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Ancient Civilizations of the
Western HemisphereMaya, Aztec, & Inca
THE
MAYA
The maximum extent of the Maya
Maya - Location
southern Mexico into northern
Central America called the
Yucatan Peninsula
Maya
Climate
Dense, steamy rain forests
Maya - Climate
dense, steamy rain forests
Maya –Time Period
250 - 900 C.E.
Mayan people live past 900 BUT
the civilization disappears
Maya – Government
independent city-states ruled by
kings – seen as god-king,
established dynasties
Maya – Key City
Chichen Itza
Ball Game:
Ōllamaliztli
Ball Court
Maya – Economy
1. Agriculture – maize, beans,
squash
2. Trade – salt, flint, feathers,
shells, honey, cacao, jade
ornaments, textiles
Mayan
Products
Maya – Religion Polytheistic – many gods Pyramids – dedicated to gods and
famous rulersWorship included material offerings,
bloodletting, human sacrifice Calendar – 260 days, 20 months, 13
days each month◦ 365 day solar calendar, different gods ruled
different days
Mathematics and astronomy – concept of zero, calendar planning
Human Sacrifice to the Reptile God
Maya –Writing
800 glyphs (symbols), on bark-
paper called codex
Maya – Decline
Mayan cities were deserted and
records stopped being kept
Possible Reasons:
◦war and conflict between city states
◦overuse of land
◦ famine
◦ environmental change
THE
AZTEC
An Aztec city
Aztec -
Location
Central Mexico –Valley of Mexico, Modern day Mexico City
Aztec - Climate
Hot, large shallow lakes, good
resources, fertile soil
Aztec –Time Period
1200 – 1521 C.E.
Aztec – Government
Triple Alliance with Texcoco and
Tlacopan
38 provinces
Emperor with absolute power
◦ loose control over
empire with exception
of tribute payments
Triple Alliance
Aztec – Key CityTenochtitlan is
the capital
Lake Texcoco
Aztec – Economy
1. Agriculture – maize, cacao
beans, cotton
2. Trading Network – with
Tenochtitlan as ultimate
marketplace
Aztec – Religion
1. Polytheistic
2. Built temples and pyramids
3. 2 calendars
4. Human sacrifices to sun god
◦ Who did they sacrifice???
Human Sacrifice
Aztec –Writing
No real mention – writing
system of pictures derived from
earlier MesoAmerican cultures
Aztec – Decline
Montezuma II reign – rebelling
tribes
Spanish – Cortez conquered
Aztecs in 1521
THE INCA
Inca – Location
Andes Mountains of South
America – Southern Peru
Inca – Climate
Mountainous
Machu Picchu
Inca –Time Period
1400- 1532 A.D.
Inca – GovernmentBelieved that ruler was a
descendent from the Sun god
Sapa Inca had absolute power
Nobility – ruling families
Bureaucracy – used small groups to work for the common good
Government built extensive road system
Government Organization
1. Sapa Inca
2. Supreme Council (4 Men)
3. Provincial Governors
4. Officials (army officers, priests, judges, and others from the Noble class)
5. Tax Collectors
6. Workers
Most Incans were workers
5281.66 miles long, crossing 15 distinct ecosystems; branching off the Inca Roads
was another 18641 miles of road
Inca Culture Each family was assigned a specific job
Government officials arranged marriages
Mandatory public service building projects
No written language (Khipu)
Language: Quechua
Over two and a half million people still speak Quechua in Peru.
Inca – Key City
Cuzco = capital
Machu Picchu – mysterious
religious center or royal resort
Machu Picchu—complex of palaces, plazas, temples and homes. Purpose?? No writing...
Inca – Economy
1. Run by the state – regulated
production of goods
2. Agriculture on terraced
hillsides – maize and quinoa
(grain)
Inca – Religion1. Polytheistic – natural spirits of
moons, stars, sun, thunder, etc.
2. Primary God—Inti (Sun god)
3. Reincarnation
4. Two Calendars
5. Sacrifices (not human)
Partner Discussion Question
What might this be used for???
Inca –Writing
None, but had string/knot
math/accounting system called
quipu
Inca – DeclineCivil War between two sons of a
king
Francisco Pizarro
took advantage
of Civil War
and smallpox
How Did
First People
Get To
America?
Two Theories:
◦ Theory 1: Bering Land Bridge—from Asia crossing over a land bridge between Alaska and Siberia
◦ Theory 2: Coastal Migration– crossing seas, most likely the Pacific, and settling along the western coast of the Americas
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