Maya/Aztec/Inca

1. TheThe AmericasAmericas
~Maya~~Maya~
~Aztec~~Aztec~
~Inca~~Inca~

2. Americas MapAmericas Map

3. Andes Mountains

4. TheThe
AmericasAmericas

5. MayanMayan CivilizationCivilization
 Dates: 200-900
 Location: rain forests of
Guatemala and Yucatan
Peninsula (Mexican and
Central America rain forests
 Government: Independent
city-states ruled by kings
 Economy: Agriculture and
trade
 Achievements: Language,
math and sports
 Religion: Polytheistic and
built pyramids

6. One of the most important
city states was Chichén Itzá
Mayan CivilizationMayan Civilization
Represented by Chichén ItzáRepresented by Chichén Itzá

11. GovernmentGovernment
Most of these city-Most of these city-
states werestates were
governed bygoverned by
powerful Kingspowerful Kings
(warlords) and an(warlords) and an
elite class of priestselite class of priests
and noblesand nobles

12. EconomyEconomy
Cities were centers ofCities were centers of
trade & agriculturetrade & agriculture
Items traded includedItems traded included
jewelry, textiles,jewelry, textiles,
beeswax candles,beeswax candles,
flint tools, jadeflint tools, jade
ornaments, andornaments, and
agricultural itemsagricultural items
JewelryJewelry
textilestextiles

13. EconomyEconomy
The Maya did not have a single,The Maya did not have a single,
uniform system of currency butuniform system of currency but
instead often used the cacaoinstead often used the cacao
bean (source of chocolate)bean (source of chocolate)
Corn (ancestor of maize) was aCorn (ancestor of maize) was a
product of the Mayan civilization.product of the Mayan civilization.

14. AchievementsAchievements
Writing
An advanced
system of writing
made up of glyphs
or signs
Math
Understood the
concept of Zero

15. Sports
Invented the first
team sports (losers
were sacrificed)
Calendar
Observed the sun,
moon and planets
Calendar had
religious significance
AchievementsAchievements

16. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
Polytheistic – worshipped morePolytheistic – worshipped more
than 160 different godsthan 160 different gods
Gods were temperamental and hadGods were temperamental and had
to be appeased through offerings ofto be appeased through offerings of
precious metals, incense, andprecious metals, incense, and
blood.blood.

17. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
Blood sacrifice played a major role inBlood sacrifice played a major role in
their religious practicetheir religious practice
Mayan rulers had to undergo ritualMayan rulers had to undergo ritual
bloodletting and self torture. Kingsbloodletting and self torture. Kings
and priests frequently had to pierceand priests frequently had to pierce
their genitals to get blood to sacrifice.their genitals to get blood to sacrifice.
Their wives had to pierce theirTheir wives had to pierce their
tongues.tongues.

18. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
Mayans built pyramids upon whichMayans built pyramids upon which
Mayan priests would perform ritualsMayan priests would perform rituals
The heart would be cut from theThe heart would be cut from the
victim’s chest.victim’s chest.
Sometimes, a victim’s skin was wornSometimes, a victim’s skin was worn
by the priestby the priest
The victim’s limbs wouldThe victim’s limbs would
then be eatenthen be eaten

19. Chacmool – this reclining figure cradles a disk
which held human hearts that were offered to
gods in exchange for life-giving rain.

20. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
Calendars played a large role inCalendars played a large role in
Mayan life.Mayan life.
Every day represented aEvery day represented a
different god and two separatedifferent god and two separate
calendar systems ticked offcalendar systems ticked off
religious time and agriculturalreligious time and agricultural
time.time.

21. Astrological observations were so
important that religion and
astronomy were linked. The Mayans
developed a calendar that had two
parts.
1. A solar calendar
• 365 days divided into 18
months with 20 days each with
5 extra days at the end.
2. A calendar based on the moon
and the movement of Venus.
• This was a sacred calendar
with 260 days and 13 weeks of
20 days each.
The Mayan calendar says our
present world was created in 3114
B.C.E. and will end on December 21,
2012 C.E.

22. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
The calendar reflected carefulThe calendar reflected careful
observation of the sun, moon,observation of the sun, moon,
and planets.and planets.
The Maya calculated that a yearThe Maya calculated that a year
was 365.2420 days long (off bywas 365.2420 days long (off by
only .0002)only .0002)

23. Origin & DeclineOrigin & Decline
Mysterious beginnings and endings
Disappeared late in the 8th
century
Cities were abandoned
Perhaps their decline was in part due
to more and more victims for sacrifice.

24. Maya: Messages in StoneMaya: Messages in Stone

25. Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization
 Dates: 1200-1532
 Location: Andes
Mountains of South
America (Ecuador,
Chile, Peru)
 Government: Ruled by
Emperor
 Economy: Agriculture in
high altitudes
 Achievements: Quipu,
roads
 Religion: Polytheistic

26. Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization
Represented byRepresented by MachuMachu PicchuPicchu

27. Machu Picchu – located very high in the AndesMachu Picchu – located very high in the Andes
Mountains and characterized by stone buildings.Mountains and characterized by stone buildings.

31. Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization
Represented by CuzcoRepresented by Cuzco

32. Cuzco – capital city, strategicallyCuzco – capital city, strategically
located on top of a hilllocated on top of a hill
Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization

33. GovernmentGovernment
Ruled by an emperor who wasRuled by an emperor who was
considered to be the living sonconsidered to be the living son
of the Sun and who ruled withof the Sun and who ruled with
absolute authorityabsolute authority

34. GovernmentGovernment
The Inca had a large, well-The Inca had a large, well-
organized bureaucracy whichorganized bureaucracy which
was connected by 10,000was connected by 10,000
miles of roadwaysmiles of roadways
Government officials had toGovernment officials had to
literally run messages betweenliterally run messages between
citiescities

35. EconomyEconomy
An agrarian (agricultural) society which dependedAn agrarian (agricultural) society which depended
on farming for most of its economy.on farming for most of its economy.

36. EconomyEconomy
AgricultureAgriculture
in highin high
altitudes inaltitudes in
thethe
mountainsmountains
UsedUsed
TerracingTerracing
prevented water
from running off
too quickly

37. EconomyEconomy
They grew crops likeThey grew crops like
potatoes, corn, tomatoes,potatoes, corn, tomatoes,
and peanuts.and peanuts.
They also had an extensiveThey also had an extensive
irrigation system to helpirrigation system to help
them grow crops.them grow crops.

38. AchievementsAchievements
QuipuQuipu
UsedUsed QUIPUQUIPU ––
system of knots onsystem of knots on
a cord to recorda cord to record
importantimportant
information (recordinformation (record
keeping system)keeping system)
No writing systemNo writing system
Road SystemRoad System

39.  The Incas emphasized the arrangement ofThe Incas emphasized the arrangement of
space into a sacred geography made up ofspace into a sacred geography made up of
huacas.huacas.
A huaca refers to any person, place, or thing withA huaca refers to any person, place, or thing with
supernatural power. Examples includesupernatural power. Examples include
prominent features of the landscape, like mountainprominent features of the landscape, like mountain
peaks, stone outcroppings, or springspeaks, stone outcroppings, or springs
oddly shaped or colored pebbles and plants.oddly shaped or colored pebbles and plants.
Cuzco, the Incas' capital, was the religiousCuzco, the Incas' capital, was the religious
center of their universe. More than 300 of thecenter of their universe. More than 300 of the
most important huacas lie in the area aroundmost important huacas lie in the area around
Cuzco.Cuzco.
ReligionReligion

40.  The core of Incan religion was ancestor worship.The core of Incan religion was ancestor worship.
 Ancestors were venerated as protective spirits, andAncestors were venerated as protective spirits, and
the bodies and tombs of the dead were treated asthe bodies and tombs of the dead were treated as
sacred objects.sacred objects.
 The bodies of dead rulers were among theThe bodies of dead rulers were among the
holiest huacas in the Inca realm.holiest huacas in the Inca realm.
 The mummies of past rulers were direct, visible linksThe mummies of past rulers were direct, visible links
between the Incas and their pantheon.between the Incas and their pantheon.
 Maintaining these links, and thus maintaining theMaintaining these links, and thus maintaining the
proper order of the universe, required perpetual careproper order of the universe, required perpetual care
of the royal mummies.of the royal mummies.
ReligionReligion

41. DeclineDecline
The IncaThe Inca
Empire came toEmpire came to
an end in 1532an end in 1532
whenwhen
conquered byconquered by
the Spanishthe Spanish
conquistadors.conquistadors.
PizarroPizarro

42. AztecAztec CivilizationCivilization
 Dates: 1345-1521
 Location: In arid (dry)
valley in Central Mexican
Basin
 Government: Ruled by a
emperor with absolute
power
 Economy: Agriculture and
tribute from conquered
people
 Achievements : Tlachtli
 Religion: Polytheistic and
built pyramids; rituals
Aztec

43. AztecAztec CivilizationCivilization
Represented by TenochtitlanRepresented by Tenochtitlan

44. AztecAztec CivilizationCivilization
Tenochtitlan – capital city built on the shallow swamp knownTenochtitlan – capital city built on the shallow swamp known
as Lake Texcoco (located in current day Mexico City)as Lake Texcoco (located in current day Mexico City)

46. GovernmentGovernment
Aztecs - warrior people
Carved an empire out of the central
Mexican basin
Ruled by an emperor who had absolute
power.
The Aztec emperor exacted tribute from
their conquered peoples in the form of
goods like gold, silver, cloth, cacao beans,
and furs.
Tribute – A payment from conquered peoples

47. EconomyEconomy
The Aztecs gained great wealthThe Aztecs gained great wealth
from tributes.from tributes.
The Aztecs also grew great cropsThe Aztecs also grew great crops
on floating gardens calledon floating gardens called
chinampas.chinampas.
Chinampas were floating rafts piledChinampas were floating rafts piled
with dirt and organic material likewith dirt and organic material like
leaves creating rich, fertile soilleaves creating rich, fertile soil
which had its own water source.which had its own water source.

49. AchievementsAchievements
Invented Tlachtli:
A ballgame that uses
a rubber ball or heads
of sacrificed victims
No use of hands
Shoot the ball into a
hoop on the side of a
wall
No written Language

51. ReligionReligion
Polytheistic, but the mostPolytheistic, but the most
important god wasimportant god was
HuitzilopochtlHuitzilopochtl
Huitzilopochtl neededHuitzilopochtl needed
human blood to survive.human blood to survive.
Without it, the AztecsWithout it, the Aztecs
believed that the sunbelieved that the sun
would stop shining andwould stop shining and
the world would end.the world would end.

52. ReligionReligion
 Emperors and priestsEmperors and priests
would sacrifice in order towould sacrifice in order to
prevent such a disaster.prevent such a disaster.
 Humans were sacrificedHumans were sacrificed
atop pyramids in the Greatatop pyramids in the Great
TempleTemple
 Aztecs were said toAztecs were said to
sacrifice in such greatsacrifice in such great
numbers that blood ran innumbers that blood ran in
rivers down the stepsrivers down the steps

54. ReligionReligion
All Central/South AmericanAll Central/South American
cultures practiced some form ofcultures practiced some form of
human sacrificehuman sacrifice
The Aztecs sacrificed in farThe Aztecs sacrificed in far
greater numbers sacrificinggreater numbers sacrificing
20,000 to 50,000 people every20,000 to 50,000 people every
year. Many times sacrificedyear. Many times sacrificed
conquered peoples.conquered peoples.

55. DeclineDecline
The Aztecs, likeThe Aztecs, like
the Inca, fell tothe Inca, fell to
SpanishSpanish
Conquistadors.Conquistadors.
~Hernando Cortes~~Hernando Cortes~