People and Empires in the Americas

900-1500

Vocabulary

Glyph: A symbolic picture-used as a part of a writing system

Codex: Book with pages (flip book)

Papol Vuh: Mayan creation story

Obsidian: Volcanic glass/very sharp

Quetzalcoatl: Feather Serpent.

Montezuma II: Last ruler of the Aztec Empire. Weakened the empire.

Pachacuti: First Incan Kingdom ruler. Conquered all of Peru.

Quipu: Knotted strings that could be used to record data

Machu Picchu: Hidden Incan city. Excavated in 1912 (Andes Mts.)

CHAPTER 16:2

Mayan Kings and Cities

Maya Create Urban Centers

Urban Centers Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico

Golden Age from 250-900

Built pyramids over 200 feet tall

Mayan Kings and Cities

Agriculture and Trade Support Cities Cities were independent, but linked through trade and

alliances Grew maize, beans, and squash

Kingdoms built on dynasties King was worshipped as a god

Social Classes Priests/warriors upper class, peasants on the bottom

Religion Shapes Mayan LifeReligious Practices

Believed in many gods (polytheistic)

Offered food, flowers, incense, and blood to gods as sacrifices

Math Develops to Support Religion Were advanced mathematicians

and astronomers Figured out the length of the

solar year Used astronomy to calculate

which god was most powerful on a certain day

Mayans: Rise and Fall

Written Language Preserves History Used glyphs to

represent words or syllables

Histories written in a codex

Mayan DeclineBy late 800’s,

Mayan cities began to be abandoned

Civil war and disruption of trade led to downfall of Maya

Only a few weak city-states remained by 1500’s

Main Idea Questions

1. What was the basis of Mayan life?

2. Why was the calendar important for the Mayan religion?

3. What three explanations have been given for the collapse of the Mayan civilizations?

CHAPTER 16:3

The Aztec Control Central Mexico

The Aztecs Control Central Mexico

The Valley of Mexico Teotihuacán: An Early

City-State City contained 125,000

people Traded obsidian, a

material used to make weapons

City abandoned in 750

The Aztecs Build an Empire

Aztecs Grow Stronger Founded capital city in

1325 at Tenochtitlan Power was based on

military conquest and tributes from conquered people

Nobles Rule Aztec Society Government officials,

priests, and military leaders were top of society

Middle was commoners, bottom was slaves

Tenochtitlan: A Planned City Had largest

marketplace in the world

Home to 200,000 people

Great Temple was the center of the city

Sacrifices for the Sun God Any Volunteers?

Aztecs believed that the sun would rise only if they gave human sacrifices

Thousands of prisoners of war were executed

Religion, the Center of Aztec Life

Problems in the Aztec Empire

Montezuma II Called for more tribute

and sacrifice from conquered provinces

Led to rebellions which weakened the empire

Spanish arrive on the coast

Main Idea Questions

1. On what was Teotihuacan’s power and wealth based on?

2. How did the Aztecs rule their empire?

3. Why did the Aztecs think it was necessary to make blood scarifies to their “Sun God?”

CHAPTER 16 :4

The Inca Build A Mountain Empire

The Inca Come to Power

Incan Beginnings Formed a small

kingdom in southern Peru 1200

Pachacuti Builds an Empire 1438 Conquered all of Peru,

empire stretched 2,500 miles

Used military strength and diplomacy to conquer other people

Were kind rulers to conquered people

Incan Government Creates Unity

Roads Link the Empire Built 14,000 miles of roads through mountains and deserts System of runners sent messengers throughout kingdom Guest houses along the roads to house travelers

State Controls the Economy Government regulated what crops were produced where Produced grain, corn, and potatoes

Government Keeps Records Never developed a written language Used accounting device known as quipu to keep track of

numbers

Incan Roads Unites The Incan Empire

Machu Picchu

Religion Supports the StatePolytheistic Religion

Worshipped creator god, sun god, and several other nature gods

Revolved around animal sacrifice, and exchange of goods

Built temples to sun god, encased in gold

Main Idea Questions

1. How were the Inca able to conquer such a vast empire?

2. What methods did the Inca use to create unity among the diverse peoples in the empire?

3. What role did the mita play in the building of the Incan Empire?