mesoamerica
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Mesoamerica. On the Eve of Invasion. Native Groups of the Americas. Aztecs. Mayas. The Peopling of the Americas. Asian nomads cross the Bering Straight Spread throughout Americas 12,000 years ago Hunter-gatherers… eventually civilizations . The Olmecs. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
MesoamericaOn the Eve of
Invasion
Native Groups of the
Americas
Aztecs
Mayas
The Peopling of the Americas
• Asian nomads cross the Bering Straight– Spread
throughout Americas 12,000 years ago
– Hunter-gatherers… eventually civilizations
The Olmecs• First Mesoamerican
civilization, 1200-400 B.C.– Known as the
“Rubber people” due to their harvesting of sap from rubber trees
– Agriculture and trade– Polytheism,
pyramids, sacrifice– Art: Colossal Heads
Giant Heads on Easter Island
Mayans• Mexican &
Central American rainforest
• Collection of city-states ruled by kings–Major city:
Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula)
– Height of power: 250-900 AD
The Mayans Cont.• Social Order
– Upper class: Priests, nobles, warriors
– Lower class: Peasants• Paid taxes to king
(corn, or maize: sacred crop)
– No rights for women• Economy– Agriculture (with
irrigation projects)– Trade
Religion• Polytheism– Massive pyramids
honor gods and show power• Temple of the Giant
Jaguar (in Tikal)– Priests study time
cycles and predict the future. • If outlook is bad, then
sacrifices (animal or human) are offered to please the gods.
Human Sacrifice
Achievements• Hieroglyphic writing• Complex system of
spiritual and solar calendars
• Development of a number system
• Master astronomers• Roads• Architecture
• Capital: Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)
• Emperor rules with absolute power
• Fierce warriors conquer enemies– Provide slaves and
prisoners for sacrifice– Slaves earned rights to
buy freedom• Wealth from trade and
tribute payments (conquered towns supply Aztecs with goods)
Aztecs
Aztecs Cont.• Agriculture– Chinampa farms: Man-
made islands built of reeds and mud to provide more farm land
• Achievements– Causeways (roads)– Aqueducts to transport
water– Canals and dams
Religion
• Polytheistic religion– Chief god is the Sun god– Priests are very
important• Record knowledge and
run schools• Astronomers and
mathematicians• Perform daily religious
ceremonies– Religion based on
warfare– Massive pyramids honor
gods– Frequent sacrifices to
keep life going• The sun requires blood to
live.
The INCAS• Located in the Andes
Mountains of South America– Capital: Cuzco
• Power represented by Machu Picchu
• Ruled by an emperor• High-altitude agriculture• Polytheistic religion• Road system unifies
empire
Machu Picchu