Maya, Aztec, & Inca. The Maya (250-900 CE) Geography Settle in the Yucatan Peninsula 900 BCE –...
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Maya, Aztec, & Inca. The Maya (250-900 CE) Geography Settle in the Yucatan Peninsula 900 BCE – Dense, steamy rain forests in the north – Cool, highlands
The Maya (250-900 CE) Geography Settle in the Yucatan Peninsula
900 BCE Dense, steamy rain forests in the north Cool, highlands in
the south Stretched from Southern Mexico to northern Central
America
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City-States Influenced by the Olmec Built spectacular cities
Chichen Itza Tikal Each city-state ruled by its own god-king &
was a center for religion & trade City-states were linked
through military alliances & trade Built giant pyramids,
temples, palaces, stone carvings
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Mayan Economy Trade items: salt, flint, feathers, shells,
honey, cotton, jade No uniform currency, often used cacao
(chocolate) beans Agriculture was basis for life Maize, beans,
squash Traded goods from one city-state to another
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Mayan Social Structure Successful farming led to accumulation
of wealth Social classes formed Mayan king Holy figure who
inherited power Noble class Priests & warriors Merchants &
Artisans Peasant Majority
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Religion Polytheistic Religion Many Gods Based on War, Death,
Rain, & Corn Gods can be good or evil Believed each day was a
living god & the behavior could be predicted using calendars
bloodletting- cut & pierced skin to nourish the gods practiced
human sacrifices built temples & pyramids Holy Book- Popol Vuh:
story of creation
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Mayan Achievements Highly skilled mathematicians &
astronomers Observed sun, moon, & planet Two Calendars one
solar (365 days) & one religious (260 days) Written Language-
Glyphs 800 different hieroglyphic symbols Used base-20 system with
zero Played a ball game to support natural cycles
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Chichen Itza
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Tikal
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Mayan Observatory
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Mayan Calendar
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Mayan Glyph
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Mayan Codex
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Mayan Decline 800s CE: Mayans abandon their cities Invaders
from north, Toltecs, moved onto land Not sure what happened
Assorted theories: Warfare among Mayan city-states Increased
warfare disrupted trade & hurt economy Population growth &
over production of food damaged environment Famine, disease
Rise of the Aztec Aztecs- Warlike nomads roamed the harsh
deserts of Northern Mexico in the 1200s Became mercenaries to local
rulers Aztec War & Sun God told them to establish their own
city Told to look for the place where an eagle perched on a cactus
with a snake in its mouth Found Tenochtitlan (Mexico City_ on an
island on Lake Texcoco Unified neighboring city-states into an
empire
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Tenochtitlan By 1500 CE- population is 200,000 to 400,000
Chinampas- floating artificial islands in the lake Became gardens-
allowed population to grow Causeways- 3 raised roads to connect
island to outside world Small cities ringed the lake- dense
population Heart of City- Palaces, Temples, & Government
Buildings
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Tenochtitlan
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A Planned City
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Aztec Growth Form Triple Alliance with Texcoco & Tlacopan
Aztecs grow in strength & number By 1500- Aztec control empire
over 80,000 square miles Divided into 38 provinces 5-15 million
people in the Empire Military conquests & tributes from
conquered peoples Loose control over conquered people as long as
they get tribute Slaughter those who refuse
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Social Classes Emperor is at the top of hierarchy Levels of
social class: Nobility- military leaders, priests, & government
officials Land Owners Commoners- merchants, artisans, farmers,
soldiers Slaves- Conquered peoples
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Religion Polytheistic- Worshipped approximately 1,000 gods
Built Pyramids to worship the gods Public ceremonies to communicate
with gods Humans sacrificed to the Sun God Sacrifices held at Great
Temple Thousands sacrificed each year Ripped out the hearts of
victims- criminals, prisoners of war, & people offered as
tribute Went to war in an effort to capture prisoners
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Great Temple of Sun & Rain
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Advancements Science/Technology derived from Maya Calendars-
Two Types 360 day solar/agricultural calendar(18 months of 20 days,
plus 5 unlucky extra days) Holy calendar (13 months of 20 days)
Medicine Math Artists adorned pyramids with statues and sculptures
glorifying gods and leaders Writers discussed victories at battle
in their works
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Quetzalcoatl Before Aztecs- Toltec ruler told his people to
worship a Feathered Serpent God known as Quetzalcoatl Followers
rebelled and forced ruler & followers into exile Aztecs took on
Quetzalcoatl as one of their gods Legend says that Quetzalcoatl
will return one day to bring peace Some say that Quetzalcoatl took
the form of a pale- skinned, bearded man
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Decline 1502 Montezuma II comes to power Prophets predict
terrible things were going to happen Aztecs call for more human
sacrifice to please the Gods Revolts in outlying areas of empire
weakened Aztec control People were resentful of paying tribute
1521- Spanish conquistadors arrive in Mexico led by Hernan Cortez a
white man with a beard
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The End of the Aztecs Cortez & his conquistadors brought
ruin to the Aztec through warfare & disease
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The Inca 1200 CE- Inca settle in the fertile Valley of Cuzco
and establish a kingdom Capital City- Cuzco Included the Temple of
the Sun Decorated in gold & silver Other important city- Machu
Picchu Machu Picchu may have been a religious center or a retreat
for the emperor & nobles
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Government Government style was similar to modern socialism
Government had control over economic life Regulated production
& distribution of goods Ayllu (family group) participated in
community cooperation to build irrigation ditches or agricultural
terraces Mita- labor tribute paid to the government by all
able-bodied citizens Government would collect & store portions
of crops to be used in time of famine or to feed sick &
old
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Social System 1. Emperor 2. High Priest & Army Commander 3.
Four Regional Commanders/Governors 4. Priests, Administrators, Army
Officers 5. Artisans 6. Farmers, Merchants, Soldiers
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Culture Quecha- common spoken language united the people Did
not have a written language but kept records using the quipu Quipu-
series of knotted strings Built schools
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Religion Polytheistic- Many Gods Believed in nature spirits
Sun, moon, stars, thunder, etc. Used both men & women in
religious rituals Sacrifice- Animal (Llamas) & sometimes humans
were sacrificed Sometimes children were sacrificed
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Technology Excellent architects & stone masons Terrace
farming- cut into the hillside to give crops level ground to
collect water & grow Economy is based on high altitude terrace
farming Roads- More than 25,000 miles Cut through mountains &
valleys All roads led to Capital City of Cuzco Created a postal
service system that used the roads Calendars- tell what God will
rule that day
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Terrace Farms
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Decline Inca Empire reached its height under Huayna Capac When
he died, the Empire was divided between his two sons Civil War
occurred between the sons & Atahualpa eventually won
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Decline Conquered by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1532
Pizarro & his men invaded the Andes Mountains Kidnapped Emperor
Atahualpa Pizarro promised his release if paid a room full of gold
but murdered him instead in 1533 War & disease wiped out the
rest of the Inca
