Gente de Maiz: Meso-American Civilizations

1. Gente de Maiz: Meso-American Civilizations

2. Geography and People • The first great American civilizations developed in Mesoamerica, also called Middle America. • Region includes Mexico and Central America. • The people that inhabited this region had migrated from other parts of North America. • The people farmed and grew corn, beans, squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. • Farmers also domesticated animals.

3. Source: http://mapsof.net/map/region-mesoamerica#.Uufha_bTky5

4. The Creation of Maiz (Corn) • The word maizoriginates from theTaíno indigenous people. • 9000-7000 years ago, MesoAmerican Civilizations began the cultivation of maiz. • The process began in Central Mexico. Source: http://www.campsilos.org/mod3/students/c_history.shtml

5. Source: http://paulmirocha.com/projects/corns-journey/#.UufALfbTky4

6. Re-discovering Meso-American Roots • In groups of five, please locate and describe the assigned Pre-Columbian civilization in relation to: governance, class/gender stratification, architecture/art/astronomy, economics and religion. • Olmeca (1) • Mayan (2) • Teotihuacán (3) • Tolteca (4) • Zapoteca & Tarasco (5) • Azteca (6) • Los Norteños (7)

7. Civilization

8. Gender/Class Stratification

9. Architecture/Art/Astronomy

10. Economics

11. Religion

12. Olmec Empire • The Olmec Empire, which existed 1500BC-500BC was the first major MesoAmerican civilization. • Developed in the tropical rain forests of Mexicos gulf coast. • They invented a calendar and system of writing made up of carved inscriptions. • Strongly devoted to religion and priests were highly respected.

13. Source: http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/olmecs.htm

14. The Mayas • 1800BC (flourished from AD 300-900) • Complex agricultural society • Dug irrigation canals. Reclaimed lands by constructing raised fields. • Farming and Trade – most of the people were farmers. Men farmed while the women turned the crops into food. • Religion was very significant and priests were well respected. Priests were the only ones who could conduct ceremonies and rituals that the Mayas believed would ensure bountiful harvests and victories in battles.

15. Mayan [Gendered] Social Structure • Ruling Chief • Nobles • (Military and Government Officials) • Merchants and Artisans • Farmers Source: http://aztecsincasmayansproject.weebly.com/index.html

16. Mayan Contributions • Architecture – Built large pyramids and palaces • Agriculture – grew enough food to support large populations • Science – Develop a hieroglyphic style of writing, an accurate calendar, numbering system, and understood the concept of Zero

17. Mayan Mathematics • What is so important about ‘Zero’? • Developed as early as 36BC • Mayan mathematics Provides more accurately Account of time and space than Western Civilization. Source: http://www.storyofmathematics.com/mayan.html

18. Mayan Decline • After 909AD, Maya built few new temples and shortly after began to decline (as an empire, not a people) • Possible reasoning: warfare, overpopulation, famine, or natural disaster Source: http://maya.nmai.si.edu/the-maya/maya-world

19. The Aztecs • Between 1325 AD and 1345 AD, the Azteca founded their capital of Tenochtitlán on an island in Lake Texcoco. • The Aztecs were fierce warriors using military conquests and alliances to build a huge empire. • The Aztec Empire became very wealthy from collecting taxes from conquered people. • By the 1500’s, the Aztec Empire covered most of Mexico and included approximately 30 million people.

20. Social Structure • Ruled by a single emperor chosen by a council of priests and nobles. • Nobility • Warriors • Traders – also acted as military scouts • Farmers • Slaves

21. Aztec Religion • Priests were highly respected individuals • Huitzilopochtli, lord of the sun and god of war • To please their gods, the Aztecs practiced blood sacrifice

22. Soure: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Mexicoweb/factfile/Unique-facts-Mexico8.htm

23. Chinampas – raised fields

24. The Incas • In the 1400s, the Incas emerged from the Andes Mountains and conquered a large area that extended over 2500 miles down the Pacific Coast. • The Incas were ruled by an emperor who held absolute power and also acted as chief religious leader and the son of the Sun God. • Capital was located at Cuzco • The government controlled the lives of the people with the empire. • Everyone had to speak the Incan language and worship Incan gods.

25. Incan Roads • Built large and elaborate system of roads • Runners used these roads to carry news to far of provinces and the capital • Compare to the Roman system of roads Source: http://davidpratt.info/andes1.htm

26. Religion • Worshipped many gods related to forces of nature • Sun God was the most important • Priests were very powerful members of society

27. Incan Contributions • Engineering – a system of roads that extended over 12,000 miles and included bridges and tunnels • Temple of the Sun – Built in the capital, it was so strong it could withstand the power of major earthquakes • Agriculture – terrace farming used in mountainous regions • Communication – Incan government officials kept records by means of a knotted, colored string system called quipus • Incans also excelled in medicine

28. Temple of the Sun and Quipus Source: http://victoriarestrepo.com/2012/10/16/art-history-for-kids-ancient-incas-quipus/ Source: http://etb-cosmology.blogspot.com/2012/03/ancient-american-cosmology.html

29. Works Cited • Individuals pictures found mostly on Google Images by typing specific key words: Tenochtlnan; Chinampas, etc. • Some slide (Olmecs, Mayan, Aztec, Incan) material borrowed from http://www.slideshare.net/rhalter/mesoamerican-civilizations and Occupied America.