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History of
Latin America
Click on a Native American culture to learn more.
Olmec
Maya
Aztec
Inca
Toltec
1500 BC-300 BC
Built first civilization in
Latin America.
An Olmec stone statue
Olmec
Traded with people miles
away, which is how the Olmec
culture spread throughout
Mexico and Central America.
Each city focused on a particular
activity and depended on each
other. Some cities were known
for farming, controlled valuable
mineral resources (jade and
obsidian), or religious centers.
Settled in the Mexico
Yucatan Peninsula and
surrounding areas
Maya
Glyphs-A form of
writing they used
using signs and
signals to record the
history of their kings.
Their cities were
made of
observatories,
temple pyramids,
and ball courts.
AD 330-AD 900
No one is really
sure why civilization
declined.
Became wealthy
because of trading
Developed a
calendar and a
number based on
20
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As Maya civilization declined,
the Toltec took over
Northern Mexico.
Captured in
A.D. 1200 by the
Aztec
A.D. 900-A.D. 1200
Toltec
Held a monopoly in trade
of obsidian glass, which
gave them power over
other groups
Built the city Tula
northwest of present
day Mexico City
Around A.D. 1200,
moved from the north
into central Mexico and
captured Tula.
The Great Pyramid was
the main temple of the
Aztec capital.
Aztec
The Aztecs were hated by the
people they conquered. In
1521, these groups joined with
European invaders to conquer
the Aztec.
Adopted Toltec culture
and took control of the
region’s trade
To extend their
culture, the Aztec
often waged war with
other groups.
They demanded Tribute from
those they conquered, a tax that
was paid in food, clothing,
precious stones or feathers.
People were also
sometimes taken as
Tribute and forced
into slavery.
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Settled in what is now
Peru in South America
around A.D. 1400s
The Inca worshiped many
Gods but the most
important was the sun
God, Inti. Legend was
that the emperor
descended from Inti. All
Inca called themselves
“Children of the Sun”.
Inca
Their empire
stretched more
than 2,500 miles
along the Andes.
Cuzco served as the
center of government,
religion, and trade.
Founded military posts
and developed a system
of record keeping
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