How did the societies in Central and South America develop?
Mesoamerican Culture
Compare the culture of the Americas to include government, economy, religion and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas.
GOVERNMENT
Mayan
Aztecs
Incas
ECONOMY
RELIGION
ARTS
How did the societies in Central and South America develop?
Mesoamerican Culture
Compare the culture of the Americas to include government, economy, religion and the arts of the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas.
GOVERNMENT
Mayan
King led city states from a
hereditary ruling class
Monarchy…
Theocracy rulers claimed to be
descended from the gods
ECONOMY
Culture rested on Agriculture …
Staple crop corn…also grew beans,
squash, chili peppers, some root
crops and fruit trees…trade
networks connected cities together
RELIGION
Polytheistic …
shapes life, cities built around a
central pyramid topped with a
temple to the gods … Theocracy
math and astronomy influenced
religion
ARTS
Hieroglyphs(written language)…
built temples and large Pyramids …
Ornamentation
states warred with each other. Captured
soldiers were enslaved. Captured
nobles
and war leaders were used for human
sacrifice
Aztecs
Monarchy …
Independent city-states
Ruled by warrior king
Large Trade networks … obsidian
… war and plunder
Polytheistic
Centered around the practice of
human sacrifices
Pyramids were part of their religion
Craft … monuments … chiseling
(steler & detailing)
Writing in pictographs
Incas
Theocracy had a Sun/God King…
Bureaucracy
State cared for all people (similar to
a welfare system)
Trade of gold & silver …
Agriculture … war & plunder
Empire linked together by a
massive road network
Polytheistic …
Theocracy
Architecture