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Empires of the South

Empires of the South. Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Civilizations . Created large civilizations Group of people with an advance culture Had writing, record keeping, organized gov’t, religion, cities, social classes, and specialized workers. Maya. Lived in southern Mexico Cleared swamps Farmed

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Empires of the South

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  1. Empires of the South Maya, Aztec, and Inca

  2. Civilizations • Created large civilizations • Group of people with an advance culture • Had writing, record keeping, organized gov’t, religion, cities, social classes, and specialized workers

  3. Maya • Lived in southern Mexico • Cleared swamps • Farmed • Drained marshes and built terraces • Produced extra for trade • Used Cacao beans like money • Master builders • Had temples, stone palaces, and 1-room houses

  4. Priests were the most important • Concerned about pleasing the gods • Studied astronomy • Created a 365-day calendar • Skilled in math • Developed numbers and the zero • Had a system of writing using hieroglyphs (pictures)

  5. Cities became deserted • Potential causes • Climate changes • Infertile land • Invasion • Maya descendents can still be found in the area www.sacred-texts.com/nam/maya/index.htm

  6. Aztec • Found in central Mexico • Hunter-gatherers until legend told them to settle • They were to build where a eagle was sitting on a cactus • Was in the middle of a lake • Built causeways (raised highways over water) to connect the island to mainland

  7. Cities had pyramids, markets, schools, parks, etc. • Grew food on floating mats anchored to the lake bottom • Tended by boat • Were war-like • Conquered people • Required them to pay tribute- tax in good or services

  8. There was a strict social system • Nobles- inherited • Gov’t officials, priests, warriors • Commoners • Could own land • Peasant farmers • Slaves • Children were free • All those but nobles had to pay tribute

  9. Worshiped many gods • Most important were sun and war • Priests were historians and teachers www.jazzchicago.net/

  10. Inca • Lived in the Andes of South America • Very well organized • Peaceful conquerors • Sent ambassadors before warriors • Ruled from the capital of Cuzco • Ruler had great power • Controlled all goods and services

  11. Most were farmers • Farmed hillsides and built irrigation systems • Gov’t owned grown food • Most people worked on gov’t projects • Included a system of roads • Death of their leader created problems and weakness www.kidspast.com/.../0285-inca-empire.php

  12. Journal Question • How did agriculture fit into the lives of these three cultures? Explain yourself.

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