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Pre-Colombian Civilizations: Maya, Aztec, & Inca
(600-1450 C.E.)
I. The Maya1. “Classical Civilization”
from 300 B.C.E.-900 C.E.
2. “Golden Age”: 500-850 C.E.
3. Locations:
a. jungles of Central America: Guatemala (Tikal), Belize, Honduras, & El Salvador
b. Southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula & Chiapas)
A. Economy1. agricultural-based
– “slash and burn”– “3 sisters”: maize,
beans, & squash– cacao bean & cotton– obsidian tools– NO domesticated work
animals
2. writing system (glyphs) & paper production
3. pottery
B. Society
1. Social Structure:
– Kings, priests, nobility, scribes– Merchants– Peasants, war captive slaves
2. Gender Roles:
– traditional roles for women– allowed land inheritance
" " " "
C. Politics
1. composed of city-states
– relatively autonomous
2. endemic warfare
– for religion– for slaves
Palenque
D. Religion1. 3-part world view
(underworld called Xibalba)
2. cities were ceremonial centers with great temples & pyramids
3. practiced human sacrifice
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/out-of-egypt-mayan-sacrifice.html
4. jaguar (balam) important symbol
Tikal:Tikal: Temple Temple of of thethe MasksMasks
5. calendar (agriculture & religion)
– zero
6. inherited Olmec ballgame, with losers executed and sacrificed
7. tremendous astronomical knowledge
Ballcourt at Chichen Itza
E. Decline
1. mysterious demise about 900 C.E.
2. disease, drought, ENV destruction, internal unrest
II. Aztecs (1325-1521 C.E.)
A. AztecsA. Aztecs
1. occupied Central Mexico
2. influenced by Toltecs (gods of Tlaloc & Quetzalcoatl)
3. made up of Aztec “triple alliance”: Mexica ended up dominating
4. capital built at Tenochtitlan
Vision serpent
Quetzalcoatl
The Codex Mendoza :
The Founding
ofTenochtitlan
Aztec View of Tenochtitlan
The Mexican flag tells the story of the Aztec people and the birth of their nation.
Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas
This was the largest building in North America until the 20th century.
B. Economics1. agricultural based
– chinampas: "floating gardens" in swampy areas
2. extracted extensive amount of tributetribute from conquered people
3. long-distance trade of jade, emeralds, gold, jaguar skins, & sea shells
4. long-distance merchants (pochteca)
Aztec Gold
C. Sociocultural
1. Social structure rigidly hierarchical:
– Warrior elite– Priests also elite (scribes & learned
complex calendars)– Skilled craftsmen, merchants middle
status– Large number of slaves
Aztec Math
Aztec Writing
1. women subordinate, relegated to household duties
2. males primary job were warriors
3. women could inherit property & be involved in commerce
4. women received high honor for bearing warrior sons
5. women allowed to be priestess
Gender Roles
D. Politics1. based on military expansionism with the
following:
– guerras floridas: wars for expansion– professional army– human sacrifices– taxes (but NO bureaucracy)– roads
2. ruled by a central monarch in Tenochtitlan that did NOT have absolute power
3. council of powerful aristocrats
The Aztecs WereFierce Warriors
Aztecs Sacrifice War Captives to the Sun God
Heart Sacrificeon an Aztec Temple Pyramid
Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan
Sacrificial “chac mool” statue
Aztec Sun Stone Calendar
Compare Aztecs to Romans
1. roads2. autonomy but tribute3. adapted ideas from conquered peoples4. polytheistic
vs