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Early Americas

Early Americas. Unit 8. Geography. In the south steamy rain forests cover some of this region. In some places, volcanoes rise above the forest South America has many different kinds of landforms.: The Andes Mountains run along the western shore of the continent.

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Early Americas

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  1. Early Americas Unit 8

  2. Geography • In the south steamy rain forests cover some of this region. In some places, volcanoes rise above the forest • South America has many different kinds of landforms.: • The Andes Mountains run along the western shore of the continent. • A desert sits on the edge of rich fishing waters in the Pacific Ocean. • The Amazon region—a huge, hot, and wet rain forest. The mighty Amazon River drains this region. • Two continents—North America and South America—make up the region we call the Americas. • These two continents have a wide range of landforms and climates. • North America, has high mountains, desert plateaus, grassy plains, and forests. • The northern part of the continent, the climate is cold and icy. Temperatures get warmer toward the south.

  3. Geography continued • Mesoamerica: a region including southern Mexico and northern Central America. • Site of the first farming settlements in the Americas. • Warm temperatures, plentiful rainfall, and rich volcanic soils made the region ideal for farming. • Farmed maize, beans, & squash. • Farming brought cities with advanced social structures.

  4. The Maya • Villages began trading to get goods like cotton and jade. • Farming and trade support larger populations= cities. • A people who lived in small farming villages. • Rainforests presented challenges to farming. • Slash-and-burn agriculture: • Burn vegetation to clear land for planting. • In highlands people built flat terraces into hillsides for growing.

  5. The Maya continued • Cities were built between 250 and 900 CE. • Cities contained stone pyramids, temples, and palaces in honor of gods or rulers • Cities were like Greece’s city-states, each with its own rulers & government. • No ruler ever linked the cities together. • Cities united through trade and war with each other.

  6. The Maya Decline • 3: the demands of kings caused people to rebel. • Cities were abandoned for new cities. • After a while those new cities were abandoned for villages. • We are not sure to why this happened. • Not clear what caused their civilization to end. • Could be a combination of reasons. • 1: environmental- overuse of resources or drought. • 2: war led to competition for land and destroying of food.

  7. The Aztecs • Built roads and had spies to aid trade. • Ruled by emperor thought of as a god. • The emperor/king was part of a royal family and was elected. • King elected by a group of nobles. • King, priests, nobles, warriors, merchants/artisans, farmers. • Began as small tribes from northwest Mexico. • Migrated south and built the city of Tenochtitlan on an island in lake texcoco • Fierce warriors but gained power when they formed alliances with nearby tribes. • Conquered people paid tribute (tax). Basis for economy. • Trade and tribute made the Aztecs wealthy.

  8. The Aztecs Continued • City-states paying tribute joined forces with the Spanish led by Cortes. • Spanish weapons like guns gave them a huge advantage. • Disease like Small pox introduced to Aztecs, wiping out huge amounts of population. • Thousands sacrificed because the gods needed human blood. • Children attended school until 15. • Famers could go to school or become warriors to improve their station. • Had a large amount of slaves • The Spanish from Europe came to the region for riches.

  9. The Inca • To prevent rebellion conquered leaders were moved out. • People who were loyal were put in. • They also used military force to keep control. • Began as a small tribe. • Political alliances and military force helped gain land • By the 1500’s their empire extended almost the entire pacific coast. • Emperor had most of the power.

  10. The Inca Economy • No merchants or markets, the government distributed goods to the people. • Supplied what was needed, any extra stored for emergencies. • Quipu or a set of colored and knotted cords was their way of keeping records. • Command economy • government strictly controlled the empires economy. • People required to pay a labor tax. • women made clothes for the army • men worked on government farms.

  11. Inca Society • They were polytheists, the sun god being the most important. • The emperor was seen as related to the sun god. • Kings would be mummified and kept for worship. • Priests would perform sacrificial ceremonies but rarely humans were sacrificed. • They were great builders of roads and temples • They build out of stone without using mortar. • Great at metal work and weaving. • Internal conflict and the Spanish caused their end. • Families were grouped up to work (farm, build terraces, or canals) • 10 groups had a chief and that chief answered to a government official. • This chain of command eventually leads to the emperor. • Class divisions did exist where most were in the lower class serving the upper class. • The upper class was officials, priests, and royal family. • No slaves

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