A Critique of the Proposed National Education Policy Reform
Ancient Cultures of the Americas
1. January 21, 2015
Agenda
– Ancient Cultures
Warm-up
Tell me what you know
about the Aztec, Incan and
Mayan cultures.
B.C.E. (B.C.= Before Christ) stands for
"Before the Common Era" when we are
discussing historic timelines.
C.E. (A.D.= After Death of Christ) stands
for "Common Era" when we are
discussing historic timelines.
The western calendar is measured starting
with his birth, meaning he was born in the
year 0. However, most scholars and
historians now agree that he was likely
born several years before.
6. Who were the Maya? Where?
Southern Mexico, Belize,
Guatemala
When?
1000BC to about 1000AD
What kind of people?
Small city states, farmers and traders.
Mathematicians- Invented the 0 in
36BC, before most people.
Astronomers- Maya calendar is still
accurate, very complex.
Advanced cities - Chichen Itza, Tulum,
Palenque, Tikal
What happened to Maya?
Overpopulated cities collapsed
Survivors dispersed throughout Central
America
Culture diffused because of trade and
military alliances
Unlike the relatively centralized Aztec
and Inca empires, the Maya civilization
was a loose aggregation of city-states.
18. Who were the Aztec? Where
Central Mexico
Capital city was Tenochtitlan, on Lake Texcoco.
When?
1300AD to 1500AD
What kind of people?
Hierarchical society
– 1. Emperor
– 2. Nobles
– 3. Warriors
– 4. Farmers
– 5. Slaves
– Empire centered on war and religious sacrifice
What happened to Aztecs?
Defeated by Hernan de Cortez (Spanish) in 1519, with
native allies
Most Aztecs later died from European diseases, such as
Smallpox
Mestizo- Interbreeding made a new Mexican “race”, ½
Indian ½ Spanish.
35. Who were the Inca?
Where
Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador ,Chile(Andes Mountains)
Capital was Cuzco, Peru
Machu Picchu was last stronghold of Inca
When?
1200AD to 1533AD
What kind of people?
Similar to Aztec, not as warlike
Empire was large, structured, and advanced
Famous for gold art and statues
Terrace farming on mountainsides,
Extensive road network. (20,000 miles)
Polytheistic religion
Quechua Language – still spoken
What happened to the Inca?
Defeated by Francisco Pizarro in 1533
Incans enslaved to mine gold and silver for Spain.
48. The Nazca Lines
The Nazca are shrouded in mystery. Estimated dates
of the civilization's existence are 300 B.C. to 800 A.D.
Even more intriguing are the Nazca Lines, about 300
geolyphs carved into the Pampa coastal plains of Peru,
an area south of Lima and the contours of the Andes.
In total, the lines cover almost 400 square miles of
desert. But the methods behind the creation and the
purpose of the lines are still unknown.
Nazca Lines video - 3 min.
49. Guns, Germs, and Steel
As you watch the video answer the questions
that you have written down.