me so america

8/8/2019 Me So America

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Mesoamerican & AndeanCivilizations


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Mesoamerica

In what is now southern Mexico and Central AmericaRain forests cover the regionFertile soil made this a good area for farming

People first appeared in this area around 12,000 BCMaize (corn) being grown around 3500 BC


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T he OlmecFirst urban civilization formedin Mesoamerica around 1200BCBuilt the first pyramids in the

AmericasDeveloped the first writingsystem in the AmericasT raded with others from far away

Civilization ended around 400BC


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T he MayaDeveloped in Mesoamerica around 1000 BCLived in an area of thick forests making farming hardGrew to more than 40 cities of 5,000 to 50,000 people each duringthe classic age from AD 250 to 900Spread throughout the Yucatan Peninsula

T raded goods to different areas of Mesoamerica


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Mayan CitiesBuilt large pyramids, temples, and palacesCanals built to control the flow of water through citiesLarge plazas built for public eventsHillsides turned into flat terraces so crops could be grown close tocities


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Maya Society

Complex class structureUpper class included kings, priests, warriors, andmerchants

Lower class included most of the MayaFarmers had to give crops to ruler and serve in the armySlaves held the lowest position in societySlaves included orphans, slaves children, and people

who owed money


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ReligionWorshipped many gods

T he most important god was the creator Other gods included a sun god, moon goddess, and maize godPeople believed they had to please the gods by offering humanblood


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Maya AchievementsArt and architectural achievementsSculpture and jade and gold jewelryBuilt cities using metal toolsMayan cities largest architectural achievementBuilt observatories to study the starsDeveloped the calendar and number systemsAlso developed a writing system similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics


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Mayan WarfareMayan cities usually battled each other to gain power Warfare very bloodyFought hand-to-hand using spears, flint knives, and wooden clubsOften killed enemy prisoners

Burned enemy towns and villagesWarfare may have led to the destruction of the Mayan civilization


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Causes of the Decline of the

Mayan CivilizationBegan to collapse around 900T he cause of the collapse is unknownWarfare may have contributed

Kings made demands of people and they may haverebelledA long period of dry weather may have made it hard togrow crops

A mix of events probably led to the decline


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T he Aztec EmpireRuled a large empire in central MesoamericaFounded around 1100Controlled a huge trade network


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Aztec SocietyPeople divided into social classesKings and nobles the most importantPriests and warriors below kingsMerchants and artisans nextFarmers and slaves the lowest


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Aztec AchievementsBuilt floating gardens called chinampasStudied astronomy and created a calendar Built bridges and canalsHad a complex writing system


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Cortez and the AztecsSpanish explorer Hernan Cortez arrived in Mexico in 1519Aztec emperor Moctezuma II thought Cortez was a godCortez took the emperor prisoner

T he Aztecs became angry and drove the Spanish outCortez came back in 1521 and conquered the Aztecs


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T he Inca EmpireBegan as a small tribe in the Andes in South AmericaBy the 1500s empire stretched from Ecuador to Chile12 million people in empireGovernment was centralized and controlled many aspects of lifeIncas paid the government in labor and goods


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Inca SocietyMost Incans farmersNo merchants or markets in the empireGovernment officials gave people goods through the labor taxsystem


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Inca AchievementsBuilt massive buildings made of stone blocks

Produced art of gold and silver

No written language


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Pizarro and the IncasSpaniards came to Peru in 1530When the Incas would not convert to Christianity, the SpanishattackedSpanish defeated the Incans in 1537 and took control of the area


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Similarities of the Fall of the Inca

and Aztec

Both empires had internal problems before the Spanish

arrivedT he leaders of both empires captured by the SpanishT he Spanish had an advantage with horses and gunsDisease weakened and killed many native people


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Review

What was the first crop grown in Mesoamerica?What was the name of the first civilization inMesoamerica?

When did the Mayan civilization develop?Did the Mayans worship only one god?What were some of the causes of the decline of theMayan civilization?

Where was the Aztec empire located?Name some of the achievements of the Aztecs.Who conquered the Aztecs?


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Review Continued

At its height, how many people lived in the Inca empire?What did the Incan government collect as taxes?Who defeated the Incans?

What were the similarities of how the Aztec and Incanempires fell?

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