The document provides information about pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica and South America, including the Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec, Chavín, Nazca, Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. It discusses the origins, locations, achievements, and influences of these civilizations. It also describes how the arrival of European explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro in the 16th century led to the collapse of the Aztec and Inca empires through violence, disease, and the imposition of new social and political systems.

1. Pre-Columbian Civilizations
6a,6b,26b
We will take notes and learn about the impact of Aztec, Maya, and
Inca Civilizations so that we will complete Aztec, Maya, Inca activities

2. Prior Civilizations

3. Olmec civilization (1200 BC-400 BC)
• influenced Maya civilization
• Mesoamerica’s “Mother Culture”
• Mexico’s Gulf coast
• Large stone monuments and earthen
pyramids
• Elite ruling class of priests and nobles
• Large trade network throughout
Mesoamerica

4. Zapotec civilization (1000 BC-600 AD)
Toltec (c. 800-1000 AD)
• Influenced Aztec Culture
• Built capital at Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City)
• Established a professional military and were noted warriors,
which supported territorial expansion and empire-building
• Stone temples and pyramids
• Calendar based on movement of the Sun
• Hieroglyphic writing
• Toltec religious practices and mythology influenced Aztec
culture

5. Chavín (900 BC-200 BC)/Nazca (200 BC-600 AD)
• influenced Inca civilization
• Chavin-religious civilization
featuring temples; religious images
and styles of art spread throughout
Peru
• Nazca – irrigation systems that
included underground canals;
textiles and pottery; Nazca Lines
(large drawings on soil of their
gods)

6. Maps

7. Aztec, Maya, Inca

8. Maya (1500b.c.-1546 a.d.)
• Each Mayan city had its own chief who was considered
half man and half god
• Maya astronomers measured movement of sun, moon and
Venus
• Engaged in frequent warfare and practiced human sacrifice
• 9th century Mayans experienced a great crisis.
Archaeologist do not know if a food shortage, epidemic,
or great war ended this civilizations
• There are still Mayans alive to this day

9. Aztec(1200-1521)
• 1300 settled on an island in the center of the valley of
Mexico (Tenochtitlan)
• Grew crops on floating islands with main crop being corn
• Aligned their temples based on the movement of the sun
and moon
• Engaged in frequent wars to conquer other people until
European explorers arrive
• Believed in many gods some of which required human
sacrifice

10. Inca (1200-1535)
• Empire that covered much of present day Peru in the
Andes mountains
• Built stone roads 10,000’s of miles
• Relied on potatoes and root vegetable crops
• No writing system then used QUIPU which is bundles of
knots and colored ropes to keep count and records
• Superb engineers they create Manchu Picchu that still
stands today

11. Assignment-Jarette book pages 180-183 Information for
each civilization
MAYA AZTEC INCA
1. Location of the
civilization and
year
2.
What is the impact
of the society
today?
3. Give 3 Major
achievements of
the civilization
Colored
Picture
1. Location of the
civilization and
year
2.
What is the impact
of the society
today?
3. Give 3 Major
achievements of
the civilization
1. Location of the
civilization and
year
2.
What is the impact
of the society
today?
3. Give 3 Major
achievements of
the civilization
INSIDE FOLDABLE
Pre- Columbian
Civilizations (Aztecs,
Mayans, Incas)
OUTSIDE FOLDABLE
Colored
Picture
Colored
Picture

12. European explorers and the collapse of
Mesoamerican civilizations

13. Hernando Cortes (1519)
• Sailed from Cuba to Mexico in search of gold and
silver
• Cortez met Aztec ruler Montezuma who believed
the Spaniards were gods and showered them with
gifts
• In 1521 Hernan Cortez allied with enemies of the
Aztecs attacked the capital city of Tenochtitlan
destroying it
• Spaniards won due to the fact that they had guns,
steel, swords, shields , dogs, horses and cannons
• Small pox brought by the Europeans also helped
destroy the Aztec empire

14. Francisco Pizarro (1532)
• Incas conquered
• Superior weapons – muskets, cannons, armor
• Use of the horse as a method of transportation
• Diseases decimate native populations – smallpox,
measles, mumps, typhus – no natural immunity
• Intermarriage with native peoples produce a
mixed-race social class knows as mestizos

15. Francisco Pizarro (1532)
• Enslavement and harsh
treatment
• Forced labor on farms,
ranches, and mines through
the encomienda system
• Conversion to Christianity
• Native resistance that resulted
in armed conflict

16. Youtube videos
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P_euomdHOU--cortes
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGAWnyH_BYQ --pizzaro

17. Assignment (use pages 186-187 in Jarrette
book)
• Choose Either Hernando Cortez or Franciso Pizzaro
• First draw a picture of explorer or the route they took through
Mesoamerica
• Write and Answer these questions underneath your picture
1. What part of the Americas did this explorer conquer?
2. Name the major city and the year that this explorer conquered their
civilization
3. Name 2 reasons that this explorer was able to conquer their civilization
4. How did the arrival of this explorer impact society and the lives of the
native people?
Hernando Cortes
1. What part of the Americas did this
explorer conquer?
2. Name the major city and the year that this
explorer conquered their civilization
3. Name 2 reasons that this explorer was
able to conquer their civilization
4. How did the arrival of this explorer
impact society and the lives of the native
people?