Warm Up:
Describe the symbolic importance of
pyramids in Mayan Civilization?
Writers Workshop
Discuss as a group:
• How did you approach the question?
• Were there any specific documents that you had
a difficult time with?
• How did each use groupings of documents for
analysis?
• How did you approach point of view?
• What types of additional sources or documents
did you think would be helpful?
Peer Grading
For each essay there are three rubrics:
• Each essay is to be graded by all of the members of
your group.
• Write the name of the grader on the top of each rubric.
• Grade the essay according to the rubric
On the bottom of the rubric there is a space for
comments:
• What did the writer did well?
• Suggestions for improvement?
• Was the essay easy or difficult to grade? How could
the writer make the essay easier on the grader?
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
A.
1.
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•
•
2.
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•
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Continuity and Change
Continuity
Religious beliefs and practices
Architecture
Social Organization
Change
Population growth in postclassical period
Increased warfare
Improved agricultural techniques
More centralized government
Larger military focused on conquest
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
B.
1.
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•
•
•
Toltecs
Conquest State
Arrived in central Mexico in the 10th century
Warlike people
Conquest based on military power
Controlled from modern Mexico City to
Central America
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
2. Rule
• Capital city of Tula, founded in 968
• Civilization based on achievements of
Teotihuacan
• Ruled by dual kings
- probably caused the internal struggle
• Destroyed by invaders around 1175 C.E
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
C. The Aztecs
1. Origins
• Migrated to central Mexico following the
collapse of the Toltecs
• Settled in the Lake Texcoco area
• Established the cities of Tenochtitlan and
Tlatelolco around 1325
• Developed a monarchical system of government
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
2. Kingship and Empire
• Kings chosen from royal
family by council of
aristocrats
• Ruler proved legitimacy
through military
conquests
• Kings increased their
wealth and power by
means of territorial
conquest
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
3. Social Class
• Kings and aristocrats possessed massive
estates
- Cultivated by slaves and landless commoners
• Little social mobility
- Exceptions: military and priesthood
• Highest social ranks reserved for nobles
• Great inequalities in wealth and privilege
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
4. Population Growth
• increased agricultural production in the capital
area
• land reclamation projects
- 5 ½ mile long, 23 foot tall dike
• constructing irrigated fields and chinampas.
• Tribute System
- Conquered people supplied food and other
goods to the capital
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
5. Trade
• No wheeled vehicles or pack animals
• Commerce dominated by small lightweight
items
- Gold, jewels, feathered garments, cacao, animal
skins
• Merchants became wealthy
- Lacked privileges of high nobility
• No system of money or credit
- barter
6. Cities
• Populations of
Tenochtitlan and
Tlatelolco approached
500,000
• island city
• Network of canals and
streets
• Connected to lakeshore
by three major
causeways
II. Postclassical Period in Mesoamerica,
900-1500
7. Religion
• Polytheistic
• Included jaguar god and
Quetzalcoatal
• Most gods had dual nature
- male and female
• Huitzilopochtil
- God of war and the sun
- Required a diet of human
hearts to sustain him
- War captives were
preferred sacrificial victims
- Tens of thousands sacrificed
every year