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STANDARD WHI.11a, b
The student will demonstrate knowledge of major civilizations of the Western Hemisphere, including the Mayan, Aztec, and
Incan by
a) describing geographic relationship, with emphasis on patterns of development in terms of climate and physical features.
b) describing cultural patterns and political and economic structures
Aim: Who were the people of
Mesoamerica ?
Do Now: What makes a civilization advanced?
What was the first civilization of Mesoamerica?
Olmec 1300 B.C.They were located in the hot and swampy lowlands along the coast of the
Gulf of Mexico south of Veracruz.
They had large cities that were centers for religious rituals.
They carved colossal stone heads
They may have been to represent
their ancestors or gods.
Was the first major city in Mesoamerica
Teotihuacán
Arose around 250 B.C. and collapsed about 800 A.D.
May have had as many as 200,000 inhabitants at its height.
Has a main thoroughfare, known as the Avenue of the Dead, had two main temples.
The Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon.
What was Mayan civilization Like?
• Located in the Yucatán Peninsula
and Part of Guatemala
• Group of city-states ruled by a king
- claimed to be divine
• Economy based on agriculture and trade
• Polytheistic religion—Pyramids
The Maya practiced human sacrifice to appease
gods
Tikal, Guatemala
Decline of the Maya: Between 300 and 900 A.D.
-Flourished during this time. We do not know why it fell into decline.
The Maya abandoned their cities, we do not know why.
What are some Mayan Accomplishments?
Language
The Maya developed an independent Hieroglyphic
language.
The Spanish destroyed most of the Mayan writings. They
were not seen as having any value. Their language was not
translated until the 20th century.
Calendar
The Maya developed a calendar that had two
different parts.
It had a solar calendar with 365 days, divided
into 18 months with 20 days each with 5 extra
days at the end.
A Lunar calendar and a Calendar based on the
movement of the Planet Venus. This was a
sacred calendar with 260 days and 13 weeks of
20 days each.
The Mayan calendar says our present world
was created in 3114 B.C. and the current world
will end on December 23 2012 A.D.
What was Aztec civilization like?
• Located in arid (dry) valley in central Mexico
• largest city: Tenochtitlan
• Ruled by an emperor, claimed he was divine
• Economy based on agriculture and tribute from conquered peoples
• Polytheistic religion with pyramids/rituals
- practiced human sacrifice
How did the Aztec Fall?
Destruction of the Aztec
The Aztec had many enemies among their
conquered people, the Spanish would use
this
Hernán Cortés 1519
Kidnapped the Emperor and tried to overthrow him, the people rebelled, Spanish barely
escaped.
The Spanish returned several months later. Many of the natives had fallen ill with
Smallpox. Cortés and his allies destroyed the Aztec capital and subjugated the Aztec
people.
What was Incan civilization Like?
• Located in the Andes Mountains of South
America
• largest city Machu Picchu
• Ruled by an emperor
• Economy based on high-altitude agriculture
• Polytheistic religion
• Road system
How was the Empire Organized?
Incan state was built on war.
The conquered peoples were all taught the same language.
Each region was appointed a governor who answered to the
Emperor.
Road System: 24, 800 miles of Road
The Inca built roads to unify their people. Roads made travel
and communication throughout the empire more efficient.
There were rest houses and storage depots along with bridges
to span ravines and waterways.
Great Builders
They had great buildings made of stone held
without mortar. Their roads also show their
ability as great builders.
Machu Picchu
City built at 8,000 ft above sea level.
Urubamba River
River below Machu Picchu
Defeat
The Spanish arrived in 1531
1531: Francisco Pizarro
Spanish Conquistador led a band of 180 men with
superior weapons.
The Inca, like the Aztec, were devastated by disease.
Smallpox
Devastated the Population
Civil War
After the death of the Inca Emperor a civil war broke out, Pizarro took advantage and defeated
the people.
Defeat
Pizarro and his men established Lima as the new capital of the Spanish Colony in 1535.
Achievements of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
civilizations
• Calendars
• Mathematics
• Writing and other record-keeping systems