Download File

SSWH8 The student will
demonstrate an understanding
of the development of societies
in Central and South America.
a. Explain the rise and fall of the
Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Inca
empires.
The Olmecs
• Mesoamerica’s first
known civilization.
• Often called the
“mother culture” of
Mesoamerica.
• Emerged about 1200
BC and thrived from
800-400 BC.
• Lived along the Gulf
Coast of Mexico, near
modern-day Veracruz
and Tobasco.
Olmec (1200-400 BC)
• Settled along rivers with
good soil for agriculture
• Farming led to the
development of towns
• The Empire ended due
to changes in the soil
which led to under
production of crops
Olmec geography
• Had abundant
deposits of salt, tar,
and clay.
• Hills provided hard
stone for tools and
monuments.
• Rivers provided
transportation.
• Flood plains provided
fertile land for
farming.
Olmec religion and trade
• Worshipped the
jaguar spirit, which
represented earth,
fertility, and maize.
• Olmec goods reached
as far Mexico City to
the north and
Honduras in the
south.
• Outside invaders are
probably the cause
for Olmec decline.
Olmec
• Know for their creation of colossal stone
heads of their rulers
Mayan (200B.C-900 A.D.)
• The Mayan were
influenced by the Omlec
• They built independent
cities linked by trade and
military alliances
• War between the citystates, disruption of
trade, and over farming
may have caused the
down fall of the Mayan
The Maya
• Flourished from 250900.
• Consisted of a
collection of citystates, ruled by a
god-king and serving
as a center for
religion and trade.
• Cities featured
pyramids, temples,
and palaces.
Mayan agriculture and economy
• Cities exchanged
local products such
as salt, flint, feathers,
shells, and honey.
• Also traded craft
goods like cotton and
jade.
• Chocolate (cacao)
may have been a
currency.
• Maize, beans, squash
were dietary staples.
Mayan religion
• Monotheistic
• Made offerings,
pierced and cut their
bodies, and used
human sacrifice.
• Developed
sophisticated and
accurate calendars to
worship gods and
predict weather and
other celestial events.
Mayan decline
• In the late 800’s, the
Mayan abandoned
their cities.
• The Toltec's
eventually moved in
and took over the
land.
• City-states may have
fought each other
over control.
Aztec Empire (1400-1521 A.D.)
• Came as nomads and settled in central Mexico near
lakes with fertile soil
• Formed alliances, built cities: The Capital had a
population of 200-400,000 people
The Aztecs- geography
• The Mexica united
with the Texcoco and
Tlacopan to form the
Aztec.
• By 1500 they
controlled a vast
empire that covered
80,000 square miles
form central Mexico to
the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts.
Aztec religion
• Monotheistic
• Worshipped the
Toltec god,
Quetzalcoatl, which
was the symbol for
wind, death, and
rebirth.
• Had public
ceremonies to win
gods favor.
• Used human sacrifice
on a grand scale.
Aztec decline
• Spanish
colonization
• The arrival of
Cortes spelled
the end of the
Aztec Empire
Inca (1460-1532)
• Settled in a fertile valley ,
and then proceed to
conquer the western coast
of South America
• Established empire
through military and
diplomatic means
The Inca
• Ancestors settled in
the Valley of Cuzco,
which became their
leading city.
• Empire stretched
along the western
coast of South
America and
consisted of about 16
million people.
Inca trade and expansion
• Had a powerful
military, but only used
in when necessary.
• Created an efficient
road system and
developed one
language, Quechua.
• All roads led to
Cuzco.
Inca religion
• Incan priests led sunworship services
assisted by the
“virgins of the sun”.
• Sacrifice of llamas
and exchange of
goods were part of
religious ceremonies.
• The Temple of Cuzco
was the most sacred
shrine.
Incan decline
• Civil war after the
death of Huayna
Capac.
• Atahualpa won claim
to the entire empire.
• Pizarro (Spanish) was
able to defeat the
splintered empire
• Spanish
colonization
b. Compare the culture of the
Americas; include government,
economy, religion, and the arts of the
Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.
Mayan government
• Maya king sat at the
top of the social
structure.
• He was regarded as a
holy figure, and his
position was
hereditary.
Maya economy
• Cities exchanged
local products such
as salt, flint, feathers,
shells, and honey.
• They also traded craft
goods like cotton
textiles and jade
ornaments.
Maya religion
• Maya worshipped their
gods in many ways.
• They prayed and made
offerings of food,
flowers, and incense.
• They also pierced and
cut their bodies and
offered blood, believing
this would nourish the
gods.
• Did have some human
sacrifice.
Maya art
• Created beautiful and
monumental
structures.
• The most
recognizable
structures are the
pyramids.
• A stele is an inscribed
or carved marker that
is used to mark
special dates.
Aztec government
• The emperor was at
the top of the social
pyramid.
• He would consult with
top generals or
officials, however his
power was absolute.
• He lived in a
magnificent palace,
surrounded by
servants and wives.
Aztec economy
• Based their power on
military conquests.
• Demanded tribute
from conquered
people in the form of
gold, maize, cacao
beans, cotton, jade,
and other products.
• If they did not pay, the
Aztecs responded
brutally.
Aztec religion
• Worshipped the
Toltec god,
Quetzalcoatl.
• Practices centered on
public ceremonies
designed to
communicate with the
gods.
• Aztecs practiced
human sacrifice on a
grand scale.
Aztec art
• The main structure in
Tenochtitlan was the
Great Temple, a giant
pyramid.
• The Aztec Sunstone
measured 13 feet in
diameter and weighed
24 tons.
• It contains information
about the days that
began and ended the
Aztec months.
Inca government
• To control the huge
empire, rulers divided
their territory and its
people into
manageable units,
governed by a local
bureaucracy.
Inca religion
• Worshipped fewer
gods than the Aztecs.
• Focused on key
nature spirits such as
the moon, the stars,
and thunder.
• Incan priests led sunworship services,
assisted by young
women called
mamakuna.
Inca economy
• Incan state had
control over economic
and social life.
• It controlled most
economic activity,
regulating the
production and
distribution of goods.
• Built a extensive road
system that tied the
empire together.
Government
Mayans Independent city-states ruled by a
king/priest. Power gained through
hereditary means.
Aztecs
Had a central emperor with regional
rulers who paid tribute to the emperor.
Incas
Led by a king with the empire divided into
units. All towns were connected to the
capital by roads. Citizens expected to
work a certain number of days for the
state
Economy
Mayans
Based on agriculture and trade
(salt, feathers, jade)
Aztecs
Based on agriculture and trade.
Goods paid as tributes from
conquered peoples.
Incas
Based on trade and self-sufficient
farming
Religion
Mayans
Aztecs
Incas
Central to Mayan life. Worshiped
multiple gods. Some human sacrificemainly worshiped through prayer and
assorted offerings.
Central to Aztec life. Worshiped multiple
gods. Large scale human sacrifice to
the Sun God.
Ancestor worship with human sacrifice
on special occasions
Arts
Mayans Developed a religious calendar based
on astronomy and an advanced writing
system. Carved jade, built pyramids.
Aztecs
Incas
Developed a calendar similar to the
Mayans. Built pyramids. Paintings and
pottery were usually religious or war
based in theme.
Worked metal, pottery and cloth