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Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Ancient Civilizations of the Americas. Mesoamerica. Define Mesoamerica as it described on page 352 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Olmecs. The Olmecs.

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Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

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  1. Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

  2. Mesoamerica Define Mesoamerica as it described on page 352 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  3. Olmecs

  4. The Olmecs • Lived - near Gulf of Mexico around 1400-500 BC • Cities - large cities that were centers for religious rituals • Gov’t - Strong class of priests and aristocrats • Legacy – • Built 10ft high heads that weighed 40 tons & moved them 40 miles! • First to practice bloodletting • Laid foundation for future civs in Mexico

  5. The Olmecs

  6. Olmecs Mayans

  7. The Mayans • Lived – throughout S. Mexico to Central America between 300-900 AD • Cities – composed of complex city-states • Gov’t – hereditary ruling class

  8. The Mayans • Achievements: • Writing system – based on hieroglyphics. All books were burned by the Spanish • Accurate 365 day calendar • Developed a numbering system using zero • Magnificent palaces & pyramids (tallest in N. America until 1903)

  9. Olmecs Aztecs Mayans

  10. The Aztecs • Lived – conquered most of Mexico between 1200-1500 • Capital city: • Tenochtitlan (an island on Lake Texcoco) • Now the location of Mexico City • Gov’t – single ruler chosen by nobles & priests

  11. The Aztecs • Social classes • Warriors could rise to Noble status • Farmers majority of population (used chinampas or floating gardens) • Slaves could own land & buy freedom • Religion • Huitzilopochtli the sun god (chief god) • Battled the forces of darkness each night • Performed 1,000s of human sacrifices

  12. The Aztecs • Fell to Spanish in 1500s • Montezuma – Aztec ruler originally thought Spanish explorer, Hernan Cortes, was a representative of Quetzacoatl, the god who had departed from his homeland centuries before. • Spanish kidnapped Montezuma and killed him • Eventually Aztec empire fell due to diseases brought by Spanish.

  13. The Incans • Lived: conquered a vast empire in S. America stretching over 2,500+ miles. • Incan empire united by: • Strong Gov’t • Divine Right ruler • Nobles helped manage provinces (states)

  14. The Incans • Great road system • 12,000 miles (far surpassing Roman roads) • Easier to spread information & collect taxes • Move armies quickly

  15. Incan Roads & Bridges

  16. The Incans • Quipu (a.k.a. talking knots) • Colored thread or strings from llama or alpacahair • Used as recording devices by the Incans • Cords contained numeric and other values encoded by knots • Quipusmight have just a few or up to 2,000 cords.

  17. The Incans • Fall of the Incans • When Emperor died led to  civil war • Spanish invasion  60-90% died from smallpox • Legacy • Machu Picchu • Estate of Incan ruler • Built at 8k feet • Abandoned (b/c of Spainards) until 1911

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