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Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere. Maya, Aztec, & Inca. Maya - Location. southern Mexico into northern Central America called the Yucatan Peninsula. Maya - Climate. dense, steamy rain forests. Maya – Time Period. 250 - 900 C.E.
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Ancient Civilizations of the Western Hemisphere Maya, Aztec, & Inca
Maya - Location • southern Mexico into northern Central America called the Yucatan Peninsula
Maya - Climate • dense, steamy rain forests
Maya – Time Period • 250 - 900 C.E. • Mayan people live past 900 BUT the civilization disappears
Maya – Government • independent city-states ruled by kings – seen as god-king, established dynasties
Maya – Key City • Chichen Itza • Ball Game:Ōllamaliztli
Maya – Economy • Agriculture – maize, beans, squash • Trade – salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey, cacao, jade ornaments, textiles
Maya – Religion • Polytheistic – many gods • Pyramids – dedicated to gods and famous rulers • Worship included material offerings, bloodletting, human sacrifice • Calendar – 400 days, 20 months, 20 days each month • 365 day solar calendar, different gods ruled different days • Mathematics and astronomy – concept of zero, calendar planning
Maya – Writing • 800 glyphs (symbols), on bark-paper called codex
Maya – Decline • Mayan cities were deserted and records stopped being kept • Possible Reasons: • war and conflict between city states • overuse of land • famine • environmental change
Aztec - Location • Central Mexico – Valley of Mexico, Modern day Mexico City
Aztec - Climate • Hot, large shallow lakes, good resources, fertile soil
Aztec – Time Period • 1200 – 1521 C.E.
Aztec – Government • Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan • 38 provinces • Emperor with absolute power • loose control over empire with exceptionof tribute payments
Aztec – Key City • Tenochtitlan = capital
Aztec – Economy • Agriculture – maize, cacao beans, cotton • Trading Network – with Tenochtitlan as ultimate marketplace
Aztec – Religion • Polytheistic • Built temples and pyramids • 2 calendars • Human sacrifices to sun god • Who did they sacrifice???
Aztec – Writing • No real mention – writing system of pictures derived from earlier MesoAmerican cultures
Aztec – Decline • Montezuma II reign – rebelling tribes • Spanish – Cortez conquered Aztecs in 1521
Inca – Location • Andes Mountains of South America – Southern Peru
Inca – Climate • Mountainous
Inca – Time Period • 1400- 1532 A.D.
Inca – Government • Believed that ruler was a descendent from the Sun god • Nobility – ruling families • Bureaucracy – used small groups to work for the common good • Built extensive road system to connect empire
Inca – Key City • Cuzco = capital • Machu Picchu – mysterious religious center or royal resort
Inca – Economy • Run by the state – regulated production of goods • Agriculture on terraced hillsides – maize and quinoa (grain)
Inca – Religion • Polytheistic – natural spirits of moons, stars, sun, thunder, etc. • 2 Calendars • Sacrifices
Partner Discussion Question • What might this be used for???
Inca – Writing • None, but had string/knot math/accounting system called quipu
Inca – Decline • Civil War between two sons of a king and Pizarro