Central American Societies

EARLY MESOAMERICANS

Mesoamerica

• Area of central Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula, and northern Honduras

The Olmec

• First known civilization in Mesoamerica

• Emerge 1200 BCE

• Collapse in 400 BCE

• Not much is known about the Olmec

• Modern-day did not know they existed until 1860s

Olmec Culture

• Olmec are known for their sculptures

• Built pyramids and large cities

• First hieroglyphic language in the Americas

• Economic focus was put on trade

Olmec Decline

• Last big city collapses about 400 BCE

• Two theories –They were conquered by another

civilization

–They destroyed their own civilization after their leaders died

Olmec Legacy

• Religious practices are linked to the Mayan –Jaguar worship

–Temple building

• Class structure –Elite ruling class

Zapotec Civilization

• Emerged at the end of the Olmec – Show some traces of the Olmec

• Located southwest of the Olmec (Pacific)

• In 500 BCE they built a large city

– 25,000 residents

Zapotec Culture

• Developed their own writing system and language – Basis for Mayan and Aztec language

• 1st to build large cities

• Developed the first calendar – Based on the movement of the sun

Zapotec Decline

• Decline started in 600 CE

• Unknown why the civilization ended

THE MAYA

Maya

• Earliest site dates to 2600 BCE

• Did not flourish as a civilization until 250 CE

• Rapid decline in the 1400s –Before European explorers

Mayan City-States

• 250 CE – 900 CE Mayan built large cities

• Chichén Itzá was developed during this time

• 50 Major cities have been found

Chichén Itzá

Mayan Society

• Each city-state was independent from each other

• City-states traded with each other –Salt, flint, feathers, shells, and honey

• Produced maize, beans, and squash

Mayan Religion

• Polytheistic

• Mayans made daily offerings to the gods to keep from chaos –Food, flowers, and incense

• Known to practice human sacrifice

Math

• Mayans developed calendars and astronomy, and zero

• Calculated the solar year to 365.242 days

• Most cities had an observatory

Mayan Calendar

• Two calendars in one

• 260-Day religious calendar

– 13 20-Day Months

• 365-Day solar calendar

– 18 20-Day Months

– 5 Day period at the end

Written Language

• Hieroglyphic system – 800 symbols

• Recorded much of their history

– 3 Books survive

Mysterious Maya Decline

Mayan Decline Theory

1. Around 700 CE the city-states started to fight each other

2. Warfare led to economic hardship and less trade

3. Environmental damages led to food shortages and famine

4. The Toltec people invaded from the north

Mayans

The Mayan people existed when the Spanish arrived in small numbers

Mayan people still exist today

CENTRAL MEXICAN CIVILIZATIONS

The Valley of Mexico

• Earliest inhabitants

• Site of Mexico City

• Teotihuacan was founded in 100 CE

Tay-oh-tee-wah-KAHN

• Located just outside of Mexico City

• In 500s CE 200,000 people lived in the city

• Center of major trade network

Teotihuacan is Abandoned

• Around 750 CE the city is abandoned

• Possible causes – Fighting amongst elite classes

– Invaded

Toltecs Emerge

• 900 CE the Toltecs rise to power in the Valley of Mexico

• Very war-like people

• War god demanded human sacrifice

Topiltzin

• Toltec ruler in 1000 CE

• Wanted to end human sacrifice

• Introduced Quetzalcoatl – Feathered Serpent

• War hungry Toltecs forced him out of power

Quetzalcoatl

• Topiltzin and Quetzalcoatl became one in the legends of the people of the Valley of Mexico.

• After his exile, the god traveled east, crossing the sea on a raft of snakes.

• He would return one day, bringing light and peace.

The Aztecs Emerge

• In 1200 CE the Toltec collapsed and the Aztec moved in

• Came from the north deserts of Mexico

• Known for being fierce warriors

Aztecs Found a City of Their Own

• Aztec god told them to start a new city

• They start a new city in Lake Texcoco

Tenochtitlan

• Name of the Aztec capitol

• 400,000 people lived in the city

• Larger than London

• On one island connected by causeways

Aztecs Gain Strength

• Aztecs grow an empire with a population between 5 and 15 million people

• Power based on military strength and tributes paid for protection

Aztec Nobles

• Nobles ruled over the commoners and slaves

• Very wealthy landowners with “god-like” power

Religion Rules Aztec Lives

• Polytheistic (1000s of gods)

• They adopted other’s gods

• Quetzalcoatl –Feathered Serpent –Pale skinned man with a beard

Sun God is Always Thirsty

• Huitzilopochtli made the sun rise everyday but only if his thirst was quenched

• Human blood was offered up daily for the sun god

• 1000s of captured people sacrificed every year

• Forced the Aztecs to conquer more and more people

Aztec Decline

• People got tired of being sacrificed and rebelled against Montezuma

– Small cities united together to fight the Aztec

• Spanish arrive and play the part of Quetzalcoatl

• Spanish convince the small cities to fight