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Pre-Columbian Civilizations In the Americas. 600-1450 C.E. Originally created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY. Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Maya Toltecs Aztecs Northern Peoples Southwest Desert Cultures Mound Builders- The Mississippi Culture Andean Civilizations
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Pre-Columbian Civilizations In the Americas 600-1450 C.E. Originally created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Maya Toltecs Aztecs Northern Peoples Southwest Desert Cultures Mound Builders- The Mississippi Culture Andean Civilizations Moche, Paracas, Nazca Inca Pre-Colombian Societies
Classic-Era Culture ofMesoamerica 600 - 900 C.E.
Lands of the Mayans The Yucatan Peninsula
Mayan Cultivation of Maize Chac, God of Rain -->
Overview of Tikal (Guatemala) Temple of the Masks
Mayan Glyphs sky king house child city Mayan Mathematics
The Mayan Kingdoms fought constantly with each other. Typically, the victors destroyed the peoples they defeated. Warriors won prestige when they brought back important captives from neighboring kingdoms. Ultimately, most captives would spend their lives as slaves or sacrificial victims to the Mayan gods. Between the ninth and eleventh centuries C.E., Chichen Itza organized a loose empire that brought a measure of political stability to the northern Yucatan. Mayan Warfare
Apart from the kings and ruling families, Mayan society included a large class of priests, who maintained an elaborate calendar, knowledge of writing, astronomy, and mathematics. Like many other early civilizations, specialization of labor helped to establish distinct social classes. Peasants and slaves fed the entire society and provided physical labor for the construction of cities and monuments. Mayan Society and Religion
Between 800 -900 C.E. cities abandoned Why? Trade disrupted Tropical agriculture Slash and burn Religious, genealogies, Historical events No wheel, pulleys, beasts of burden Patrilineal but traces of women rulers Mayan Calendar Ritual calendar Solar Calendar Maya cosmos Heaven, earthly existence, dark underworld December 23, 2012? Maya
Expanding human populations led to congregations of people in cities and to the emergence of what is believed to be the largest city in the Americas. At its high point, about 400 to 600 C.E., Teotihuacan was home to almost 200,000 inhabitants, a thriving metropolis with scores of temples, several palatial residences, busy markets, and hundreds of workshops for artisans and craftsmen. Like the later Maya, the residents of Teotihuacan built on the cultural foundations of the Olmec. They played the ball game, adopted the Olmec calendar, and expanded the Olmec’s system of writing. Teotihuacan
Religious architecture Sun, Moon, and 20 smaller pyramids Human sacrifice was performed? Floating Gardens No evidence of single rulers Collapse of Teotihuacan is unknown Conflict, HEI, Class conflict C. 650 C.E. Teotihuacan
Post-classic Period inMesoamerica 900-1500 C.E.
Possible satellite population Borrowed heavily from Teotihuacan given credit for all great Mesoamerican achievements First conquest state Established Tula around 968 C.E. Art more warlike and violent character Two chieftains or kings ruled the Toltec state Around 1156 C.E. northern invaders overcame Tula Toltecs influenced the later Mexica or Aztec culture Toltecs c. 800-1000
Arrived after collapse of Tula Served as serfs and mercenaries Population grew as did power 1325 C.E. began construction Capitals Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco Military success leads to lakeshore gains Introduced Monarchial system Aristocrats selected rulers Military expansion leads to stratification of society Leaders legitimated their rule through rituals Populations of urban areas over 150,000 Tribute payments were common- 1/4 was food 1500 C.e.- Capital and surrounding areas 500,000 Mexica or Aztecs
Aztec View of Tenochtitlan Modern Mexico City
Ruins of the City Center, Tenochtitlan Three Plazas Aztec Spanish Mexican
Aztec Writing Aztec Math