Early Civilizations

Olmecs Originated in Central America

around 1200 B.C.

Farmed river banks, created some cities for trade and religious ceremonies

Teotihuacan Major city 150,000 people 200 foot temple Make goods that are traded

throughout Central America

Maya Located in Yucatan

Peninsula

300-900 A.D.

Built large city-states Revolve around a pyramid

containing temples and Mesoamerican ballgame courts

Often at war with each other

Maya Had a writing system but

was destroyed by the Spanish

Know less about these cultures than the Egyptians

Created a calendar 365 days, 18 months, 20

days each The remaining 5 days

were festival days

Maya Ruled by an aristocracy

King believed to be descended from the Gods

Studied astronomy

2 classes (priests, peasants)

Lives revolve around worship Human sacrifice

Went into decline and abandoned their cities

Toltecs Very similar to

other cultures

Brought metal working to Mesoamerica Gold, silver,

copper

Aztecs

Tenochtitlan-Aztec capitol

Told by Gods to settle where they found an eagle perched on a cactus

Great warriors (entire area under their control)

God King rules the Aztecs Supported by bureaucracy-prime minister, and

council of lords (nobles)

Aztecs

Consists of nobles, indentured servants, and slaves

Indentured servants contract to work the nobles’ land

Others are craftsmen and traders

Women have some rights Can own land

Aztecs Chief feature

is pyramids

Larger than Egyptians

Quetzalcoatl God of

Creation, virtue and learning

Incas In the Highlands (the

Andes) Great builders

Cities Temples-built of cut stone 24, 800 miles of road

Women had fewer rights Expected to raise children Some could be priestesses

Cuzco-capitol city

Incas Keep records using a

quipu, a system of knotted strings

Conquered by Francisco Pizzarro

Created terraces for farming potatoes and corn

Terrace Farming