Ancient American Ancient American CivilizationsCivilizations

A A civilizationcivilization can be defined as “an can be defined as “an advanced culture.” Basic features of advanced culture.” Basic features of early civilizations included the building early civilizations included the building of cities, a well-organized government, of cities, a well-organized government, a system of social classes, specialized a system of social classes, specialized jobs, a complex religion, and a method jobs, a complex religion, and a method of record-keeping.of record-keeping.

I. The OlmecsI. The Olmecs

►Earliest known American civilizationEarliest known American civilization►Located along the Gulf of Mexico about Located along the Gulf of Mexico about

3500 years ago3500 years ago►Most impressive artifacts- giant carved Most impressive artifacts- giant carved

stone heads found near religious stone heads found near religious centerscenters

►Civilization disappeared around 300 Civilization disappeared around 300 BC BC

II. Mayan Civilization (II. Mayan Civilization (1800 BC- 900 1800 BC- 900 AD)AD)Location and Location and GeographyGeography

-Yucatan peninsulaYucatan peninsula-present-day Mexico and Guatemala present-day Mexico and Guatemala (Central America) (Central America) -Rain forestRain forest

CultureCulture Social Class System:Social Class System: Priests (top)-> Priests (top)-> nobles, government officials, & warriors-> nobles, government officials, & warriors-> peasant farmers-> slaves peasant farmers-> slaves

Major cities:Major cities: Tikal and Copan Tikal and Copan

Religion:Religion: polytheistic, worshipped nature polytheistic, worshipped nature gods, practiced divination and human gods, practiced divination and human sacrifice rituals, built elaborate temples, sacrifice rituals, built elaborate temples, priests were at the top of Mayan societypriests were at the top of Mayan society

PoliticalPolitical

FeaturesFeatures-Each Mayan city had its own ruler-Each Mayan city had its own ruler-Kings passed down their position to their Kings passed down their position to their sonssons

Mayan Civilization Continued…Mayan Civilization Continued…

Notable Notable

AchievementAchievementss

-Created an accurate 365 day Created an accurate 365 day calendar calendar -Invented a system of hieroglyphicsInvented a system of hieroglyphics-Developed an advanced number Developed an advanced number systemsystem-Built huge stone pyramidsBuilt huge stone pyramids-Cleared the jungle and drained Cleared the jungle and drained swamps in order to farmswamps in order to farm

DeclineDecline -Cities were abandoned around 850 Cities were abandoned around 850 AD for reasons that are unknownAD for reasons that are unknown-Today, nearly 2 million people in Today, nearly 2 million people in Southern Mexico and Guatemala Southern Mexico and Guatemala speak Mayan languagesspeak Mayan languages

III. Aztec Civilization III. Aztec Civilization (1100- 1522 AD)(1100- 1522 AD)

Location and Location and GeographyGeography

-Central MexicoCentral Mexico-Capital located in swampy, Lake Texcoco Capital located in swampy, Lake Texcoco

CultureCulture Social Class System:Social Class System: Emperor-> priests Emperor-> priests & nobles-> warriors-> merchants & & nobles-> warriors-> merchants & artisans-> farmers-> slavesartisans-> farmers-> slaves

Major City:Major City: Tenochtitlan (capital city) Tenochtitlan (capital city)

Religion:Religion: polytheistic, priests performed polytheistic, priests performed rituals and ran schools, each month in the rituals and ran schools, each month in the 18 month Aztec calendar was governed by 18 month Aztec calendar was governed by its own god, sacrificed thousands of its own god, sacrificed thousands of prisoners of war to the Sun God each yearprisoners of war to the Sun God each year

Political Political

FeaturesFeatures

-Emperor had absolute power Emperor had absolute power -Did not exert supreme control over Did not exert supreme control over conquered lands but expected tributes to conquered lands but expected tributes to be paidbe paid

Aztec Civilization Continued…Aztec Civilization Continued…

Notable Notable

AchievemeAchievementsnts

-Built causeways (raised roads) to connect Built causeways (raised roads) to connect the Capital with the mainlandthe Capital with the mainland-Created chinampas (floating gardens) in Created chinampas (floating gardens) in order to grow crops on the swamplandorder to grow crops on the swampland-Constructed drawbridges that could be Constructed drawbridges that could be raised in case of an attackraised in case of an attack

DeclineDecline -In 1519, Montezuma (the Aztec emperor) In 1519, Montezuma (the Aztec emperor) welcomed Spanish conquistadors into welcomed Spanish conquistadors into Tenochtitlan because he believed they Tenochtitlan because he believed they were godswere gods-The conquistadors, led by Hernando The conquistadors, led by Hernando Cortes, were able to conquer the Aztecs Cortes, were able to conquer the Aztecs by 1521 and claim the territory for Spainby 1521 and claim the territory for Spain

IV. Incan Civilization IV. Incan Civilization (early 13(early 13thth century- century- 1533)1533)

LocationLocation - Stretched almost 3000 miles along the - Stretched almost 3000 miles along the western (Pacific) coast of South Americawestern (Pacific) coast of South America-Located in the Andes MountainsLocated in the Andes Mountains-Largest empire in the AmericasLargest empire in the Americas

SocialSocial

FeaturesFeatures

Social Class System: Social Class System: Sapa Inca->Sapa Inca-> Royal Royal Nobility-> Privileged Nobility-> farmers-> Nobility-> Privileged Nobility-> farmers-> slavesslaves

Major City: Major City: CuzcoCuzco

Religion: Religion: polytheisticpolytheistic; ; lined the walls of lined the walls of temples and palaces with sheets of gold temples and palaces with sheets of gold to honor the sunto honor the sun

PoliticalPolitical

FeaturesFeatures

-The emperor, known as the Sapa Inca, The emperor, known as the Sapa Inca, was believed to be a descendent of the was believed to be a descendent of the sun god and controlled all the land and sun god and controlled all the land and riches in the empireriches in the empire-Ruled more than 10 million peopleRuled more than 10 million people

Incan Civilization Continued…Incan Civilization Continued…

Notable Notable

AchievemenAchievementsts

- - Carved terraces into the Carved terraces into the mountainside to farm onmountainside to farm on-Built stone aqueducts which carried Built stone aqueducts which carried water to the terraces from distant water to the terraces from distant riversrivers-Had highly advanced building Had highly advanced building techniquestechniques-Built a complex network of roadsBuilt a complex network of roads-Used quinine to treat malaria, Used quinine to treat malaria, performed brain surgery, and performed brain surgery, and discovered medicines to lesson paindiscovered medicines to lesson pain

DeclineDecline -Spanish conquistadors, led by Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, captured the Incan Francisco Pizarro, captured the Incan emperor Atahualpa and much of his emperor Atahualpa and much of his army in 1532army in 1532-Spanish controlled much of the Incan Spanish controlled much of the Incan empire by 1535empire by 1535

Quiz QuestionsQuiz Questions

►What were two notable achievements of the What were two notable achievements of the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas?Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas?

► Explain why the Aztecs should be considered Explain why the Aztecs should be considered a civilization (review the definition of a civilization (review the definition of civilization.)civilization.)

► Compare the Incan and Mayan civilizations. Compare the Incan and Mayan civilizations. How are they similar? How are they How are they similar? How are they different?different?

►How did the Incas adapt to their environment How did the Incas adapt to their environment to meet their needs?to meet their needs?

►Where did the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Where did the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations flourish?civilizations flourish?