ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS Anna Burles, Jeff Cash, THE Cam Roorda, Macie White

The Maya Empire (Geography) The Maya empire was located in Central

America, in very tropical areas. The Sierra Madre mountain range ran

through the area, resulting in lots of mountains and valleys.

The Usamacinta River and the Grijalva River were important and useful to the Maya.

Many dangerous animals like jaguars, crocodiles and many dangerous snakes occupied the area.

The Aztec Empire (Geography) The Aztec empire was located in valleys

of Central/Southern Mexico. The capital city was located on a swampy

island in Lake Texcoco, where agriculture thrived.

Rio Lerma, Rio Balsas, and Rio Panuco were three important rivers.

Very hot tempertures, with lots of rainfall mostly between the months of June-October.

The Inca Empire (Geography) The Inca Empire was located in Peru,

high in the Andes mountains. On one side of the mountains was

the Amazon Jungle, and on the other side was the desert coastline, making the Inca’s very difficult to attack.

Sunny and warm climate, with sufficient rain.

Maya Empire Timeline

2,600 B.C. – Mayan civilization begins. 700 B.C. – Writing is developed in Mesoamerica 400 B.C. – The earliest known solar calendars carved in stone are created by

the Mayans. 300 B.C. – The Mayans adopt the idea of a hierarchal society. 100 B.C. – The city of Teotihuacan is created. 500 -

The Maya city of Tikal becomes the first great Maya city, as citizens from Teotihuacan make their way to Tikal, introducing new ideas involving weaponry, captives, ritual practices and human sacrifice.

600- An unknown event destroys the civilization at Teotihuacan, making Tikal the largest city-state in Meso-America.

751- Long-standing Maya alliances begin to break down, and trade between Maya city-states declines.

899- The city of Tikal is abandoned. 900- The Classic Period of Maya history ends, with the collapse of the southern

lowland cities. Maya cities in the northern Yucatan, however, continue to thrive. 1200- Northern Mayan cities begin to be abandoned.

Mayan Government & Economy Built many powerful city-states instead of

an empire, and each city-state maintaned regular contact through a system of economic exchange.

Each city had its own ruler, usually male. Rulers, nobles, sculptors, scribes and

painters were highly respected and atop the social hierarchy.

The majority of the Maya were farmers, who made up the lowest social class.

Mayan Social Structure & Religion

Blood Sacrifice played a major role in Maya religion

One Ruler with nobles, followed by artisans then farmers then slaves

The higher up on the social hierarchy the more blood was expected to be given.

Believed blood sacrifice allowed communication with the gods.

Gukumatz-rebirth/feathered serpent, Chac-rain/agriculture, Itzamna-supreme god, Au Puch-death

Mayan Cultural Heritage & Advancements

Agricultural advancements Created tools using mineral Jadeite instead

of iron Architecture thrived-built one of the longest

bridges of the ancient world First culture to record their history Mayan art; terraced pyramids, stelas,

sculptures etc. Beauty standards in ancient Maya The Ball Game

Mayan Cultural Interactions & Conflicts

The fall of the Maya Empire is a mystery By 900 CE all cities were abandoned Constant Warfare, catastrophic event,

overpopulation, and exhaustion of resources

When the Spanish arrived there was nothing left

The Aztec Empire Timeline

In the 6th century the first Nahuati speaking peoples began to settle in Mexico.

In 1325 Tenochtitlan is settled by the Mexica. In 1370 the religious ruler, Tenoch died. 1376-1395 the first king of Tenochtitlan, Acamapichitli

ruled. 1417-1427 the third king was assassinated by the

Tepaneca. 1427-1430 war with the Tepaneca. 1430 Azcapotzalco was conquered. 1452-1454 there was famine in Tenochtitlan. 1525 the tenth king, Cuauhetemoc, was hung by the

Spaniards.

Aztec Government & Economy One ruler who’s main power was

during wartime. Nobles served high positions of power

Slaves could buy their freedom Most wealth came from tribute from

conquered lands Used cacao beans as currency for

small transaction. Trading used for everything else

Aztec Social Structure & Religion

Council of nobles, priests and military leaders elected by the emperor.

Nobles served as officials, judges and governors. Warriors could become nobles. Priests were below the warriors. Powerful middle class, long distance traders. Commoners who farmed the land made up a majority of the

middle class. The Aztecs were polytheistic. Huitzilopotchtlil was the patron god. Teotihuacan was the place of worship. They believed that the gods created the world multiple times. Gods sacrifice themselves for good people. Sacrificed prisoners of war.

Aztec Cultural Heritage & Advancements

Everyone (Male and female) was educated

Used obsidian, stone, and copper tools. No beasts of burden. Advanced number system. Advanced medicinal knowledge

365-day calendar. Tenochititlan-island surrounded by

floating artificial islands for farming

Aztec Cultural Interactions & Conflicts

Tenochtitlan was the center military power surrounded by smaller city states

In 1519 the Empire was at its height-before the Spanish arrived

Hernan Cortes and the conquistadors were mistaken for gods by the Aztecs

Spaniards returned with more men and weapons after their original stay in the city

Major causes of fall of the empire-religion, disease and tactics

The Inca Empire Timeline

1200 CE - The Inca tribe, led by Manco Capac, founded the city of Cuzco in the Cuzco Valley region.

1438 CE - Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui becomes the leader of the Inca. He begins to conquer nearby

tribes and expand the control of the Inca Empire. He reorganizes the government and builds the city of Machu Picchu.

1471 CE - Tupac Inca Yupanqui, Pachacuti's son, becomes emperor. He will greatly expand the

Inca Empire.   1493 CE - Huayna Capac, Tupac's son, becomes emperor; the height of the Inca Empire   1525 CE - Emperor Huayna Capac dies from a plague. 1525 CE - The sons of Emperor Huayna, Atahualpa and Huascar, fight over the crown. The Inca

Empire fights a civil war for the next five years. 1532 CE - Atahualpa defeats Huascar and becomes the emperor. At the same time, Spanish

conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrives in Peru. Pizarro captures Atahualpa and holds him for ransom.

1533 CE - The Spanish execute Atahualpa and install Manco Inca as Emperor.   1535 CE - Francisco Pizarro founds the city of Lima, Peru and names it the capital of the region.

Inca Government & Economy Thrived under ideal conditions Each job specialization, including

agriculture, pottery, clothing, and more, was given to Ayllus-small groups, usually families,

Empire-wide taxes that went to help the sick, benefit the community, and benefit the government

Inca Social Structure & Religion The Sapa-Inca was the emperor. Villac Umu was the high priest. The royal family was the emperor’s immediate family. Inca was the noble class or Inca Class Public administrators-Tax collectors and record keepers Commoners, artisans and farmers. The basic unit of society was called the Allyu. The Inca were polytheistic. They worshipped gods that were linked to nature. Gods were offered food, drink and clothing. There was a festival every month for the harvest.

Inca Cultural Heritage & Advancements

The Inca developed terraces for farming. They learned how to work metal -copper, tin, bronze, silver and gold. They built statues and utensils The Inca grew cotton and kept sheep for

wool. They developed a way to perform

surgery on the human skull. They mummified the dead.

Inca Cultural Interactions & Conflicts

Incas were a warring people; conquered many neighboring lands

Laws in conquered territories were allowed to remain; division of Inca people

Civil war between two competing brothers Distraction from the real threat Inca empire was attacked in 1532 by the

Spanish Atahualpa, the final ruler of the Aztecs, was

executed in 1533

Bibliography

http://www.mayan-traveler.com/mayan-timeline.php http://incas.mrdonn.org/geography.html aztec-history.com ducksters.com "Aztec History." Aztec History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25

Oct. 2014. <http://www.aztec-history.com/>. "The Aztecs." Aztec Indians. N.p., n.d. Web. 27

Oct. 2014. <http://www.aztec-indians.com/>. "Inca Civilization." Inca Civilization. N.p., n.d. Web.

27 Oct. 2014. <http://www.discover-peru.org/category/history/history-inca-culture-civilization/>.