The document provides an overview of four major pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas: the Maya, Inca, Olmec, and Aztec. Each civilization is characterized by unique geographical locations, cultural practices, governmental structures, and significant contributions such as sophisticated calendars, architecture, and art. Additionally, the document touches on ancient African civilizations, highlighting their advancements in tools and contributions to music and art.

1. MAYAN CIVILIZATION

2. Introduction
The Mayan civilization was a complex and
sophisticated civilization in Central and North
America that existed from antiquity to the early
modern period. 250 CE.- 900 CE

3. Mayan
Geography
They are located to what
is now Mexico,
Guatemala, Belize,
western Honduras, and El
Salvador

4. Mayan
Culture
Mayans ties beads and
boards on their
children's forehead.

5. Mayan
Culture
They were an agriculture
based society. They grow
corn, beans, and squash,
and practice many of the
same crafts, such as
weaving and pottery

6. MAYAN
CONTRIBUTIONS

7. MAYAN CALENDAR
Mayan developed two
different calendars; the Haab
and the Tzolk'in.
The Haab have 365 days
divided into 18 months–20
days plus 5 days called
uayeb. Tzolk'in have 260 days
divided into 13 months–
20 days each.

8. NUMBER SYSTEM
The Mayan numeral
system was a base-20
system used by the
ancient Mayans to
represent numbers and
calendar dates, also
known as vigesimal
system.

9. MAYAN HIEROGLYPHS
Developed hieroglyphic-
style writing to record
astronomical
observations, calendar,
calculations, & historical
information

10. MAYAN BOOK
It is called "Codex"

11. MAYAN RELIGION
Their religion is called "Polytheistic"

12. MAYAN BALL GAME
The ball was very hard to
get through the hoop.
Because of this, when u
player successfully got the
ball through hoop, the
spectators would have to
give inim their jewelry

13. MAYAN BALL COURT
The court was
shaped like an
upper case, many
believe it to be the
first team sport.

14. -INCA-
The Inca civilization was a pre-Columbian empire
that flourished in the Peruvian highlands.
Known as Tawantinsuyu and the capital is Cusco.
They are located to what is now Peru.

15. INCA
GEOGRAPHY
The Inca Empire, also known as
Tawantinsuyu. Tawa means 4, ntin
means group and suyu is region.
•Chinchaysuyu (north)
•Antisuyu (east)
•Cuntisuyu (west)
•Collasuyu (south)

16. INCA
GOVERNMENT The Sapa Inca was all-powerful.
Everything belonged to the
Sapa Inca. He ruled his people
by putting his relatives in
positions of power. Since
punishment was harsh and
swift, almost no one broke the
law

17. INCA
GOVERNMENT
Local officials had the power to
make all decisions about the
lives of the people they ruled.
Inspectors visited frequently to
check on things. Breaking the
law usually meant the death
penalty.

18. INCA
COMMONERS
The Incas were very class
conscious and were divided
into nobles and common
people. The nobles pretty
much did what they
wanted, while the common
people were tightly
controlled by the
government

19. INCA
TAX
Each common person was listed in
the consus. Each person listed had
to pay a tax. The Incas loved gold
and silver, but they had no use for
money. The people paid their tax
each year in physical labor-serving
in the army, working in the mines, or
building roads, temples, and
palaces.

20. Machu Picchu and
Inca Road
High in the Andes Mountains. the Incas connected their empire
with 14,000 miles of well-built roads. Some sections of road
were over 24 foot wide. Some were even paved. Some roads
were so steep that the Incas built stone walls along the edge to
prevent people from falling off the cliff.

21. QUI
PU
To keep records. The Inca
used quipus which are
knotted cords used as
counting tools and it is
their way communication.

22. -OLMEC-
The Olmecs were the first major
civilization in Mesoamerica, living in the
tropical lowlands of present-day Mexico.
1200 BCE-400 BCE

23. OLMEC
GEOGRAPHY
The Olmec civilization was
located in the hot, humid
lowlands of the Gulf of Mexico
coast in what is now southern
Mexico. The Olmecs lived in the
region that is now the states of
Tabasco and Veracruz

24. OLMEC
SCULPTURE HEADOlmecs is known
for their huge
sculpture of heads

25. OLMEC GREAT
PYRAMID
The first civilization to
create pyramids.

26. OLMEC
HIEROGLYPHS
•The Olmec used an
early form of glyph
writing to record events,
dates, and to tell stories.

27. OLMEC
CALENDAR
They developed a
calendar that was
amazingly accurate for
its time. Combination of
Haab and Tzolk'in.

28. OLMEC'S POT-
A-TOK
Shooting a rubber ball
through a stone ring
without using your hands
or feet.

29. OLMEC
JEWELRY
They mainly traded for luxury
items such as precious stones.
Were known for making wein
from these gems and stones
Knowledge and ideas were also
exchanged at these trade
centers.

30. HEAD SCULPTURE AS
KINGS
These realistic sculptures are
thought to be portraits of Olmec
kings who ruled from palaces in
San Lorenzo and La Venta. The
heads depict individual rulers with a
variety of facial expressions, and
were likely created from living or
recently deceased rulers.

31. -AZTEC-

32. The Aztecs, is originated as a nomadic tribe in northern
Mexico, arrived in Mesoamerica around the beginning
of the 13th century. From their magnificent capital city,
Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs emerged as the dominant force
in central Mexico, developing an intricate social,
political, religious and commercial organization that
brought many of the region’s city-states under their
control by the 15th century. Invaders led by the Spanish
conquistador Hernán Cortés overthrew the Aztec
Empire by force and captured Tenochtitlan in 1521,
bringing an end to Mesoamerica’s last great native
civilization.

33. Hernán Cortés is best known for conquering the Aztecs
and claiming Mexico on behalf of Spain. Cortés (Don
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano) first
served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego
Velázquez in 1511.
In 1519, Cortés was set to command his own expedition to
Mexico when Velázquez cancelled it. Cortés ignored the
order and traveled to Mexico, setting his sights on
overthrowing ruler Montezuma II in the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs eventually drove the Spanish
from Tenochtitlan, but Cortés returned to defeat the
natives and take the city in 1521. He spent much of his
later years seeking recognition for his achievements and
support from the Spanish royal court.
WHO IS?

34. Early Aztec History
The exact origins of the Aztec people are
uncertain, but they are believed to have begun
as a northern tribe of hunter-gatherers whose
name came from their homeland Aztlan, or
“White Land” in the Aztec language of
Nahuatl.

35. The Aztec Empire, known for its
rich culture and significant
influence in Mesoamerica,
flourished from the 14th to the 16th
centuries. Centered in what is now
Mexico City, the empire was
characterized by its impressive
architecture, advanced agricultural
practices, and complex social
structure.
At the heart of the Aztec civilization was Tenochtitlan, an island city that showcased
stunning temples, palaces, and a sophisticated system of canals. The Aztecs were
known for their impressive engineering feats, including the construction of
chinampas, or floating gardens, which allowed them to maximize agricultural
production.

36. THE AZTEC
CALENDAR
Xiuhpohualli- has 365 days. It
describes the days and rituals related to
the seasons, and therefor might be called
the agricultural year or the solar year.
Tonalpohualli- or day-count has 260
days, it is called a sacred calendar. It
divides the days and rituals between the
gods.

37. THE AZTEC
RELIGION
The Aztecs had a noble priest class that played a
key role in their religious practices. Priests were
responsible for collecting tributes, ensuring there
were enough goods for sacrifices, and training
young men to impersonate deities.

38. THE AZTEC
LANGUAGE
The language of the Aztecs was Nahuatl, an
indigenous language spoken in Central Mexico. It
was the lingua franca of the Aztec Empire, which
ruled Mexico from the 14th to 16th centuries.

39. Did you know? The Aztec language, Nahuatl,
was the dominant language in central Mexico
by the mid-1350s. Numerous Nahuatl words
borrowed by the Spanish were later absorbed
into English as well, including chile or chili,
avocado, chocolate, coyote...

40. THE AZTEC
GOVERNMENT
The Aztec Empire was ruled by a
monarch called the Huey Tlatoani,
who had semi-divine status. The Huey
Tlatoani was the ruler of the capital
city, Tenochtitlan, and the entire
empire. Other major cities were ruled
by tlatoanis, who were like kings or
high lords.

41. -AFRICA-

42. INTRODUCTIO
N
Africa is home to some of the oldest and
strongest civilizations on Earth, and people
have lived there for over three million years.
Africa is also believed to be the birthplace
of modern humans.

43. AFRICA
GEOGRAPHY
Africa is the world's second-largest
continent, spanning almost 12
million square miles. It's located in
the south of Europe and west of
India, and is bordered by the
Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean,
and Atlantic Ocean.

44. AFRICA
CULTURE
Maasai culture is a semi-nomadic
lifestyle in East Africa that centers
around cattle herding. The Maasai
are a pastoral people who live in
Kenya and Tanzania.

45. The governments of ancient African civilizations
were usually led by kings or queens, with a
centralized administration. The kings had near
absolute power, and the government structure was
often maintained even when one empire replaced
another.
AFRICA
GOVERNMENT

46. AFRICA
CONTRIBUTIONS
African civilizations have contributed to the
world in many ways, including science,
technology, art, and more.

47. Bone tools are believed to have originated in
Africa. The earliest evidence of bone tools
comes from sites in South Africa and date back
to at least 70,000 years ago.

48. Copper and iron were used in
Africa to make tools, weapons,
and jewelry. Iron was also used to
make agricultural tools, which
helped to increase the amount of
food that could be produced.

49. Art and music
Blues, reggae, jazz, and
Afrobeat:
These genres of music originated
in Africa.

50. African head sculptures include the
Lydenburg Heads from South Africa
and the Nok heads from Nigeria. These
sculptures are examples of the early
African Iron Age and terracotta figure
production.

51. Thank You!