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