Amerindian Civilizations in Latin America

Amerindian Civilizations in Latin America AP World History West Hills High School

100s of different culture groups each speaking their own language, living by own customs
Nonsedentary, semisedentary, and fully sedentary (Aztec, Maya, and Inca Empires) peoples

Aztec Empire (1200-1521)
Last in a series of cultures to develop in the Valley of Mexico (Tenochtitlan)
Nahuatl-speaking group known as the Mexica (where word “Mexico” originated)
Complex system of agriculture based on irrigation (chinampas)

Aztec Empire (1200-1521)
Collected tribute from surrounding city-states (food, clothing, weapons, precious metals and gems, slaves, sacrificial victims)
Hierarchical society: (King, priests & nobility, peasants, slaves)
Empire based on fear and human sacrifice
1521 conquered by Hernando Cortez and his men

Tenochtitlan View of Pyramid of the Moon and Sun, Tenochtitlan

Green = hope, fertility of the soil White = purity Red = blood shed during independence

Mayan Empire (400 BC-900 AD)
Occupied lower Mesoamerica (“People of the Corn”)
Fierce warriors, ritualistic bloodletting and human sacrifice
Sudden collapse in 900 CE
Military defeats
Crop failure
Overpopulation

“ Every culture looks different from the inside than it does from the outside.”

Inca Empire (1000-1532 AD)
Ruled over people from 100s of different tribes
Maintained control through:
Large army
Advanced agriculture, building & engineering methods (especially roads and bridges)
Common language (Quechua)
Conquered by Francisco Pizarro in 1532

Similarities?
Rigid class system (stratified)
Polytheistic
Extensive trade networks
Human sacrifice
Tribute & constant warfare
Advanced mathematics, calendars, and astronomy - why?

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Amerindian Civilizations in Latin America

by Dan McDowell on Jan 07, 2007

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Amerindian Civilizations in Latin America — Presentation Transcript