Mesoamerican (Pre-Columbian) Civilizations

1. Mesoamerican (Pre-Columbian) Civilizations Mr. Cummings World History

2. Early Human Migrations

3. Pre-Columbian Myths • Myth: Pre-Columbian cultures were brought over by slave ships. • False: On the eve of Columbus’ landing, more than 5 million people living in North America alone. • Myth: Pre-Columbian culture was savage and unrefined as compared to Europe. • False: PC culture featured thriving economies, deep religious traditions, and stunning achievements in math and science.

4. Olmec 1300 B.C.E.- The first civilization of Mesoamerica They were located in the hot and swampy lowlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico south of Veracruz. They had large cities that were centers for religious rituals. They carved colossal stone heads They may have been to represent their ancestors or gods.

5. Teotihuacán Was the first major city in Mesoamerica Arose around 250 B.C. and collapsed about 800 A.D. May have had as many as 200,000 inhabitants at its height. Has a main thoroughfare, known as the Avenue of the Dead, had two main temples. The Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon.

6. Mayan civilization • Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forest • Represented by Chichén Itzá • Group of city-states ruled by a king • Economy based on agriculture and trade • Polytheistic religion—Pyramids Yucatán Peninsula -Maya were found in the Yucatan Peninsula and Part of Guatemala – villages included Guatemala and Belize. Maya: Between 250 and 900 CE -Flourished during this time. We do not know why it fell into decline – disease, warfare? The Maya abandoned their cities, again we do not know why. Political and Social Structure Cities-Were built around a central pyramid Pyramid-Was topped with a shrine to the gods. City-States-Each governed by a hereditary ruling class

7. Mayan Kings -Ruled the Mayan Kingdom They claimed they were divine Were assisted by nobles and a class of scribes Made special blood sacrifices to maintain the kingdom. People -Included townspeople, skilled artisans, officials, and merchants. Many people were peasant farmers who worked on terraced hillsides farming. Men did the fighting and hunting, women made cornmeal and were responsible for homemaking and raising children.

8. Religion The Maya were Polytheistic and worshipped more than 160 gods & goddesses. They believed that all of life was in the hands of a divine power. They were responsible for pleasing the gods., especially ItzamNa their main god Their gods were ranked in order of importance, the Jaguar was the god of night and was seen as evil. The Maya practiced human sacrifice to appease their gods. Human sacrifice was also used to mark special occasions. When a king ascended to the throne war captives were tortured and beheaded to mark the occasion.

9. Accomplishments Language The Maya developed an independent Hieroglyphic language called GLYPHS. They created a book called a Codex, complete with ancient Maya stories (Popol Vuh). The Spanish destroyed most of the Mayan writings. They were not seen as having any value. Their language was not translated until the 20th century.

10. Calendar & Number System The Maya developed an accurate calendar based on their many advancements in astronomy. The calendar two different parts. It had a solar calendar with 365 days, divided into 18 months with 20 days each with 5 extra days at the end. A Lunar calendar and a Calendar based on the movement of the Planet Venus. This was a sacred calendar with 260 days and 13 weeks of 20 days each. The Mayan calendar says our present world was created in 3114 B.C. and the current world will end on December 23 2012 A.D. Developed mathematical system based on the number 20 – first to use the number 0.

11. Ruling Class Nobility Peasants/Warriors Farmers/slaves Society The Maya lived a life of comfort and splendor. Their homes were decorated with murals. They were only allowed to drink chocolate. Pacal II Ruled for nearly 70 years. Became king by claiming he was the son of a goddess. Ensured the survival of Palenque's most notable surviving inscriptions and monumental architecture. Society based on four broad social classes:

12. Tikal

13. ChichénItzá

15. Aztec civilization • Located in arid valley in central Mexico • Represented by Tenochtitlan • Ruled by an emperor • Economy based on agriculture and tribute from conquered peoples • Polytheistic religion with pyramids/rituals The Aztec began c. 13th century CE Began a long migration that brought them into the Valley of Mexico. They established their capital city at Tenochtitlán. Tenochtitlán (1325) An Aztec legend said that when the people found their new home they would see an eagle perched on a cactus holding a snake. They saw this in lake Texcoco. Their city was built up on rafts made from reeds and covered with dirt. They were called chinampas. Present-Day Mexico-City is built on top of this city. The original was destroyed by the Spanish. Lake Texcoco-Swampy lake that was the home of the capital city. Tenochtitlán means the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus. At its height, between 200,000-400,000 lived there.

17. Political and Social Structure By 1500 there were about 6-12 million people in the Aztec Empire. Aztec Emperor Ruled over the Aztec Empire. Was the supreme leader of the people. He claimed that he was divine. People Made up of commoners, indentured workers, and slaves. Most people were farmers, but they also traded with people in the surrounding areas. Men were to be the warriors, while a woman’s role was to be in the home. Women were allowed to own and inherit property and enter contracts. Women wove textiles and raised children. They could also be priestesses.

18. Ruling Nobles Intermediate Class The commoners • Cultural Aspects • Produced many works of art and architecture. • Beautiful feather headdresses • Stone sculptures • Jewelry • Advances in Astronomy • Two calendars created: farming and religion • Accepted forms of tribute including corn, gold, and jade. • Grew corn, squash, and chili peppers.

19. Religion Had a polytheistic religion (about 1,000 gods) based on warfare. Huitzilopochtli Their chief god. He was the god of the sun. The Aztec offered him human sacrifice to give him strength to battle the forces of darkness each night so that he could rise each morning. Quetzalcoatl The feathered Serpent He believed he had left the valley of Mexico and promised to return in triumph. Human Sacrifice Each Aztec city contained a pyramid where they practiced human sacrifice as a way to postpone the end of the world. POW’s were sacrificed first.

20. Aztec Writing Aztec Math

21. Destruction of the Aztec The subjugation of the people of the Aztec Empire bred hatred and discontent among the people (Montezuma II). When the Spanish arrived they did not have a difficult time finding allies to fight the Aztec. Hernán Cortés 1519 Spanish Conquistador who came to the valley of Mexico in 1519 with 550 soldiers and 16 horses. He was at first greeted by the Aztec Emperor Montezuma (Moctezuma). The Spanish later kidnapped the Emperor and made him a puppet. The people rebelled and the Emperor was killed. The Spanish barely escaped. The Spanish returned several months later. Many of the natives had fallen ill with Smallpox. Cortés and his allies destroyed the Aztec capital and subjugated the Aztec people.

23. Incan civilization • Located in the Andes Mountains of South America • Represented by Machu Picchu • Ruled by an emperor • Economy based on high-altitude agriculture • Polytheistic religion • Road system Late 1300's Inca The Inca started as a small group that were located in Cuzco. They did not begin to become powerful until after the fall of the Moche of Peru. By then, they had an army of well over 200,000. Pachacuti - Unified the Inca and established the Inca Empire. Because so much of their land was on steep mountains, they implemented Terrace Farming. They developed complex irrigation systems and produced potatoes and bred llamas.

24. Organization of the Empire Incan state was built on war. The conquered peoples were all taught the same language. Each region was appointed a governor who answered to the Emperor. Road System: 24, 800 miles of Road The Inca built roads to unify their people. Roads made travel and communication throughout the empire more efficient. There were rest houses and storage depots along with bridges to span ravines and waterways. Empire reached its height in 1400s CE. By 1500, it governed an empire stretching 2,500 miles along the west coast of South America. They had 14,000 miles of road and made advancements in medicine (brain surgery).

25. Culture Were required to marry from within their own social group. Women were expected to live at home, the only alternative was to be a priestess. Most people were farmers, they also herded llamas and alpacas. Quipu-A system of knotted strings used by the Inca to keep records. Believed their emperor to be divine – the most powerful of their gods was Inti. No system of writing.

26. Ruling Nobles Commoners Culture Two main groups. Did not make prisoners of war become slaves. In general, the people stayed in the class they were born. Commoners did all the work for the empire. Machu Picchu was a famous settlement, but only featured about 1,000 people

27. Great Builders They had great buildings made of stone held without mortar. Their roads also show their ability as great builders. Machu Picchu City built at 8,000 ft above sea level. Urubamba River River below Machu Picchu

29. Defeat The Spanish arrived in 1531 1531: Francisco Pizarro Spanish Conquistador led a band of 180 men with superior weapons. The Inca, like the Aztec, were devastated by disease. Smallpox Devastated the Population Civil War After the death of the Inca Emperor a civil war broke out, Pizarro took advantage and defeated the people. Defeat Pizarro and his men established Lima as the new capital of the Spanish Colony in 1535.

30. Achievements of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations • Calendars • Mathematics • Writing and other record-keeping systems