North America

South America

Andes Mts.

YucatanPeninsula

Aztec Empire Mayan Empire

Toltec Empire

Incan Empire

Geographic commonalities?

Map Label from pg. 23 in Atlas

Pacific Ocean CitiesAtlantic Ocean TenochtitlanNorth America Chichen ItzaSouth America CuzcoMesoamericaGulf of MexicoAmazon RiverAndes MountainsYucatan PeninsulaCaribbean Sea

Mayas

Aztec Empire

Incan Empire

Incan Road System

Characteristic Mayans Aztecs Incas

Dates 250 B.C. – A.D. 900 A.D. 1200 – 1521 A.D. 1438 - 1535

Location Central American rain forest – Yucatan Peninsula

Valley in Central Mexico – modern Mexico City

Andes Mountains – west coast of South America

Represented by Chichen Itza Tenochtitlan Machu Picchu

Political Style/Rule

Independent city-states; ruled by god-kings

Emperor Emperor

Economy (Based on?)

Agriculture & tradeMainly Maize!

AgricultureMainly Maize!+ Tribute from conquered peoples

High-altitude, terrace agriculture; Maize, potatoes & variety of other crops

Religion Polytheistic/animistic – ancestor + sun worship pyramids/temples + human sacrifice

Polytheistic/animistic; pyramids/templesAncestor + Sun GodExtensive human sacrifice!!

Polytheistic/animisticancestor + sun worship

Achievements/Characteristics

Advances = math, calendars, astronomyMost advanced writing!Mysterious decline

Society based on warfare, expansion and tribute!Conquered by Spanish- Calendars

Extensive road systemLinked empire + helped ruleConquered by Spanish

Major Civilizations of the Western CivilizationCharacteristics of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations

Chart Analysis

1. Politically, how did the Mayas differ from the Aztecs and Incas?

2. What main crop was the foundation of agriculture for the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas?

3. Write a sentence describing the religious commonality between the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas.

4. Write a sentence describing a religious difference between the groups.

5. How may the Mayas have benefitted from their achievements?

6. Who do you think was the most war-like and aggressive of the 3 groups?

7. Why do you think the Incas needed an extensive road system more than the Mayas & Aztecs?

8. Which 2 groups were more influenced by the Europeans? Why?

Maize = Foundation of Mesoamerican agriculture

Aztec religious templein Mexico

Chichen Itza Mayan religious temple

Machu Picchu Incan city in Andes Mts.

Part of massive Incan road system through the Andes Mountains

Incan road system

Aztec Empire1200-1521

Mayan Empire250 B.C.E.-900 C.E.

Toltec Empire968 C.E. - 1150?

Incan Empire1438 C.E. - 1535

Warm Up: Commonalities?

Chinampas = Aztec farming technique

Chinampas Aztec farming technique

ChinampasAztec farming technique

Chinampas = Aztec farming technique

Aztec Chinampas farming technique

Chinampas

Aztec Chinampa

System

Main Purpose Reason for Technique/Obstacle being overcome

How Constructed Addition Benefits to Society

Beneficial Characteristics

Created 7 June 1494 in Tordesillas, Spain

Ratified 2 July 1494 in Spain5 September 1494 in Portugal

Authors Pope Alexander VI

Signatories Ferdinand II of AragonJohn II of Portugal

Purpose To divide trading and colonizing rights for all newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal to the exclusion of other European nations

Treaty of Tordesillas

Most of S. Amer & all of N.Amer. To SpainBrazil to Portugal

Spain

Portugal

Most of S. Amer & all of N.Amer. to Spain

Brazil to Portugal

1494