16.2 Maya Kings and Cities

1. 16.2 Maya Kings and Cities • Environment – Dry forest of the Yucatan, dense jungles of the south eastern Mexico • Urban Centers – City States Such as TIKAL, each ruled by a god-king, comprised of giant pyramids, temples and palaces • Economy – based on trade and farming sophisticated methods such as planting on raised platforms above swaps and on hillside terraces • Social Structure – three social classes; nobles (priests and warriors), middle class (merchants and artisans), lower class of peasants. • Religion – polytheistic, offered human sacrifices • Achievements – developed calendar, math astronomy and writing system

2. 16.3 The Aztecs • 1. Nomads who has to adapt to warlike ways of city states • 2. Waged War to gain control over neighboring regions • 3. Polytheistic; religion played a major role in society • 4. They needed to connect the island site of Tenochtitlan to the mainland • 5. Believed that without the regular offerings of blood the sun God would not make the sun rise and all would perish • 6. They needed a way to keep track of when to perform religious duties – calendar • 7. The Aztecs demanded more and more sacrificial victims from the provinces under their control • 8. Montezuma II tried to reduce the pressure on provinces by reducing the number of paid officials; reduce higher tributes