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Early Civilizations of Latin America

Early Civilizations of Latin America. Aztecs. Started in Northern Mexico living in the desert regions Moved into the Central Plateau 1325 the god Uitzilopochtli told them where to settle “An eagle perched atop a cactus holding a snake in its beak.”

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Early Civilizations of Latin America

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  1. Early Civilizations of Latin America

  2. Aztecs • Started in Northern Mexico living in the desert regions • Moved into the Central Plateau • 1325 the god Uitzilopochtlitold them where to settle • “An eagle perched atop a cactus holding a snake in its beak.” • Settled on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco • Called the city Tenochtitlan (current site of Mexico City) • Eagle, Snake and Cactus are national symbols for Mexico

  3. The Aztec Empire • Built and started an advanced civilization in the Central Plateau of Mexico • Pyramid temples for their religious beliefs and practices • Aztecs had only one ruler or king • Chosen by the priests, nobles and warriors • Conquered and maintained a large empire • Defeated peoples and kingdoms had to pay tribute to the Aztecs

  4. Aztec Conquest and Prisoners • Prisoners of war were either used as slaves or as sacrificial victims • Aztecs believed that the god of war needed to be pleased • To be successful in battles meant that they had to kill many people • Made the Aztecs feared and hated by other peoples.

  5. Aztec Religion • Worshipped many gods (polytheistic) • Priests were powerful people in society and controlled the large temple pyramids • Recorded knowledge of science, math and medicine into written books • Chief God was – Quetzalcoatl (kehtsuhkohaht l) • Believed that he brought maize to the Earth • Sailed off into the Eastern Sea according to legand and would return one day • Connection to the arrival of Cortes and the Spanish

  6. Success of Tenochtitlan • By 1500 it was home to 150,000 people • Largest city in the world at that time • Farming invention to use swampy land • Chinampas- small floating islands to plant crops on • Large markets that sold many different goods

  7. Aztec Society • Education • Aztecs were among the first people to educate boys and girls • Boys were trained in war and strategy • Girls were trained in homecoming skills • Women in Society • Could own property and remarry if her husband died • Priestesses, weavers, musicians and midwives • Mostly concerned with making food and clothing

  8. Class Activity • What are the boys learning and from whom? • What are the girls learning and from whom? • Why would it be important to educate both boys and girls? • Look at picture on page 451 for more examples

  9. Mayans • Ancient Mayans lived in the lowland rainforests of Central America • Between 300 and 900 A.D the Mayans were at their height of power • Road network allowed the major cities to communicate and trade with one another • Tikal and Palenque for example • Merchants traded: • Cotton, gold jewelry, etc..

  10. Mayan Lifestyles • Farming • Complex farming methods due to environment • Built raised fields for crops • Caught the rain and used it as irrigation • Able to drain water by using channels • Able to support a city of 20,000 people • Government/Society • Organized into city-states and not one large empire • King, nobles, priests, artisans, merchants, peasants and laborers, finally slaves • Merchants- sold fine cloth, ornaments, feathered cloaks • Peasants/Laborers- grew the food and built temples

  11. Mayan Religion • Believed that Gods controlled the universe of nature • Priests performed rituals to please the gods • Pyramid temples were at the center of the cities • See Page 449 for Mural Picture • Played a ball game called pok-a-tok • Ordinary people played for fun • Nobles played for the gods so that the priests could tell what would happen in the future

  12. Mayan Achievements • Great skill in architecture with all the buildings • Developed a system of writing (called Glyphs) • Covered temple wall and stone pillars • Dealt with religious and historical events • Made a calendar that was 365 ¼ days long • Very similar to the same calendar system we use • Developed the concept (idea) of the number zero • If you don’t like math blame the Mayans !

  13. Incans in Peru • Built a very big empire in the valleys of the Andes Mountains • Covered Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia • Please Read pages 452-453 • Up Close “The Efficient Incas”

  14. Incan Lifestyles • Farming • Able to feed a population of 9 million people • Complex irrigation systems were designed • Channeled water from the mountain streams into the fields • Terrace Farming- carving fields out of the sides of mountains • Used fertilizer on their crops • Corn, potatoes and beans • Religion • Worshipped many different gods • Sun God was the chief god • Inca- means children of the sun • Temple of the Sun in Cuzco • Covered the temple walls in sheets in gold • Gold was considered the sweat of the Gods • Priests performed rituals at the site of the Temple

  15. Incan Government • Believed that the Incan Emperor owned all the land, mines and fields of the empire • Ruled with the help of priests and nobles • People of the empire were told: • Where to live • What jobs they would perform • Collected taxes on the crops that the peasants grew • Set up a road system that allowed for better communication • Quipi- knotted string that carried messages

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