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Mesoamerica

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.

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Mesoamerica

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  1. Mesoamerica On the Eve of Invasion

  2. Native Groups of the Americas

  3. Aztecs Mayas

  4. The Peopling of the Americas • Asian nomads cross the Bering Straight • Spread throughout Americas 12,000 years ago • Hunter-gatherers… eventually civilizations

  5. 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

  6. Giant Heads on Easter Island

  7. Mayans • Mexican & Central American rainforest • Collection of city-states ruled by kings • Major city: Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula) • Height of power: 250-900 AD

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. Human Sacrifice

  11. Achievements • Hieroglyphic writing • Complex system of spiritual and solar calendars • Development of a number system • Master astronomers • Roads • Architecture

  12. Aztecs • 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)

  13. 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

  14. 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.

  15. 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

  16. Machu Picchu

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