The MayansChapter 16, Section 2: Maya Kings and Cities

The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states and elaborate religious practices.

Objectives To describe the key features of the Mayan

kingdoms To explain Mayan beliefs about

achievements To identify reasons for the decline of the

Maya

Maya Create City-States

The Land of the Maya Maya live in Southern

Mexico and northern Central America

Land, vegetation of this region varies

Maya culture influenced by Olmec civilization

Who were the Olmec? Mesoamerican civilization; lived

along Gulf Coast of Mexico 1200 BC – 400 BC

“Mother culture”

First sign of culture: massive sculpture of head found 1860

Worship nature gods

Reasons for collapse unknown

Legacy Art and construction affect

future cultures like the Maya Develop ceremonial centers,

ritual ball games, and ruling class

Later cultures in Mesoamerica adopt Olmec wayts

Urban Centers In Classic Period (250 to

900) Maya build spectacular cities

Cities, like Tikal, have pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings

Each has a court where ritual ball game is played

Maya Create City-States

Agriculture and Trade Support

Cities Cities linked by alliances,

trade Farming maize, beans,

squash is foundation of Maya life

Maya use different farming techniques

Kingdoms Built on Dynasties

Farming success leads to rise of social classes

King is leader, holy figure Priests, warriors at top of

social class Middle class: merchants,

artisans Bottom: Peasants

Religion Shapes Maya Life

The Importance of Religion Maya believe in many gods,

who could be good, evil, or both

Each day is a god whose behavior could be predicted with calendars

Religious Practices Many ways of worshiping:

prayer, offerings, giving blood Maya also make human

sacrifices to please gods and balance world

El Castillo – “The Castle”Kukulcan PyramidChichen Itza

Religion Shapes Maya Life

Math and Religion Religion leads to advances in

calendar, math, astronomy Maya use two calendars: one

religious (260 days), one solar (365 days)

Use calendars to find best days for life activities

Written language preserves history Writing system has 800 glyphs –

symbols Use writing to record history in

codex – bark-paper book Popul Vuh – famous codex that

contains Maya story of creation Mayan calendar

Mysterious Maya Decline

The End of the Maya In late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for

abandonment unknown Signs of social problems:

In 700s, fighting among many Maya city-states

Population growth, over-farming might have hurt environment

By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states

The AztecChapter 16, Section 3: The Aztecs

Control Central MexicoThrough alliances and conquest, the Aztecs create a powerful empire in Mexico

Objectives To describe two early cultures of the valley

of Mexico: Teotihuacan and Toltec To explain the rise of the Aztecs and their

society To characterize the main features of Aztec

religion To identify factors that led to the decline of

the Aztecs

The Valley of MexicoGeography Mountain basin 7,500 feet

above sea level, large lakes, fertile soil

Development of Teotihuacan (early city-state) and the settlement of the Toltec lead to the development of civilization in the valley

Valley of Mexico – Early City-State:

TeotihuacanAn early city-state- Teotihuacan city-state rises in

first century A.D.- At peak, in 500s, city has up to

200,000 people- Serves as center of trade,

especially of obsidian – volcanic glass (weapons)

- No evidence attempt to create an empire

- City quickly declines; by 750 abandoned

The Aztec EmpireArrival of the Aztecs Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive

around 1200 AD, begin working as soldiers

By own legend, a Aztec sun god – Huitzilopochtli - leads them to found city of Tenochtitlan

Aztecs grow stronger Triple Alliance – 1428 AD

agreement of Aztec and two other city-states

By early 1500s, Aztecs have large empire and rule 5-15 million people

Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests

The Aztec Empire (continued)

Nobles Rule Aztec Society Emperor’s power is absolute; lives in palace;

revered Noble class – military leaders, officials, priests –

rules Aztec society Nobles own vast estates, live life of wealth and

luxury Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers,

farmers Lowest class: enslaved people

Tenochtitlan: A Planned City

Extraordinary Urban Center Causeways connect island city to

mainland areas Canals enable people to carry

goods to city and its huge main market

Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops

Central area has palaces, temples, government buildings

Modern day Mexico city is built on the ruins

Religion Rules Aztec Life

Many Gods Religion includes 1,000 gods, many adopted from other

peoplesReligious practices Center of religion is public ceremonies to win gods’ favor Many religious festivals throughout yearSacrifices for the Sun God Most important rituals are for sun god, Huitzilopochtil He needs human sacrifices to be strong Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these sacrifices

Problems in the Aztec Empire

A New Ruler In 1502, Montezuma II

becomes emperor; he calls for more tribute

These sacrifices lead to revolt in outlying areas

Emperor tries to make life easier, but Aztecs worry about future

Soon after, Spanish arrive

The IncaChapter 16, Section 4: The Inca Create

a Mountain EmpireThe Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by

extensive road systems.

Objectives To describe the Inca rise to power To explain how the Incan government

functioned To list the basic features of Incan religion To describe discord in the Incan Empire

The Inca Build an Empire

Incan Beginnings Inca first lived in high

plateau of Andes Mountains

By 1200s, they have a kingdom in Valley of Cuzco

Inca believe their ruler is descended from sun god, Inti

The Inca Build an Empire (continued)

Pachacuti Builds an Empire

Pachacuti, a powerful and ambitious emperor, takes control in 1438

Under Pachacuti, Inca conquer lands holding 16 million people

Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve conquests

Incan Government Creates Unity

Organize Rule Inca divide conquered lands into

smaller units to govern easily Make Quechua official language

of entire empire

Incan Cities Show Government Presence

Inca build cities with same architecture for government buildings

Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas, palaces

Inca are very skilled builders

Incan Government Creates Unity (continued)

Incan Government Inca government controls economy and society Use ayllu – extended family group – to control how

people live, work Divides society into groups of 10; 100; 1,000; 10,000 Chain of command stretches from central government

to smallest unit Demands mita – requirement that people work for the

state Cares for aged and disabled

Incan Government Creates Unity (continued)

Public Works Projects Government creates public works,

including 14,000-mile road network Runners carry messages along the

roads to different places

Government Record-Keeping Inca do not develop system of

writing Use quipu – set of knotted strings –

as accounting device Might also have had elaborate two-

calendar systemReal Quipu

Religion Supports the State

Inca Gods Inca have fewer gods than

Aztecs Creator god and sun god are

most important

Religious Practices Priests draft young women to

assist in ceremonies Some young men also became

specialized religious workers

Religion Supports the State (continued)

Great Cities Cuzco has magnificent

Temple of the Sun decorated in gold

Other cities might have had religious importance as well

(pictures of Coricancha, most important temple in Cuzco dedicated to Inti, sun god)

Discord in the EmpireProblems Arise In early 1500s, Inca Empire reaches its height under

Huayna Capac Capac dies, perhaps of smallpox, while touring newly

conquered Ecuador In 1520s, his sons Atahualpa and Huascar split empire Atahualpa wants control of whole empire and begins

civil war This war weakens Inca state just before Spanish arrive

Activity Task: Students will write a diary entry from the perspective of an individual living

in one of Latin Americas early civilizations Purpose: Synthesize and convey information about daily life Activity: Write a journal entry describing a day in the life of a fictional citizen. Each

student will be assigned one of the three civilizations to focus on. Decide on specific vocation and social class of their subject (peasant, laborer, merchant, artisan, priest, warrior, priosoner). Find out more about what life would have been like for that person. The entry for that day should include references that help identify the civilization the individual belongs to. Edit each entry for grammar, punctuation, and style consistency.

Evaluation standards – Journal entries should… Convey an accurate sense of life in the Aztec world Tell an interesting story Be written in consistent style Should include a works-cited page with at least 3 resources Creative presentation technique