Their influence and effects today

Aztec and Mayan Civilizations

1. THE AZTEC CIVILIZATION WAS DOMINANT IN THE

14TH, 15TH, AND 16TH CENTURIES IN WHAT IS NOW

MODERN DAY MEXICO.

2. OFTEN THE TERM "AZTEC" REFERS

EXCLUSIVELY TO THE PEOPLE OF

TENOCHTITLAN, SITUATED ON AN ISLAND IN

LAKE TEXCOCO, WHO CALLED THEMSELVES

MEXICA TENOCHCA OR COLHUA-MEXICA.

3. PRACTICED HUMAN SACRIFICE, PLAYED A

BALL GAME WITH A SMALL RUBBER BALL,

AND CITIES WERE LARGER AND CLEANER

THAN EUROPEAN CITIES OF THE TIME.

The Aztecs studied

the stars, moon

and sun to plan

conquest, plantings

and harvests and

made a visual

representation of it

like the one at the

right.

a. The Mayan civil ization was at i ts height of development from 250-900 A.D.

b. I t was primarily located in the Yucatan Peninsula.

c. Extensive Ruins are located there and are regularly studied and visi ted by both scholars and tourists .

The Mayan civilization continues to influence us today through their mathematics, and study ofastronomy. Their solar calendar was one of the most accurate of ancient times using only their eyes. It is 365 days and only misses the quarterday of each year.

National Geographic's

Representation of Mayan Culture

A Drawing on a Mayan Temple

Add 5 Video Questions and Answers

at the end of your notes on the

following video:

Hernan Cortez and the

End of the Aztec