Chapter 8.1

1. Chapter 8.1 History & Governments of Latin America

2. Early Native American Civilizations

3. The Olmec Civilization lasted from 1500 BC to 300 BC in southern Mexico.

4. The Olmec Cities focused depended on one another • Responsible for maize, jade, obsidian production

5. Other cities were religious centers with pyramid-shaped stone temples.

6. The Maya (Chitzinitza) • Civilization lasted between 300-900 AD. • Historians still cannot explain how the Maya disappeared

7. The Mayans used hieroglyphics to record the history of their kings. • They were also skilled at astronomy and developed a calendar.

8. The Toltec • Located in Northern Mexico.

9. They created the city of Tula (present day Mexico City).

10. Rulers controlled trade (monopoly) of obsidian and had the most powerful weapons in the area. • They were conquered by the Aztecs.

11. The Aztec • They created their capital – Tenochtitlan • The city held about 250,000 and had large temples

12. The Inca • The Inca had a very powerful civilization during the 1400s.

13. Their empire stretched across most of the Andes.

14. The Capital of the Inca was Cuzco and was located high in the Andes.