The document provides background information on three major civilizations in Central and South America from 2000 BC to the 16th century: the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas. It discusses their empires, important cities, architecture, economies based on agriculture, and religious practices including human sacrifices. Key achievements included the Mayas' accurate calendar, the Aztecs' large empire and city of Tenochtitlan built on a lake, and the Incas' extensive road network and mountainside agriculture. All three civilizations introduced new crops to Europe and had social hierarchies and tax systems led by religious and wealthy elites.

1. Aztecs, Mayas,
and Incas
UUnniitt 22:: BBaacckkggrroouunndd IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn

2. Agenda
Review three major civilizations that
existed in Central and South America from
2000 B.C until the arrival of the Spanish in
the 16th centuray
Discuss cultures, achievements

3. Mayas
The empire stretched
from the Gulf of
Mexico to present day
Honduras
Height of empire was
600-900 AD

4. The pyramid was used as a calendar:
four stairways, each with 91 steps and a
platform at the top, making a total of 365,
equivalent to the number of days in a
calendar year.
Mayas
Chichen Itza was an
important city in the
empire and became a
major market place
Chichen Itza

5. Tikal

6. Palenque

7. Mayas
Most houses were made
of adobe

8. Mayas
The Mayan economy was
based on agriculture.
They grew maize,
squash, and beans,
but they also grew
cash crops like
cotton.
They would travel
great distances to
trade their goods

9. Mayas
They had hundreds of
gods and goddesses.
They revolved around
nature. Agriculture
was important to the
Maya life so many of
the gods were related
to agriculture.

10. Mayas
They had a system of
writing (using
hieroglyphs) and
books made from the
bark of a fig tree
called codices.

11. Mayas
They had amazing
knowledge of
astronomy, creating
an accurate calendar,
plotting the
movements of the moon
and sun, and
calculating the
revolution of Venus
around the sun.

12. Aztec
s
The empire was 80,000
square miles and
stretched through
present day Central
and South America
Height of power was
between the 15th and
early 16th centuries

13. Aztec
s
The heart of the
Aztec Empire was
Tenochtitlan. It was
built on Lake Texcoco
and had roads and
bridges leading into
the heart of the
city.

14. Aztec
s
Most households were
made of adobe and
contained an open
area in the middle, a
kitchen, a shrine to
the gods, and bath
next door.

15. Aztec
s
The large population
and limited land
forced the Aztecs to
create floating farms
called Chinampas.

16. Aztec
s
The Aztec
had a
system of
writing
using
symbols

17. Aztec
s
The Aztecs were a
warring culture.
Warriors gained
prominence and status
by performing well in
battle. Young men
were trained at an
early age to be
warriors.

18. Aztec
s
They had hundreds of
gods and goddesses.
Like the Maya, the
gods revolved around
nature. Agriculture
was important to
Aztec life so many of
the gods were related
to agriculture. They
often made human
sacrifices to please
the gods.

19. Aztec
s
According to an Aztec
myth, the white-faced
Quetzacuatl - was their
most important god.
He is the god of
intelligence and the god
of creation.

20. Incas
The empire stretched
2,500 miles down the
west coast of South
America. The Inca
built roads
stretching throughout
the empire.
Height of power
between the 13th and
early 16th centuries

21. Incas
The Incas built their
cities on many types
of geography. Some
high in the Andes and
others along the
coast

22. Tiwanaku
Inca
The Incas built their
cities on many types
of geography. Some
high in the Andes and
others along the
coast

23. Cuzco

24. Incas
Most households were
made of stone

25. Incas
The economy was based
on agriculture and
mines. They mined
precious metals.
Just like Aztec
society, people had
to pay a tribute
(tax)

26. Incas
The empire was filled
with mountains so a
lot of the farming
was done on terraces.
In desert regions,
water was brought
through irrigation
systems

27. Incas
Religion was very
important. They
worshiped Viracocha.
They worshiped
natural forces they
called huacas. These
were usually related
to their crops or
agriculture.

28. Incas
They made exquisite
textiles for their
families and sold
them at the market

29. Comparing
Cultures
Based on Agriculture: These civilizations introduced chocolate
(cocoa), tomato, potato, peppers, peanuts and several other
foods to Europeans
They had a system of government with religious leaders and the
rich at the top. In Aztec culture you could gain status by being a
great warrior
The regular people paid taxes to the rich (fine metals and cocoa
beans were used)
Temples to honor the gods and to make sacrifices to keep
agriculture strong
They had great knowledge in mathematics and astronomy