Olmec & Teotihuacan

Mesoamerica was the areas of Mexico & Central America that were civilized before the Spaniards arrived around 1200 B.C. with the Olmec.

Located in the swampy lowlands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico south of Veracruz.

Olmec

Olmec people were farmers. Large cities that were centers for their

religious rituals. Around 400 B.C., the Olmec civilization

declined & eventually collapsed.

Teotihuacan

First major city in Mesoamerica. Located near Mexico City in a fertile

valley. It was the capital of an early kingdom

that arose around 250 B.C. and collapsed about A.D. 800

Most residents were farmers, but the city was also a busy trade center.

Mesoamerica refer to Mexico to northern part of South America.

MESOAMERICA

Mayan Map

Mayans Temples

Mayan Pictures

Maya Civilization

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Flourished between A.D. 300 and 900. It was one of the most sophisticated

civilizations in the Americas. Built splendid temples & pyramids and

developed a complicated calendar. Came to include Central America southern

Mexico. Decline include invasion, internal revolt or a

natural disaster such as volcanic eruption.

Political & Social Structures

Mayan civilization was composed of city-states, each governed by a hereditary ruling class.

1). Rulers claimed to be descended from the Gods.

Mayan society included nobles, scribes, townspeople, officials, & merchants.

Believe their life was in the hands of divine powers.

The Maya practiced human sacrifice as a way to appease the gods.

Writing & Calendar

Mayans created a writing system based on pictures.

Two different system for measuring time A). One based on a solar calendar of 365

days, divided into 18 months of 20 days each, with extra 5 days at the end.

B). Based on a sacred calendar of 260 days divided into 13 weeks of 20 days.

Toltec Civilization

They were fierce & warlike people who extended their conquests into the Mayan lands of Guatemala & northern Yucatan.

Builders who constructed pyramids & palaces.

A.D. 1200 their civilization declined.

Aztecs Pictures

Aztec Map

Aztec Civilization

Migrated to Mexico around A.D. 1200 and was conquered by the Spaniards in the 1500s.

Established their capital at Tenochtitlan. The kingdom was a collection of semi-

independent territories governed by local lords.

Power was vested in the hands of a monarch that was assisted by a council of lords & government officials.

Aztec Social & Religious Structure

Women were not equal to men but were allowed to own & inherit property & enter into contracts.

Also permitted to become priestesses. Aztecs believed in many gods. Aztec religion was based on a belief in an

unending struggle between the forces of good & evil throughout the universe.

Cultural similarity shared by the Mayans, Incan, & Aztec was a Polytheist belief.

Aztec Destruction

In 1519, a Spanish force under the command of Hernan Cortes landed at Veracruz.

Aztec rulers welcome the Spanish explorers with open arms because they believed it was the return of Quetzalcoatl.

Tension arose between Spaniards & Aztecs. Spanish took Montezuma (king) hostage, the local

population revolted in 1520 and drove the Spaniards out.

Without natural immunity from European diseases many Aztec became sick & died.

Cortes returned after 4 months & defeated the Aztecs.

Inca Map

Inca Civilization

In the late 1300s, the Inca were only a small community in the area of Cuzco, a city located in the mountains of Peru.

One way the Incas adapted to their environment was by building a network of roads through the moutains.

Inca Political

Inca state was built on war, so all young men were required to serve in the Inca army.

A noble of high rank was sent out to govern each new territory.

Local leaders could keep their post as long as they were loyal to the Inca ruler.

Pachacuti (Inca ruler) divided empire into 4 quarters each ruled by a governor.

The quarters were divided into provinces each ruled by a governor.

Inca Culture

Inca had no writing system but instead kept records using a system of knotted strings called the quipu.

One way in which the Aztec & Inca civilizations were similar is they both developed advanced architectural techniques.

Pictures of Incas

Inca Destruction

In 1531, Francisco Pizarro landed of the Pacific coast of South America.

Incan Empire experienced an epidemic of smallpox. (Killed the Emperor)

Pizarro marched on Cuzco & captured the capital.

By 1535, Pizarro established a new capital a Lima.