THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA

What were the ancient civilizations of Latin America and their major accomplishments?

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THESE GROUPS?

The Aztecs

The Incas

The Mayas

Ò  The people of Latin America (Mesoamerica) were the agricultural-based societies of Mexico & Central America É  Pre-Columbus

Ð  (prior to 1492)

Ò  Three (3) major groups: É  Aztecs É  Incas É  Mayas

WHO WERE THE ANCIENT PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICA?

WHERE DID THESE CIVILIZATIONS COME FROM?

Ò  Arrival of the first man in America

Ð  Land bridge (Alaska)

Ò  Common ancestors: The Olmecs

Ð  Lived in Central Mexico

Ò  These civilizations grew due to a number of factors: É  Use of land (farming) É  Development of government É  Development of “the arts”

WHO WERE THE AZTECS?

Ò  Dominant native group of central Mexico

Ð  The Valley of Mexico

Ò  Conquerors Ð  Powerful military Ð  Vast alliance system

Ò  Well-organized / educated society

Ð  Skilled engineers

FOUNDING OF THE AZTEC CAPITAL

THE AZTEC MILITARY

AZTEC’S HUMAN SACRIFICE

WHO WERE THE MAYAS?

Ò  Most advanced native group of the Latin America

Ð  Yucatan Peninsula

Ò  Very advanced written language & “the arts”

Ð  Math & astrology

Ò  Ancestry still around today

MAYAN RUINS IN THE YUCATAN

MAYAN OBSERVATORIES

APACOALYPTO (2006)

MAYAN CALENDAR – IS DOOMSDAY COMING?

2012 (2009)

WHO WERE THE INCAS? Ò  Dominant native culture

of South America Ð  Andes Mountains

Ò  Complex government system

Ð  Branches of government

Ò  Skilled Engineers Ð  Network of roads /

communication

INCAN FARMING TECHNOLOGY

INCAN ROADS AND ENGINEERING

MACHO PICCHU

HOW DID THESE CIVILIZATIONS COME TO AN END?

Ò  No one is really sure what brought each down É  Spanish colonization É  Disease É  Internal problems