Latin American History

Ancient Civilizations

MigrationDuring the Ice Age, prehistoric nomads migrated across the land bridge. between Asia & America.

Civilization would begin to develop around 1,500 BCE.

Olmec: 1,500BCE-400BCE

•The first American civilization, located in Mesoamerica.•Often referred to as the “Mother Culture” because they influenced other Mesoamerican societies. •The Olmec's developed a strong trade network that allowed them to spread their culture throughout Mesoamerica and brought them extensive wealth

Olmec Accomplishments

• First known written language and numbering system in Mesoamerica

• Large stone monuments & pyramids to honor their leaders & gods

Olmec Decline

• For unknown reasons (most likely environmental), the Olmec civilization declined by 400 B.C.

• Their cities & symbols influenced later cultures, especially the Mayans.

Maya: 250BCE-900AD

•Government: Mayans were divided into individual city-states ruled by king-gods

• Economy: The Mayan economy was based on trade & farming maize, beans

Mayan Society

Society: (1) Kings (dynasties)(2) Nobles, priests(3) Warriors(4) Merchants, artisans(5) Peasants

Mayan Religion•Mayans were polytheistic & offered their blood, food, & sometimes human sacrifices to please the gods

•Children and warriors were desirable sacrifices•Methods include decapitation, disembowelment, heart removal, pierced by arrows, and thrown down pyramids or into centos

•Sacred Animals include the eagle, jaguar, and serpent.

Mayan Technology

Mayans invented a writing based on pictures called glyphs, an accurate 365-day calendar, & advanced temples.

Giant Calendar! 4 sides of 91 steps and the temple on top = 365

The Maya built the temple so precisely that on the spring and autumn equinox, at the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the pyramid casts a serpent-shaped shadow on the side of the north staircase that slithers down to the serpent’s head at the base.

Mayan Beauty Standards

•Long, slopping, flat foreheads.

•Crossed Eyes

•Pointed teeth, imbedded with jewels

Mayan Decline• Around 800 A.D., the Mayans mysteriously declined

•May have been due to warfare among Mayan city-states, over-farming, or drought.

•Major population centers were abandoned but Mayan culture persisted in some capacity until the arrival of the Spanish.

•Decedents of the Mayans live in the Yucatan today.

Aztec: 1200-1521• After the decline of the Mayans, the Aztecs were

developing in present-day Mexico

• Around 1200, Aztecs arrived in Mexico & built their city Tenochtitlan in 1325

Aztecs Government

The Aztecs formed a massive empire, controlled it through 38 provinces, & received tribute from conquered peoples.

Aztecs Economy• They survived on tribute & farming.

• They built “floating gardens” (chinampas) which could yield multiple crops each year.

• Cacao beans were used as a form of currency.

Aztecs Society

Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility

(3) Commoners(4) Slaves

Aztec Religion

Aztecs worshipped many gods, especially the sun god & made thousands of human sacrifices each year.

Aztec TechnologyLike the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an accurate calendar & built advanced temples.

Aztec Decline

• Around 1500 A.D., the Aztecs began to decline; A century of brutal rule over the provinces & millions of human sacrifices led to revolts.• But, the true demise of the Aztecs came when the

Spanish discovered America & conquered the Aztecs • Hernando Cortez aligned himself with Aztec enemies

and overthrew the empire.

Inca: 1438-1532•While the Aztecs ruled Mexico, the Incas began to dominate the area of the Andes Mountains of South America.

•Many Incan cities like Machu Picchu & Cuzcu were built in the mountains.

• Like the Aztecs, the Incas built a vast empire which included 80 provinces.

• But, the Incas ruled with tolerance & unified their empire with roads, schools, & a common language.

Incan Government

Incan Economy• The Incan government controlled

the economy & required all citizens to farm for the good of the empire.

• Terrace farming allowed the Incan people to farm in the high mountains.

• Developing a system of canals and aqueducts to direct water through dry land and increase fertility levels and growth.

Incan Society

(1)King (Sapa Inca)(2)Royalty

(3)Nobility (Kuraca)(4)Commoners (Ayllu)

Incan Religion• The Inca were polytheistic.• Made offerings/sacrifices to the gods in the form of llamas,

food, and occasionally humans. • Human sacrifices were mainly performed before or after

major events (death of the Sapa Inca, during a famine)• Physically perfect, healthy children between the ages of 6-

15 were usually selected for sacrifice and pampered in the time leading up to it.• Often were taken high into the mountains and left to freeze

to death.

Incan TechnologyInca innovations included quipu, a means of record keeping involving knotted ropes as well as an extensive system of roads & suspension bridges.

Incan Decline• In the 1520s, a civil war divided & weakened the Incan

Empire.

• Ten years later Spanish conquistadors conquered the empire.

• Francisco Pizarro was charged with conquering the Inca.

• Pizarro imprisoned Atahualpa, the Sapa Inca, and demanded a ransom. Even though the ransom was paid. Atahualpa was executed.

Ancient Civilization Chart

•With a partner (somebody sitting next to you.) fill out the Ancient Civilizations Chart.

•When you have finished with the chart decide which ancient civilization you’d want to live in. Give reasons why based on the information you’ve learned today. Write using full sentences.