
1200- early 1500s C.E.
Largest empire in Amer
1. Govt
Well organized
Conquered by peaceful tactics
Sent armies thru out empire
Forced conquered people to
learn language & religion
Inca cont.
Ruler had power
Control of goods
Govt owned all
food
Stored food &
made all decisions
Inca cont.
2. Accomplishments
--farmers very important
-most lived in villages
-kept empire running
Inca cont.
govt building projects
palaces & temples decorated
in gold & silver
road system 25,000 miles
all linked to capital— Cuzco
when ruler died empire weak &
civil unrest (war)