VA SOL 11 a-b
Aztecs, Mayans, Incas
How did early humans reach the
Americas?
 Humans originated on
what continent?
Africa
 Spread from Asia to
the Americas using a
land bridge across the
Bering Strait.
Aztecs
Valley of Mexico
Mayan
Yucatan Peninsula
Inca
Andes of Peru
 LocationMexican and Central
American Rainforest
On the Yucatan
Peninsula
Mayan Government
 City-State-a city and
surrounding land
definition
What other civilizations
in history have had citystates?
 Sparta
 Athens
 Ruled by a king
Based on Agriculture and Trade
 What did they grow?
 cassava
 chilies
 How does location
effect agriculture?
Cassava
 Depends on what you
grow there.
Chilies
Architecture
 Check out the pictures below to discover
what types of buildings were used in religious
practices.
Click to view examples of Mayan
Architecture
Mayan Architecture
Why were these pyramids used?
 Polytheistic religion
(belief more than one
god)
 Priests conducted
ceremonies and
sacrifices for good
harvests and success
in war.
Chichén Itzá- Mayans
 Insert picture of city
Watch and answer questions from the
video
V:\Social Studies\Auld-Slider\Americas\City_of_Chichen_Itza
Mesoamerican Ball Game
-- Welcome To The Mesoamerican
Ballgame --
Mayan Civilization
 Click the link below to
discover what the
Mayans thought to be
beautiful
answer the questions
on the separate piece
of paper.
Appearance
-Mayan Children
 __________ ________
including the
concept of zero
 Number System

Click on the link to learn more about their number
system
 Form of ___________
Mayan Civilization
Achievements=
 365 day calendar
V:\Social Studies\Auld\Americas\Mayan_Calendar
 Click on this link
below to learn what
the Mayans say will
occur in the future
 Mayan End Times
Prophecy 12-21-2012
Review:
Mayans- (location)
Main City:
Government:
Economy:
Religion:
 Location:
In a ________ in
central___________
 Largest CityTenochtitlan- Modern
day M___________
Delete and Insert
Map of Mexico
Then and Now
Insert picture of
Mexico City today
Tenochtitlan
Mexico City
 Ruled by an
_________ and
warrior
Tenochtitlan
Insert picture
Tenochtitlan Video
Economy
 Economy based on:____________ and _______ from
conquered people
 frequently used chinampas to grow food such
as
 _____________, ____________, _________________,
_____________
 ________: Long distance, weapons, tools and rope for
jaguar skin and cocoa beans.
Farming- Chinampas
 The Aztecs had to
create a way to farm
based on their
surroundings.
 Click on the link
below to learn about
their style of farming
Answer the questions
on the separate piece
of paper.
Farming
Aztec Calendar
Click on the link below to see how to
Draw today’s date from the Aztec
calendar
Answer your questions on the separate
paper
 http://azteccalendar.com/
Delete and add Title
 __________- belief in many gods
 Chief God: Huitzilopuchtli=Sun God
 Offered human sacrifices to ensure sunrise.
 Pyramids were used for worship
Aztecs developed the notion that the gods are best nourished
by the living hearts of sacrificed captives …
…the braver the captive, the more nourishing
the sacrifice
**This theology led to widespread wars
of conquest in search of sacrificial victims
Aztec Civilization
Achievements:
 Math &
Astronomy
 Set broken bones
and filled
cavities.
 Recorded law and
history.
Aztec Civilization
 Disappearance:
Hernando Cortez
and Spanish
Conquistadors
The Aztecs
V:\Social Studies\Auld-Slider\Americas\Aztecs
Review:
Aztecs- (location)
Main City:
Government:
Economy:
Religion:
View Power Point- Click “Slide Show” then View Show
 Location:
Andes Mountains of
South America
Insert map of
South America
Government
 Ruled by an Emperor
 Major City_________ _________
Machu Picchu
Insert picture of Machu Picchu
This ancient city was not discovered for
thousands of years.
Use the website below to learn more about
this ancient mountain city
Machu Picchu
Incan Civilization
 Agriculture:
 High Altitude (Mountains)
Terrace Farming
________ ____________
Incan Civilization
 Architecture:
12,000 miles of
________ _________
What other cultures spent time and
money to build roads?
•
•
Road Systems
 Why were roads
important?
 carry_____________
 transport__________
Incan Civilization
 Religion:
 Gods linked to
forces of nature.
Click on the link below to fill in the chart about the Inca’s way of life
Food:
Drink:
Clothing:
Who shared a home:
Houses were made of:
Inca Way of life
Incan Civilization
 Disappearance:
Invaded by
Francisco Pizzaro
and Spanish
Conquistadors
*Insert picture of
Francisco Pizzaro
Review:
Incas- (location)
Main City:
Government:
Economy:
Religion:
Review

Answer the following questions on your answer sheet
1. Who governed the Atzec Empire?
A. each city-state had its own king
B. An emperor
C. the leaders of the army
D. there was no organized government
 2. The Aztecs, Incans, and Mayans all had
which of the following in common?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Location
Time Period
Polytheism
Monotheism
3. Which civilization’s location is featured
on the map
A. Aztec
B. Mayans
C. Incas
D. Navajo
4. The economy of the Americas was
based onA. Shipping
B. Gold and Salt
C. Agriculture
D. Trading
5. What modern day city is located on the
site of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan?
A. Timbuktu
B. Mexico City
C. Andes
D. Machu Picchu
6. The above image reflects the mountainous city
used by which civilization?
A. Incas
B. Aztecs
C. Mayans
D. Songhai
•Writing System
•Chichén Itzá as capital city
•Located in Mexico and Central America
7. Which civilization is summarized in the
above statements
A. Mayans
B. Incans
C. Aztecs
D. Songhai
 8. The agricultural technique shown above was most likely used due
toA. frequent and destructive droughts
B. located below sea level
C. high elevation due to mountainous terrain
D. Construction of calendars to measure seasonal changes
Refer to the picture on the previous slide
 9. The agricultural technique shown on
the previous slide was used by which
civilization?
A. Aztecs
C. Mayas
B. Incas
D. Songhai
Civilization and Location
Mayas
Mexico and Central
America
Aztecs
?
Incas
South America
10. What location would best replace the “?” in the graphic above?
A. South America
B. Brazil
C. Utah
D. Mexico
The Americas
Humans emerged from the continent of
Africa
Early humans crossed into the Americas
using a land bridge across the Bering
Strait
The Mayans
Location: Mexican and Central American
rainforest
Main city: Chichén Itzá
Group of city-states ruled by a king
Economy based on agriculture and trade
Polytheistic Religion
Pyramids
The Aztecs
 Located in arid valley in central Mexico
 Main city- Tenochtitlan- modern day Mexico City
 Ruled by an emperor
 Economy based on agriculture and tribute from
conquered peoples
 Use of chinampas
 Polytheistic Religion
 Pyramids/rituals
The Incas
Located in the Andes Mountains of South
America
Main city- Machu Picchu
Ruled by an Emperor
Economy based on high-altitude farming
and the use of terraces
Polytheistic Religion
Built extensive road system
Achievements of the Mayan, Aztecs, and
Incans
Calendars
Mathematics
Writing System/ and other record keeping
systems