Early Civilizations in Ameri ca

1. Early Civilizations in America The World Before Columbus

2. The Americas • The Americas Always Existed • People have lived on them as early as 30,000 -10,000 years ago.

3. How did People Get Here? • We trace some of the earliest civilizations to Africa and the Middle East. • All people need two major things to survive • Food and Water • These early people were hunter-gatherers • They relied on animals to feed their families

4. The Ice Age • Earth goes through cycles • Several Ice Ages • Most recent Ice Age occurred sometime between 100,000 and 10,000 years ago • Glaciers formed covering almost 1/3 of the Earth • Thick ice sheets

5. Oceans freeze • When the Ocean water freezes the water level drops, exposing more land than we see now.

6. Bering Land Bridge • Most scientist believe that Hunter gatherers tracked animals across this exposed land bridge leading them to the American Continents.

7. What others Believe • Other scientist believe that earliest settlers traveled to the American Continent by Boat.

8. The Ice Age Ends • As Temperature increases the civilizations adapt to changing conditions • Large animals die out • Hunt smaller animals, fish, gather berries, nuts, and grains • Grow crops • 5,000 years ago civilizations in central America, • Corn, beans, squash • Building permanent buildings, cities, civilizations, and cultures. • Growing food =growing populations

9. The Earliest Civilization OLMEC Mayas Incas Aztecs

10. Olmec • Developed the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica around 1200 BC • Lived in Central America in the lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico

11. Great Stone Carvers • Created First Pyramids in the Americas • Carved Huge stone heads out of rock • Some as tall as 10 feet and weighing several tons.

12. Farming and Science • Cities built because of farm system • Built large cities centered around large stone temples • Priests studied stars and moons to chart a calendar • Know when to plant crops

13. Influence and Decline • Civilizations and prosperity opened door for trade. • Culture spread through trade • Culture- a group’s set of common values and traditions, including language, government, and family relationship. • Olmec culture heavily influenced Mayan and Aztec life. • Olmec civilization was gone by 400 BC

14. Maya • Influenced by the Olmecs • Grew crops (Maize) • Grew in size to large cities by 200 AD • Covered Southern Mexico and Guatemala

15. Farming and trade • Cleared Rainforest and Drained Swamps to create farmland. • Large Harvests allowed for multiple cites and a vast trade network • Built a system of roads to connect the many large cities

16. Mayan Cities • Large Cities with Large Temples and Pyramids • Stadiums for sporting events • Early form of Basketball? • Large paved plazas • Bridges • Canals • Most Famous Mayan cities include • Chichen Itza • Palenque • Tikal

17. Palenque Ruins

18. Tikal Temple: 154 ft High almost 13 stories

22. Chichen Itza: El Castillo

23. 98 Ft tall 9 square terraces Stairways on all four sides The north stairway has serpent heads at the base of the stairs On the equinox the north west corner cast a triangular shadow on west side that resembles a snake going down the pyramid

29. Social Classes • Priests • Only ones who could perform ceremonies for good crops and battles • Nobles • Warriors and Government officials • Laborers and Farmers • Slaves • Prisoners of war and criminals

30. Maya Religion • Religion lead Maya Lifestyle • Polytheistic • Many were Opposites • Believed god behavior could be predicted with calendars • Worshiped in Many different ways • Prayer, offerings, piercing, and human sacrifice • Usually of Captured enemies • Often threw them in a deep sinkhole lake

31. Mathematics • Mayans created a very accurate system for math and numbers. • Created a system of numbers that included the concept of zero

32. Mayan Calendar • The Priests tracked the solar patterns • Created an Accurate calendar that was 365 days • Series of calendars tracking different solar, lunar, and planetary motions. • December 21,2012 • Many people think it will be the end of world • Many people believe that it’s the day to start the next series in the calendar

33. Decline or “Disappearance” • Around 900 AD the Mayans abandoned their cities. • No reason or evidence why? • Best Guess • Drought • Warfare • Rainforests covered cites for hundreds of years • Mayan people survived • Est. 2 million people in Mexico and Guatemala speak Mayan Language.

34. AZTEC • Developed long after the Mayan cities were abandoned • Grew out of two major civilizations to the north • Teotihuacan and the Zapotecs

35. Toltec Takeover • The Teotihuacan people declined and a new group moved in… The Toltecs • An extremely warlike people. • Brought in new gods and new religion • Quetzalcoatl • The Feather Serpent • Declined as the Aztecs moved in • Entered from the north and moved into the area of small civilizations around the center of the Toltec's • Legend had it that the God of the Sun and Warfare, Huitzilopochtli, told them they should settle when an eagle is perched on a cactus holding a snake in its mouth.

36. Lake Texcoco • Found this on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco • Named their city Tenochtitlan • Joined with the surrounding cities to form a triple alliance • grew to be a powerful trade and farming empire

37. Aztec Farming • Filled in Lake with land to create farmland • Floating Farmland • Reed Mats attached to the lake bottom with stakes and piled mud on. • chinampas

38. Markets • Trade dominated the capital city • Estimated 60,000 people in markets daily

39. Aztec Religion • Priests had control similar to Mayan • Though Aztecs had an ultimate emperor • Created accurate calendar • Sun God • “Warriors of the Sun” • Believed that Sun required human sacrifice in order to rise each day • Thousands were sacrificed to please sun god.

40. Powerful Empire • By 1500, ruled from gulf to pacific • Population in the Millions • Ruled by emperor • High taxes • Sacrifices • Led to revolts • Enemies of Aztecs helped Spanish conquer

41. Aztec pyramid at Acatitlan

42. Aztec Sun Stone: Aztec Calendar

45. Problems in the Empire • In 1502 a new ruler, Montezuma II, was crowned emperor • Montezuma increased the tribute of the surrounding cities to help pay for the growing population • Provinces rose to rebellion • Military tried but struggled to crush the rebellion • Weakened the Army which played a major role in the Spanish conquistadors success in the new world.

46. INCA • Far to the South in Peru and South America • Largest empires in Americas • 2,500 miles

47. Mountainous People • Built in the High Andes Mountains. • Kingdom of large mountain cities • Population about 12 million at height • Emperor kept tabs on all people • Road system • Bridges • Runners • Quipu

48. Emperor Ruled from Capital City • Cuzco • Massive stone temples • Intricate palaces and carvings

49. Pachacuti Cuzco

50. Pachacuti Builds an Empire • In 1438 a powerful king grew and built the empire • Conquered all of Peru • Created 80 provinces and was home to almost 16 million people. • Created a powerful military and government to manage the population. • Also Built Cuscotopia!