Some of the greatest civilizations in the Americas developed in Mesoamerica The Maya and Aztec lived in the Mesoamerican region

1. Maya, Aztec, and IncaMaya, Aztec, and Inca
CivilizationsCivilizations

2. MesoamericaMesoamerica
Mesoamerica = Mexico & Central AmericaMesoamerica = Mexico & Central America

3. MesoamericaMesoamerica
 Some of the greatest civilizations in theSome of the greatest civilizations in the
Americas developed inAmericas developed in MesoamericaMesoamerica
 TheThe MayaMaya andand AztecAztec lived in thelived in the
Mesoamerican regionMesoamerican region

4. How did peoplefirst get to theHow did peoplefirst get to the
Americas?Americas?
 Theory #1 =Theory #1 = Bering land bridgeBering land bridge
Humans migrated into North AmericaHumans migrated into North America
from Asia by crossing over a land bridgefrom Asia by crossing over a land bridge
between Alaska and Siberia…between Alaska and Siberia…

6. How did peoplefirst get to theHow did peoplefirst get to the
Americas?Americas?
 Theory #2 =Theory #2 = Coastal migrationCoastal migration
Humans migrated to the Americas byHumans migrated to the Americas by
crossing the seas, most likely the Pacificcrossing the seas, most likely the Pacific
Ocean, and settling along the western coastsOcean, and settling along the western coasts
of the Americas…of the Americas…

7. Wheredid theancientWheredid theancient MayaMaya live?live?
 TheThe MayaMaya settled on the Yucatansettled on the Yucatan
PeninsulaPeninsula in central America.in central America.

8. MayaPolitical StructureMayaPolitical Structure
 The Maya were NOT AN EMPIRE andThe Maya were NOT AN EMPIRE and
NOT UNITED politically…NOT UNITED politically…
 Maya civilization was made up ofMaya civilization was made up of city-city-
statesstates
 Each city-state had its own rulerEach city-state had its own ruler

10. MayaArchitectureMayaArchitecture
 built towering temples and palacesbuilt towering temples and palaces
 Atop the temples, priests performed religiousAtop the temples, priests performed religious
ceremonies and sacrifices while people watchedceremonies and sacrifices while people watched
from the plazas belowfrom the plazas below
 Ceremonial platforms, temples, pyramids,Ceremonial platforms, temples, pyramids,
observatories, ball courts all built by the Mayaobservatories, ball courts all built by the Maya

11. MayaReligionMayaReligion
 The Maya were polytheisticThe Maya were polytheistic
 The Maya practiced human sacrificeThe Maya practiced human sacrifice

14. Advancesin learningAdvancesin learning
 The Maya created a writing system ofThe Maya created a writing system of
hieroglyphicshieroglyphics

15. Advancesin learningAdvancesin learning
 The Maya created a set of numeralsThe Maya created a set of numerals
 Also developed a 365-day calendarAlso developed a 365-day calendar

16. What happened to theMaya?What happened to theMaya?
 The Maya abandoned many of their citiesThe Maya abandoned many of their cities
around 900 A.D.around 900 A.D.
 Archaeologists DO NOT KNOW WHYArchaeologists DO NOT KNOW WHY
Maya civilization declinedMaya civilization declined
 Theory: Around 900A.D. there was aTheory: Around 900A.D. there was a
severe drought. Many died due tosevere drought. Many died due to
starvation others migrated away.starvation others migrated away.

17. MayatodayMayatoday
……more than 2 million Maya people live inmore than 2 million Maya people live in
Guatemala and southern Mexico today.Guatemala and southern Mexico today.

18. Maya Video ClipMaya Video Clip
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=
This National Geographic video shows the MayanThis National Geographic video shows the Mayan
Pyramids. It is part of the series Lost Temples and itPyramids. It is part of the series Lost Temples and it
tries to give an answerto the question "Why did thetries to give an answerto the question "Why did the
Maya abandon theirmagnificent city of Chichen Itza?"Maya abandon theirmagnificent city of Chichen Itza?"
There is reference to Maya culture.There is reference to Maya culture.

19. AztecsAztecs

20. Wheredid theAztecslive?Wheredid theAztecslive?
 The Aztecs lived inThe Aztecs lived in what is known aswhat is known as thethe
Valley of MexicoValley of Mexico in central Mexicoin central Mexico..

21. TenochtitlanTenochtitlan
 TenochtitlanTenochtitlan was the capital city of thewas the capital city of the
Aztec Empire.Aztec Empire.

22. Legend of TenochtitlanLegend of Tenochtitlan
The gods told the Aztecs to search for anThe gods told the Aztecs to search for an
eagle holding a snake in its beak perchedeagle holding a snake in its beak perched
atop a cactus. This is where they were toatop a cactus. This is where they were to
build their capital city. The Aztecs sawbuild their capital city. The Aztecs saw
this sign on a swampy island in lakethis sign on a swampy island in lake
Texcoco.Texcoco.

23. Legend of TenochtitlanLegend of Tenochtitlan

24. How did theAztecsbuild acity in theHow did theAztecsbuild acity in the
center of alake?center of alake?
 Tenochtitlan was built on an islandTenochtitlan was built on an island
 It was connected to the mainland byIt was connected to the mainland by
causewayscauseways leading north, south, andleading north, south, and
west of the city.west of the city.
 The city was interlaced with a series ofThe city was interlaced with a series of
canals, so that all sections of the city couldcanals, so that all sections of the city could
be visited either on foot or by canoe.be visited either on foot or by canoe.

25. TenochtitlanTenochtitlan
 Today, Tenochtitlan isToday, Tenochtitlan is
Mexico CityMexico City

26. GovernmentGovernment
 The Aztecs created an empire throughThe Aztecs created an empire through
conquestconquest
 Conquered people and local rulers had toConquered people and local rulers had to
paypay tributetribute to the Aztecsto the Aztecs
 The Aztecs had an emperorThe Aztecs had an emperor
 The Aztec Emperor’s main job was to leadThe Aztec Emperor’s main job was to lead
in warin war

27. Religion & MythologyReligion & Mythology
 Aztecs were polytheisticAztecs were polytheistic
 Huitzilopochtli wasHuitzilopochtli was
the main Aztec god.the main Aztec god.
(weets se lo poch tlee)(weets se lo poch tlee)
 The Aztecs built massive temples andThe Aztecs built massive temples and
pyramids dedicated to their godspyramids dedicated to their gods

28. Religion & MythologyReligion & Mythology
Pyramid of the SunPyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the MoonPyramid of the Moon

29. Human SacrificeHuman Sacrifice
 Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs.Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs.
 For the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of TenochtitlanFor the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan
in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400
prisoners over the course of four days.prisoners over the course of four days.
 To give the sun strength to riseTo give the sun strength to rise
each day, human sacrifices wereeach day, human sacrifices were
offered.offered.

30. What happened to theAztecs?What happened to theAztecs?
 Spanish conquistadors led bySpanish conquistadors led by Hernan CortesHernan Cortes
conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecsconquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs
in 1521.in 1521.

31. Aztec Video ClipsAztec Video Clips
““ Engineering An Empire”Engineering An Empire”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=6255VideoID=6255
““ What theAncientsDid For Us”What theAncientsDid For Us”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=10964VideoID=10964

32. IncaInca

33. Wheredid theIncalive?Wheredid theIncalive?
 The Inca controlled an empire in theThe Inca controlled an empire in the AndesAndes
MountainMountain region of South America.region of South America.

34. GovernmentGovernment
 TheThe Sapa IncaSapa Inca (emperor) had absolute power.(emperor) had absolute power.
 The emperor claimed to be theThe emperor claimed to be the son of the sunson of the sun..
 The emperor was also the empire’s religiousThe emperor was also the empire’s religious
leader.leader.
 The empire was divided into four regions withThe empire was divided into four regions with
the capital atthe capital at CuzcoCuzco..

35. Uniting theEmpireUniting theEmpire
 The Inca built a massive road networkThe Inca built a massive road network
through mountains and across rivers andthrough mountains and across rivers and
gorges.gorges.

36. StoneworkStonework
 The Inca constructed stone temples withoutThe Inca constructed stone temples without
using mortars yet the stones fit together so wellusing mortars yet the stones fit together so well
that a knife would not fit between the stones.that a knife would not fit between the stones.

37. ReligionReligion
 The Inca were polytheistic.The Inca were polytheistic.
 The primary god wasThe primary god was IntiInti, the sun god., the sun god.

38. ReligionReligion
 Inca believed inInca believed in reincarnationreincarnation..
 The Inca practicedThe Inca practiced cranial deformationcranial deformation ..
-They achieved this by wrapping tight cloth-They achieved this by wrapping tight cloth
straps around the heads of newborns to alter thestraps around the heads of newborns to alter the
shape of their soft skulls into a cone-like shape.shape of their soft skulls into a cone-like shape.

39. Medical AdvancesMedical Advances
 The Inca performed successful skullThe Inca performed successful skull
surgery.surgery.
 The Inca also used medicines to makeThe Inca also used medicines to make
patients unconscious during surgerypatients unconscious during surgery

40. OrganizationOrganization
 Each family in a community was assignedEach family in a community was assigned
a specific job.a specific job.
 Government officials arranged marriages.Government officials arranged marriages.
 The government organized mandatoryThe government organized mandatory
public service building projects.public service building projects.

41. What happened to theInca?What happened to theInca?
 Civil war in the empire broke out...Civil war in the empire broke out...
ANDAND
 Smallpox spread, killing much of theSmallpox spread, killing much of the
Inca…Inca…

42. Fall of theIncaFall of theInca
 BUT ultimately, it was Spanish conquistadors ledBUT ultimately, it was Spanish conquistadors led
byby Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro that brought about thethat brought about the
fall of the Inca Empire.fall of the Inca Empire.

43. IncaVideo ClipIncaVideo Clip
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=2301VideoID=2301