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Unit 1: Cultures of the Americas, Africa, and Europe

Unit 1: Cultures of the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Part 2: Early American Settlements Mesoamerica and South America. Mesoamerican Cultures. Meso - Greek for middle Present day Southern and Central Mexico and Central America 5 Major Cultural Groups of Mesoamerica Olmec Teotihuac á n

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Unit 1: Cultures of the Americas, Africa, and Europe

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  1. Unit 1: Cultures of the Americas, Africa, and Europe Part 2: Early American Settlements Mesoamerica and South America

  2. Mesoamerican Cultures • Meso - Greek for middle • Present day Southern and Central Mexico and Central America • 5 Major Cultural Groups of Mesoamerica • Olmec • Teotihuacán • Maya • Toltec • Aztec

  3. Mesoamerican Cultures • Olmecs • Emerged @ 1500/1200 BC near present day Vera Cruz, Mexico • Most well known for large sculpted heads • Evidence of their existence until 300 BC • Many of the characteristics of cultures of this region can be traced back to the Olmecs

  4. Mesoamerican Cultures • Teotihuacán • 300-650 BC • 1st large city in the Americas • Located near present day Mexico City, Mexico • Hub of trade in the region • Large deposits of obsidian used to make tools and weapons

  5. Maya Emerged @ 200AD on the Yucatan Peninsula and expanded into Central American and Southern Mexico Small chiefdoms that shared a cultural identity and often warred with one another 900 AD cities abandoned, except in Guatemala where they continued to flourish until 1500 AD Mesoamerican Cultures Chichen Itza Tikal

  6. Toltec Dominated much of Central Mexico between 900 and 1200 AD Capital city of Tula Well –known for architectural achievements 1200 AD wiped out by the Chichimec Mesoamerican Cultures

  7. Aztec Related to the Chichimec and often called Mexica 1325 established their capital city - Tenochtitlan near present day Mexico City Conquered neighbors and expanded their empire Flourishing at the time of European contact Mesoamerican Cultures

  8. Mesoamerican Cultures • Common Characteristics • Calendar systems • Counting systems • Pictographic written language • Human sacrifice (some groups) • Polytheism – belief in many gods • Astrology – study of stars and planets • Ceremonial centers • Afterlife • Government

  9. South American Cultures • Inca • Early 1400’s – European discovery • Present day Peru • Leader called Inca • Collective ownership of land • Separated political and religious life (unlike other cultures) • Advanced Medicine – brain surgery • Complex Road System • Moral Code: do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy • Precision of construction

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