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Great Civilizations in the Americas

Great Civilizations in the Americas. The Maya, Aztecs and Incas. Earliest American Civilizations. What is a “Civilization?” – an advanced culture The Olmecs Earliest known American civilization 3,500 years ago Developed in the forests along the Gulf of Mexico. The Maya. Mayan Cities.

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Great Civilizations in the Americas

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  1. Great Civilizations in the Americas The Maya, Aztecs and Incas

  2. Earliest American Civilizations • What is a “Civilization?” – an advanced culture The Olmecs • Earliest known American civilization • 3,500 years ago • Developed in the forests along the Gulf of Mexico

  3. The Maya

  4. Mayan Cities

  5. Mayan Society Mayan society was divided by classes. • Warriors/Priests • Nobles, government officials • Peasant farmers

  6. Advances in Learning

  7. Advances in LearningCalendars • Had 2 calendars. • One had 20 13-Day months for religious purposes. • The other had 18 20-Day months, based on the sun. • They linked the 2 together to identify days that would bring good fortune.

  8. Advances in LearningAstronomy

  9. Why all the advancements? • Developed knowledge in these areas to help understand their gods.

  10. The Decline-Why?

  11. Key Idea • Through alliances and conquest, the Aztecs create a powerful empire in Mexico.

  12. Valley of Mexico • Good place to settle b/c it was full of lakes and fertile soil.

  13. Tenochtitlan

  14. Religion • Religion plays a major role in Aztec society. • Cities had many temples built for the different gods they believed in.

  15. Religion

  16. Religion • People taken captive in war were the ones who were sacrificed. • Causes a need for victims, leading Aztecs to fight their neighbors.

  17. Aztec Society • Emperor • Treated as a god as well as a ruler. • Absolute power – total authority over the people he ruled Treated as a god as well as a ruler.

  18. Aztec Society

  19. Montezuma II • Aztec empire starts to weaken under him. • Spanish arrive (Cortez) • Aztec empire falls to the Spanish

  20. Incan Civilization

  21. The Inca

  22. Key Idea • The Inca built a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by an extensive road system.

  23. The Inca • By 1500, the boundaries of the empire stretched along the Andes from modern Ecuador, all the way south to Chile and Argentina. • 16 million people.

  24. Religious Beliefs • Worshipped the Sun • Lined walls of palaces with sheets of gold • Gold was “the sweat of the gods”

  25. Farming

  26. Engineering and Medicine

  27. Other Advancements

  28. The End of the Inca • Spanish arrive (Pizzarro) • Takes advantage of civil war • Quickly, Pizzarro and Spain take control of the Incan Empire

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