Ancient Civilizations of the
Western Hemisphere
Maya, Aztec, & Inca
Maya - Location
southern Mexico into northern
Central American called the
Yucatan Peninsula
Maya - Climate
dense, steamy rain forests
Maya – Time Period
250-900 a.d.
Maya – Government
independent city-states ruled by
kings – seen as god-king,
established dynasties
Maya – Key City
Chichen Itza
Maya – Economy
 1. Agriculture
– maize, beans,
squash
 2. Trade – salt, flint, feathers,
shells, honey, jade ornaments,
textiles
Maya – Religion
 1. Polytheistic – many gods
 2. Pyramids – dedicated to gods
and
famous rulers
 3. Worship included material offerings,
bloodletting, human sacrifice
 4. Calendar – 260 days, 20 months, 13
days each month
- 365 day solar calendar, different gods
ruled different days
 5. Mathematics and astronomy –
concept of zero, calendar planning
Maya – Writing
 800
glyphs (symbols), on barkpaper called codex
Maya – Decline
 war
and conflict between city
states, overuse of land
Aztec - Location
Central Mexico – Valley of Mexico,
Modern day Mexico City
Aztec - Climate
Hot, large shallow lakes, good
resources, fertile soil
Aztec – Time Period
1200 – 1521 A.D.
Aztec – Government
 Triple Alliance
with Texcoco and
Tlacopan, 38 provinces, Emperor
with absolute power
- loose control over empire with
exception of tribute payments
Aztec – Key City
 Tenochtitlan
= capital
Aztec – Economy
1. Agriculture – maize, cacao beans,
cotton
2. Trading Network – with
Tenochtitlan as ultimate
marketplace
Aztec – Religion
1. Polytheistic
2. Built temples and pyramids
3. 2 calendars
4. Human sacrifices to sun god
Aztec – Writing
No real mention – writing system
of pictures derived from earlier
MesoAmerican cultures
Aztec – Decline
 Montezuma
II reign – rebelling
tribes
 Spanish – Cortez conquered
Aztecs in 1521
Inca – Location
 Andes
Mountains of South
America – Southern Peru
Inca – Climate
 Mountainous
Inca – Time Period
 1400-
1532 A.D.
Inca – Government
 Believed
that ruler was a
descendent from the Sun god
 Nobility – ruling families
 Bureaucracy – used small groups
to work for the common good
 Built extensive road system
Inca – Key City
 Cuzco
= capital
 Machu Picchu – mysterious
religious center or royal resort
Inca – Economy
1. Run by the state – regulated
production of goods
2. Agriculture on terraced hillsides
– maize and quinoa (grain)
Inca – Religion
1. Polytheistic – natural spirits of
moons, stars, sun, thunder, etc.
2. 2 Calendars
3. Sacrifices
Inca – Writing
 None, but
had string/knot
math/accounting system
Inca – Decline
 Civil War
between two sons of a
king and Pizarro