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Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations. Pre-Columbian Society in North and South America. MesoAmerica. Maya, then Aztecs = dominant civilizations built on the foundation of earlier civilizations eg: Olmec (the big head people) Maize Ball games Temple pyramids/ritual human sacrifice

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Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

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  1. Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations Pre-Columbian Society in North and South America

  2. MesoAmerica • Maya, then Aztecs = dominant civilizations • built on the foundation of earlier civilizations eg: Olmec (the big head people) • Maize • Ball games • Temple pyramids/ritual human sacrifice • Astronomy/calendar

  3. Aztecs – greenMaya - brown

  4. Maya • Height – 600CE-900CE • Culturally united (NOT POLITICALLY) • City-states • Polytheistic • Nobles/Priests = elite class • Innovative agriculture b/c of poor soil (chinampas, terraces, irrigation) • Glyph writing/zero • Downfall? Overtaxed environment, internal warfare

  5. Political Control in Maya City-States • Political authority rested with Kings who were closely intertwined with priests and religion • Blood-letting rituals were performed by Kings (believed to retain the city-state’s connection to the gods; comparable with China’s idea of the Emperor performing rituals for his ancestors)

  6. Maya – Tikal

  7. What’s he up to?

  8. Theatre Statetallest building in the Americas until the Flatiron Bldg. in1903

  9. Writing Styles

  10. Aztecs • Height – 1300CE-1500CE • A true, united Empire • Invading conquerors from N. Mexico • Tenochtitlan – capital w/Emperor • Important families controlled outlying areas • Conquered people had to give tribute • Complex social hierarchy (nobles, priests, etc.) • Blood-letting remained an important political ritual • Human sacrifice, often – used to control populace which had been conquered by this migratory group

  11. Inca 1400s-1500s • South America (Andes Mts.) • Also a true united empire • Military expansionists • Governed territory of over 2,500 miles • Use the delightful Llama (pack animal only) • Farmed potatoes on terraces • God-kings = intermediaries b/t heaven and earth

  12. Social Hierarchy • Aristocrats lived privileged lives (fine foods, embroidered clothes, and large ears spools) • Inca often integrated conquered elites into their empire’s elite to keep them happy Inca ear spools

  13. Cuzco • Capital city • Connected to outlying areas by 16,000 miles of roads • Royal family members ruled outlying areas • Tribute state - $$ to Cuzco, emperor ensured everyone had what they needed = a redistributive economy • Gov’t control – trade, labor, detailed census, centralized econ, etc.

  14. Labor and Taxes • Taxes often paid in labor (called mit’a) • Mit’a labor used to create huge terrace, irrigation, and water-control systems • Labor groups • allyu = extended family organized groups (used b/c of crazy terrain) • NO writing – used qipus!

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