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7 Grade Social Studies
th
Mexico & U.S. History from the Revolution to Reconstruction
Class 6—Mayan Society and Demise
September 3, 2013
Focus: What is the significance of blood in Maya religious beliefs and practices?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student Objectives:
1. I will identify the significance of the Mayan empire by analyzing the following about their civilization:
 Social Structure
 Religion
 Other Achievements
2. I will identify some of the historical theories that attempt to explain the downfall of the Maya empire.
Homework:
1. Read and outline section 1.2 pgs 20-24 in The America’s text
2. Mexico, Central, and South America Geography Test Friday 9/6
3. Current Events due Monday 9/9
4. Maya, Aztec, Conquest, & Colonial New Spain Test Tuesday 9/17
Handouts:
None
I. Mayan Social Structure
A. Nobility (cahualo)
B. Commoners
II. Mayan Religion
A. Beliefs and Values
1. Symbol of the tree
III. Mayan Achievements
A. Calendar
IV. Decline
A. Theories
Key terms/ideas/ people/places:
Cahualo
Tribute
Heaven
Blood
gods
Earth
Underworld
By the end of class today, I will be able to answer the following:
Who paid tribute to the nobility?
What symbol is used to represent the three different levels of the Mayan world?
Why did the Maya practice human sacrifice?
List three theories that historians think led to the demise of the Mayan empire.
Human Sacrifice
NOTES
Class 6—Mayan Society and Demise
September 3, 2013
Mayan Society:
 Cahualob (upper class/nobility)
o King-related to gods
o Priests, rich merchants, and noble warriors
o Live in luxury in center of the city
 Small Middle Class
o Artisans, petty officials, soldiers, and merchants
 Lived outside the core in complexes similar to apartment buildings
 Lower Class
o Laborers and farmers
 Lived further outside of the city
 Farmed, hunted, and fished
Lower Class
Middle Class
Cahualob
(upper class)
Mayan Religion:
 gods, people, animals, plants, mountains, and even cities were alive-movements could be timed-create calendar
 Human events were divinely predetermined
 Mayan world had three levels
o Earth-where Mayans existed-sacred
o Underworld
o Heaven
Branches = heaven
o Tree symbolism
Trunk = earth
Roots = underworld
Mayan Achievements:
 Calendar-365 days-dependent on rainfall-off by less than a minute after thousands of years
 Number system with concept of zero
 Recorded history with dates
Mayan Demise Theories (about 900 AD):
 Warfare
 Famine
 Drought
 Plagues
 Hurricane
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7 Grade Social Studies
th
Mexico & U.S. History from the Revolution to Reconstruction
Class 7—The Aztecs
September 4, 2013
Focus: Why did Aztec merchants make such good spies for the emperor?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student Objectives:
1. I will analyze how the Aztecs established an empire
2. I will identify the different levels of Aztec society.
Homework:
1. Mexico, Central, and South America Geography Test Friday 9/6
2. Current Events due Monday 9/9
3. Maya, Aztec, Conquest, & Colonial New Spain Test Tuesday 9/17
Handouts:
None
I. Tenochtitlàn
A. The Aztec Capital
II. Social Hierarchy
A. Nobility
B. High Status
C. Commoners
D. Slaves
III. Warrior creed
IV. Education
A. Boys
B. Girls
Key terms/ideas/ people/places:
Tenochtitlàn
Lake Texcoco
Eagle and Jaguar Knights
Calmècac
Pipiltin
Macehualtin
Telpochcallis
By the end of class today, I will be able to answer the following:
What is the name given to the upper class in Aztec society? To the commoners?
Where did the Aztecs settle and begin to build their empire?
How could an individual move up a social class in Aztec society?
What were upper and lower class schools called in Aztec society?
Who went to school in Aztec society?
Warrior
NOTES
Class 7—The Aztecs
September 4, 2013
Aztecs-Nomadic
 Move from present day Texas/Oklahoma to central Mexico
 Believe they are chosen people of gods
 Superb Warriors
 Cruel
 Act as mercenaries
Coxcox (Pheasant)-scatters the Aztecs after they sacrifice his daughter
Tenochtitàn-located on the marshes of Lake Texcoco
 150,000-200,000 residents
 Lake full of fish and fowl
 Omen-Eagle perched on cactus with serpent in its beak
 Intersection of 3 kingdoms
 Clean-drainage, garbage disposal, street sweepers,
o Aztecs bathe every day
 Conquered people pay tribute to the Aztecs
Aztec Society
 Pipiltin-Nobility
o Emperor and Royal Family
 Emperor has one “legitimate wife” but can have many wives
 Best candidate is chosen to rule
 Serve as example for the people and lead warriors
o High Priests/Military Officials/Judges/Tax Collectors
 High Status, BUT NOT Nobility
o Pochteca-merchants
o Priests/scholars/artists/scribes
 Macehualtin-Commoners
o 90% of the population
o Farmers/Laborers/servants/vendors
 Slaves
o Had some rights
o Could marry a free person
o Bondage not hereditary
o Could gamble your freedom
 Everyone was expected to bear arms-distinction in battle could elevate social standing
o Eagle and Jaguar Knights
 Education
o Boys-learn art of war
o Girls-take care of home and be good mothers
o Upper class school-Calmècac
o Lower class school-Telpochcallis
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7 Grade Social Studies
th
Mexico & U.S. History from the Revolution to Reconstruction
Class 8—Aztec Religion
September 5, 2013
Focus: Why was blood so significant for both the Mayans and Aztecs? What kind of people did the Aztecs sacrifice?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student Objectives:
1. I will analyze Aztec religion and identify why human sacrifice was practiced so prominently in Aztec society.
Homework:
1. Mexico, Central, and South America Geography Test Friday 9/6
2. Current Events due Monday 9/9
3. Maya, Aztec, Conquest, & Colonial New Spain Test Tuesday 9/17
Handouts:
None
I. Aztec gods
A. Huitzilopochtli (Hummingbird on the Left)
II. Aztec Religion/Beliefs
III. Human Sacrifice
A. Who
B. How
C. Why
Key terms/ideas/ people/places:
Huitzilopochtli (Hummingbird on the Left)
Age of the Fifth Sun
Aztec Warfare
Heart
Decapitation
By the end of class today, I will be able to answer the following:
What was the significance of Aztec human sacrifice?
Who was the god of war and sun?
How many times had the earth been destroyed according to the Aztecs?
Human Sacrifice
NOTES
Class 8—Aztec Religion
September 5, 2013
Aztecs worshipped many gods
 Huitzilopochtli (Hummingbird on the Left)
o Aztec supreme deity-god of war and sun
Beliefs







Sun/earth destroyed and recreated four times
Currently living in the age of the 5th sun-felt destruction of the earth was imminent
Avoid end of the world-please Huitzilopochtli
Natural cycle-sun & rain nourished plant and human life so humans should give sustenance to the gods
If the gods had sacrificed themselves to the sun, than how could the Aztecs decline the same honor
Greatest expression of piety was giving of life itself
Need for blood also served Aztec military expansion
Human Sacrifice
 Solemn, necessary religious ceremony—hope to avoid disaster
 Considered an honor to be sacrificed
 Most commonly done by the excision of the heart followed by decapitation
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7th Grade Social Studies
Mexico & U.S. History from the Revolution to Reconstruction Class
Class 9—Geography Test and the Conquistadors
September 6, 2013
Focus: Take out your map of Mexico and of Central and South America. Review your maps and map formula.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student Objectives:
1. I will complete today’s geography test with at least 85% accuracy.
2. I will identify the arrival of Fernando Cortès and the Conquistadors as the beginning of the end for the Aztec Empire.
Homework:
1. Current Events due Monday 9/9
2. Maya, Aztec, Conquest, & Colonial New Spain Test Tuesday 9/17
Handouts:
None
I. Geography Test
II. Conquistadors
A. Fernando Cortès
Key terms/ideas/ people/places:
Fernando Cortès
Jerònimo de Aguilar
Doña Marina (Malinche)
By the end of class today, I will be able to answer the following:
What did the Conquistadors have that the Indians were afraid of?
Who was the leader of the Conquistadors?
What were the Conquistadors after?
How did Jerònimo de Aguilar and Doña Marina help Cortès?
Moctezuma II
NOTES
Class 9—Geography Test and the Conquistadors
September 6, 2013
Fernando Cortès
 Sets sail from Cuba in 1519
 Commanded 550 men
o Some from Portugal, Germany, and Italy
 16 horses
 A few small cannon
 Seeking power and wealth
First Contact
 Kills 200 hundred Indians-rumor that Spaniards are invincible
 Indians never seen guns and gunpowder, horses, and the huge dogs of the Spanish
Communication
 Cortès has two interpreters
o Jerònimo de Aguilar-speaks Mayan and Spanish
o Doña Marina (Malinche-some consider her a traitor)-Cortès interpreter and advisor
Moctezuma II-Ruler of the Aztecs