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Early Human Migrations Early Civilizations of the Americas Olmecs (3000 BCE to 600 BCE) • First American civilization • Power based on agriculture (corn cultivation) • Religion blended human images with those of animals • Disappeared without a clear trace Teotihuacan (200 BCE to 750 CE) • The “first” great city (80,000+ people, 600+ pyramids, 500+ workshops, 2000+ apartment complexes • One of many settlements in the Highlands • Sacrificed humans, constantly at war • Was destroyed and burned by unknown group Toltecs (850 CE to 1200 CE) • Capital of Tula had 45,000+ people • Peaceful early history • Turned militaristic and began to sacrifice humans Quetzalcoatl (1168 CE to 1521 CE) The Founding of Tenochtitlan The Aztecs gained control of the important Lake Texcoco and made it their capital, Tenochtitlan. It became the basis of their power Aztec View of Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas Tenochtitlan - Chinampas beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth that had been placed in frames made of cane and rooted to the lake floor Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden: 15ft. to 30ft. wide The Aztecs were fierce warriors that created an empire of confederated groups. The Aztec state was dominated by the king who represented civil power and served as a representative of the gods on earth. Each city-state was ruled by a speaker chosen from the nobility. These city-states were often left unchanged if they recognized Aztec supremacy and met their obligations. Religion and Human Sacrifice The cult of human sacrifice and conquest was united with the political power of the ruler and the nobility. Aztec religion, which incorporated many traditional Mesoamerican elements, was a vast, uniting and sometimes, oppresive force in which little distinction was made between the world of the gods and the natural world. Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God Religion and Human Sacrifice The cult of human sacrifice and conquest was united with the political power of the ruler and the nobility. Aztec religion, which incorporated many traditional Mesoamerican elements, was a vast, uniting and sometimes, oppresive force in which little distinction was made between the world of the gods and the natural world. Sacrificial Statue, Tenochtitlan Religion and Human Sacrifice The cult of human sacrifice and conquest was united with the political power of the ruler and the nobility. Aztec religion, which incorporated many traditional Mesoamerican elements, was a vast, uniting and sometimes, oppresive force in which little distinction was made between the world of the gods and the natural world. Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan Religion and Human Sacrifice The cult of human sacrifice and conquest was united with the political power of the ruler and the nobility. Aztec religion, which incorporated many traditional Mesoamerican elements, was a vast, uniting and sometimes, oppresive force in which little distinction was made between the world of the gods and the natural world. Heart Sacrifice on an Aztec Temple Pyramid Aztec Society in Transition As the empire grew, a new social hierarchy replaced the old calpulli (kinship- based clan) system of social organization. A special merchant class, the pochteca, regulated markets, and the state oversaw a vast tribute network. The rights of Aztec women seem to have been fully recognized, but in political and social life their role, though complementary to that of men, remained sub-ordinate. Lack of technology meant women were required to spend significant time hand-grinding maize, a staple crop. The area controlled by the Aztecs may have included 20 million people. Aztec Sun Calander Aztecs developed a 365 day calander with 18 months of 20 days plus 5 extra days Aztec Gold Aztec Writing Aztec Math Aztec Codex (15c Manuscript) (2500 BCE to 1600 CE) Lands of the Mayans The Yucatan Peninsula Mayan Government Not unified in one empire but a patchwork of city-states and kingdoms linked by culture, political ties, and trade. Chichen-Itza - Pyramid Mayan Economy Economy was based on agriculture and trade. Surplus goods were brought to open air markets to trade. Mayan merchants participated in long-distance trade throughout Mexico and Central America using small canoes, animals, and wheeled carts. Mayan granaries Mayan Science Like the Greeks, the Mayans believed that the movements of the sun, moon, and planets were journeys of gods across the sky. Charting these movements were essential to appeasing the gods. Chichen-Itza Observatory Mayan Glyphs Mayans were one of the first American groups to develop a writing system. sky king house child city Mayan Mathematics Mayans were one of the first groups to develop the concept of zero for mathematics. Mayan Glyphs A break-through in translating Mayan writing just occurred about 30 years ago. Mayan Religion Religion was the center of life. They believed in two levels of existence. One level was the daily physical life they lived. The second was the Otherworld, a spiritual world with gods, souls of ancestors, and other creatures. Both levels were closely intertwined. Chichen-Itza - Ball Court Tikal Overview of Tikal (Guatemala) Jungle View at Sunset Main Court Tikal - Temple of the Masks Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God (1000 CE to 1535 CE) Lands of the Incas Incan Government With a genius for state organization and bureaucratic control over peoples of different cultures and languages, the Incas achieved a level of integration and domination previously unknown in the Americas. Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca (11,000 ft. above sea level) Incan Government The Incas developed a state bureaucracy, headed by an incan and four regional governors (who, in turn, divided their realms). The Incas adopted the practice of royal split inheritance, which required new land and wealth.This may have caused the empire’s growth. The Incan Empire spreads from modern-day Columbia to northern Argentina. Machu Picchu Incan Society They used colonists and built extensive road networks (dotted with way stations) to encourage unity.The empire also demanded mandatory labor on church and state lands. Incan Suspension Bridges Incan Terrace Farming Mountainous environment provided a challenge with agriculture that was solved by terracing the land. Incan Economy Despite the mountainous terrain, the Incan economy was based on agriculture and trade. Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Cultivated by the Incans Incan Digging Sticks Incan Cultural Achievements included beautiful pottery, art, and metalworking, Maize in Incan Pottery & Gold Work The Quipu - A system of knotted strings for recording numerical information Incan Mummies In 1995, archaeologist discovered a frozen, preserved body of a teenage Inca girl. Food and pottery remains seemed to indicate that she was a sacrificial victim. Aztec and Inca Comparison The Incan and Aztec empires are best viewed as variations of similar patterns and processes, of which sedentary agriculture is the most important, with little differences. Basic similarities underlying the variations can also be seen in systems of belief and cosmology and in social structure. They both were successful imperial and military organizations. The Social hierarchy was dominated by the landed nobility who also dominated the government. They both allowed other groups in their realm to continue as long as they followed imperial rule and paid tribute. The greatest difference was the advanced development of Aztec trade and markets.