Early America

Mayan civilization 2600 BC - 900 AD

• Located in the Mexican and Central American rain forest

• Represented by Chichén Itzá (500s AD)• Group of city-states ruled by a king • Economy based on agriculture and trade • Polytheistic religion tied to agriculture—

Pyramids

Kukulcán Pyramid at Chichen Itza

http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/mayan/TourEntrance.html

Aztec civilization

• Located in arid valley in central Mexico

• Represented by Tenochtitlan • Ruled by an emperor • Economy based on agriculture • Polytheistic religion, based on warfare

—Pyramids

Incan civilization • Located in the Andes

Mountains of South America

• Empire extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from northern border of modern Ecuador to Maule River in central Chile

• Represented by Machu Picchu

• Ruled by an emperor • Economy based on

high-altitude agriculture

• Polytheistic religion • Road system

Achievements

• Calendars – based on agriculture• Mathematics – included “zero”• Writing system – pictographs or

hieroglyphics