Mayan, Aztec, Inca

1. Mayan, Aztec, Inca 11a,b

2. Olmecs • Built the first planned city in Central America • Had giant stone pyramids • Invented a hieroglyphic form of writing • Invented a number system with a zero • Had accurate calendars • Around the 1st century BCE the Olmec civilization disappeared. No one knows why

3. Mayan

4. Mayan location • Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forests on what is now the Yucatan Peninsula • Homeland stretched from southern Mexico into northern Central America.

5. Mayan Cities • From 250 A.D to 900 A.D. the Maya built many spectacular cities • Each city was an independent city-state that was ruled by a god-king. • Also, the cities served as a center for religious ceremonies and trade

6. Mayan Cities • One important city that represents the Mayan civilization is Chichen Itza • This city exemplifies a multitude of architectural styles (Styles seen through central Mexico)

7. Mayan Economy • The economy was based on agriculture and trade • They grew maize, beans, and squash • Between the different Mayan city-states, the people traded local products such as salt and flint

8. Mayan religion • The Mayans believed in many gods (gods of corn and death) • Worshiped their god in many ways such as prayer, offerings, pierced and cut bodies, human sacrifices • Used pyramids in dedication to different gods and rulers

9. Toltecs • In the 800s the Toltecs became the most powerful society in Central America • They had a polytheistic religion and built many temples • Society began to weaken about the 1100s and fell to the Aztecs in 1200 A.D

10. Aztec

11. Aztec Location • Located in arid valley in central Mexico • Fertile land and accessible resources

12. Aztec Empire • Arrived in the Valley of Mexico around 1200 A.D • By the 1500s, they controlled an empire that stretched 80,000 miles • Their power was based on military conquests

13. Aztec Empire • In the social class, the Emperor was at the top • Military, government officials ,and priests made up the noble class • Soldiers, merchants and farmers who owned land made up the Commoners • At the bottom it was the captured people who were enslaved

15. Aztec Economy • The Aztec economy was based on agriculture • Also, conquered people were expected to pay tribute • This was done in the form of gold, maize, cacao beans, and cotton

16. Tenochtitlan • City located on a small island located in Lake Texcoco • Connected by raised roads called causeways • People came to trade goods such as avocados and chili peppers • Home to many government buildings and pyramids

18. Aztec religion • Worshiped thousands of gods.. Many were adopted from previous Mesoamerican cultures • Pyramids were used for worship • Rituals such as ceremonies were used often to please the gods

19. Incan

20. Incan Location • Located in the Andes Mountains of South America

21. Incan Empire • By the 1500s, the Inca controlled 2,500 Miles of land alongside the western coast of South America • The emperor was worshiped because he was thought to be a descendant of the sun god Inti • The empire was tolerant of conquered people.. This allowed them to gain loyalty

22. Incan Economy • The economy was based on high-altitude agriculture • Grew crops such as potatoes and maize • The terrain was rocky and limited that area in which they could farm

23. Incan Religion • The Incans focused on key nature gods such as the moon, the starts and thunder • Worshiped less gods than the Aztecs • Religious practices included sacrifice

24. Road System • The Incas created about 14000 mile long network of roads that symbolized the power of the Incan state • The road system benefited anything from trade to transporting troops to various areas

25. Machu Picchu • Incan city that held many public buildings, temples, and a central plaza

26. Achievements • Calendars • The Mayans developed a 260 calendar that had 20 day months and a 365 day calendar with 18 20 day months • The calendar was used to keep track of the best times to plant crops • The Aztecs also had a calendar similar to the Mayans

28. The Mayans also developed an advanced writing system (First books of the Western Hemisphere • 800 hieroglyphics

29. Government Record Keeping • The Incans created an accounting device used to keep track of warriors and gold • Knots and their position on a string represented different things that the government had to keep track of

30. Math • The Mayans created a number system that was based on a base 20 system..this was used primarily for the calendar and astronomical work