Mesoamerican Societies

1. North America
South America
Andes Mts.
Yucatan
Peninsula

2. Toltec Empire
Aztec Empire Mayan Empire
Geographic commonalities?
Incan Empire

3. Maize =
Foundation of
Mesoamerican
agriculture

4. Aztec religious temple
in Mexico

5. Chichen Itza
Mayan religious temple

6. Machu Picchu
Incan city in Andes Mts.

7. Incan
Terrace
Farming

8. Incan Potato Farming
Important addition to maize-based diet and economy

9. Incan road system

10. The llama: Beast of burden in the Andes Mountains
Key advantage to the Incan civilization
No other beasts of burden in the Americas.

11. Part of massive Incan road system through the Andes Mountains

12. Toltec Empire
Aztec Empire
1200-1521
Mayan Empire
250 B.C.E.-900 C.E.
968 C.E. - 1150?
Warm Up: Commonalities?
Incan Empire
1438 C.E. - 1535

14. Chinampas

15. Chinampas = Aztec farming technique

16. Chinampas
Aztec farming technique

17. Chinampas
Aztec farming technique

18. Chinampas = Aztec farming technique

19. Aztec Chinampas farming technique

20. Main Purpose Reason for Technique/Obstacle being overcome
Aztec
Chinampa
System
Beneficial Characteristics
How Constructed Addition Benefits to Society

21. Map Label from pg. 23 in Atlas
Pacific Ocean Cities
Atlantic Ocean Tenochtitlan
North America Chichen Itza
South America Cuzco
Mesoamerica
Gulf of Mexico
Amazon River
Andes Mountains
Yucatan Peninsula
Caribbean Sea
Mayas
Aztec Empire
Incan Empire
Incan Road System

22. Major Civilizations of the Western Civilization
Characteristics of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations
Characteristic Mayans Aztecs Incas
Dates 250 B.C. – A.D. 900 A.D. 1200 – 1521 A.D. 1438 - 1535
Location Central American rain
forest – Yucatan
Peninsula
Valley in Central Mexico –
modern Mexico City
Andes Mountains – west
coast of South America
Represented by Chichen Itza Tenochtitlan Machu Picchu
Political
Style/Rule
Independent city-states;
ruled by god-kings
Emperor Emperor
Economy
(Based on?)
Agriculture & trade
Mainly Maize!
Agriculture
Mainly Maize!
+ Tribute from conquered peoples
High-altitude, terrace
agriculture; Maize,
potatoes & variety of
other crops
Religion Polytheistic/animistic –
ancestor + sun worship
pyramids/temples + human
sacrifice
Polytheistic/animistic;
pyramids/temples
Ancestor + Sun God
Extensive human sacrifice!!
Polytheistic/animistic
ancestor + sun worship
Achievements/
Characteristics
Advances = math, calendars,
astronomy
Most advanced writing!
No beast of burden!
Mysterious decline
Society based on warfare, expansion
and tribute!
- Calendars
- No beast of burden!
Conquered by Spanish
Extensive road system
Linked empire + helped rule
Llama for trade/travel &
labor
Conquered by Spanish

23. Chart Analysis
1. Politically, how did the Mayas differ from the Aztecs and Incas?
2. What main crop was the foundation of agriculture for the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas?
3. Write a sentence describing the religious commonality between the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas.
4. Write a sentence describing a religious difference between the groups.
5. How may the Mayas have benefitted from their achievements?
6. Who do you think was the most war-like and aggressive of the 3 groups?
7. Why do you think the Incas needed an extensive road system more than the Mayas & Aztecs?
8. Which 2 groups were more influenced by the Europeans? Why?
9. Why were the Incas better able to utilize an extensive road system and carry on longer-distance trade
compared to the Aztecs and Mayas?

24. Treaty of Tordesillas
Created 7 June 1494 in
Tordesillas, Spain
Ratified 2 July 1494 in Spain
5 September 1494 in
Portugal
Authors Pope Alexander VI
Signatories Ferdinand II of Aragon
John II of Portugal
Purpose To divide trading and
colonizing rights for
all newly discovered
lands between Spain
and Portugal to the
exclusion of other
European nations
Most of S. Amer & all of N.Amer. To Spain
Brazil to Portugal

25. Spain
Portugal
Most of S. Amer
& all of N.Amer.
to Spain
Brazil to Portugal
1494