AKS 36 – Demonstrate an
understanding of the developent of
societies in Central and South
America (GPS) (SSWH_D2007-36)
36a – explain the rise and fall of the
Olmec (p. 240-245)
1. Who was Mesoamerica’s first
known civilization builders? (240)
The Olmec
2. What time period did the Olmec
civilization emerge? (240)
Around 1200 B.C.
3. Why were the Olmecs referred to as
Mesoamerica’s “mother culture”?
They were the first known
civilization builders and
influenced neighboring groups, as
well as later civilizations of the
region.
Chart; (p. 240-245)
Geography (where is it located and
climate?)
Jungles of Southern Mexico (Veracruz
and Tabasco) (hot and humid)
How did their civilization arise?
Emerged around 1200 B.C. and thrived
from 800-400 B.C. Had rivers,
abundant natural resources, flooding
provided fertile land for farming.
Social Structure – Had rulers, gods (nature),
worshipped Jaguar spirit. Very prosperous
Trade – Abundant supply of salt, tar, clay, wood,
rubber. Had largest trade network throughout
Mesoamerica (Mexico City to the north and
Honduras to the south.). Traded raw materials
and various stones. Trade boosted the economy
and spread Olmec influence.
Decline – reasons unkown.
Contributions – (legacy) “mother ritual” –
Left behind art styles, ceremonial
centers, ritual ball games, an elite ruling
class and stone symbols that may have
led to writing. First known civilization
builders.
Cuicuilco
Some consider it the oldest pyramid on
earth.
36a – Explain the rise and fall of the
Maya, Aztec, and Inca Empires
Rise and Fall of the Maya
Traits of Civilization
Religious beliefs and theocracy
Independent city-states
Intensive agriculture
Strength Leading to Power
United culture
Loyalty to the King
Wealthy and prosperous culture
Production of more food feeds a larger
population
Weakness leading to Decline
Many physical and human resources
funneled into religious activities
Frequent warfare occurs between
kingdoms
Population growth creates need for
more land
Tikal
Chichen Itza Ruins, Maya Civilization,
Yucatan, Mexico
 Maya Gods
 Rise and Fall of the Aztec
 Traits of Civilization
 Religious beliefs and theocracy
 Powerful army
 Empire of tribute states
 Strength Leading to Power
 United culture
 Loyalty to the Emperor
 Added land, power, and prisoners for
religious sacrifice.
 Provides wealth and power and
prisoners for religious sacrifice
 Weakness Leading to Decline
 Many physical and human resources
funneled into religious activities
 Need for prisoners changes warfare
style to less deadly and less
aggressive
 Tribute states are rebellious and need
to be controlled.
 Aztec Temple Tenayuca
 Skull rack or Tzompantli
 One of the greatest rulers of the empire
was Ahuitzotl (ah WEE soh tl).
 From 1486 until his death in 1502, he led
Aztec armies in conquest throughout
Mexico and Central America. He made
lightning-quick attacks that took his
enemies by surprise
 Ahuitzotl also completed the pyramid of the
Great Temple, which he dedicated to the god
Huitzilopochtli.

 When Ahuitzotl died in 1502, his nephew,
Monteczuma, became the new ruler.

 Aztec social structure
 Two most important Aztec gods were Tlaloc
god of rain
 Huitzilopochtli , god of sun and war
 Aztec weapons
 Tenochititlan
 Tenochititlan
 Rise and Fall of the Inca
 Traits of Civilization
 Religious beliefs and theocracy
 Major road system
 Type of welfare state with huge
bureaucracy
 Strength Leading to Power
 United culture
 Loyalty to the Emperor
 Roads connected entire empire and
aided control
 Care for entire population during good
and bad times
 Weakness Leading to Decline
 Many physical and human resources funneled
into religious activities
 Enemy could also use roads to move troops
 People struggled to care for themselves with
elimination of welfare state
 Macchu Picchu
 Incan Skull surgery
Puente del Inca – Bridge of the Incas
 Sacred Valley of the Incas
 Fighting Pizzaro’s troops
 Lost City of the Incas
 Hiram Bingham-inspiration for Indiana Jones
 Incan Emperor
 Sacred Valley of the Incas
 Sacred Valley of the Incas- Ollantaytambo
 Valley of the Incas
 36b – compare the culture of the Americas
including government, economy, religion, social
structure, technology and the arts of the
Mayans, Aztecs and Incas
 Mayans (p. 446-451)
 Geography – Southern Mexico and northern
Central America- Cool cloudy mountainous
 Yucatan Peninsula (steamy jungles)
 Social Structure –
 Top of Society;
 King
 Nobles
 Leading warriors
 Middle;
 Merchants and people with specialized
knowledge such as artisans
 Bottom;
 Peasant majority
 Contributions of the Mayans;
 Had the most advanced writing
system in ancient America
(Hieroglyphic symbols) aka, glyphs.
 Developed bark-paper books,
developed a calendar, were gifted in
math, used the concept of 0.0,
(decimals) and studied astronomy
(calculated the solar year at 365.242
days – only .0002 off.)
 Religions of the Mayas;
 Polytheistic, prayed to gods
 Gave offerings of food and flowers
and incense.
 Practiced human sacrifices to the
gods.
 Government of the Mayans;
 Independent city states
 Theocracy
 Economy;
 Agriculture and trade
 City-sates linked through trade
alliances
 Agriculture-particularly maize, beans,
and squash
 Technology;
 Math concept of 0.
 Calendar
 Astronomy
 City building
 Slash and burn faming
 Sophisticated planting on raised beds
above swamps and on hillside
terraces
 Arts;
 Hieroglyphics – 800 symbols
 Sacrifices
 Pyramids
 Ball Courts for religious games
 Jaguar architecture
 Stele’s (Inscribed markers)
 Aztecs
 (p. 452-458)
 Geography;
 Tenochtitlan – capital
 Modern day Mexico City
 Built on an island on Lake Texcoco
 Social Structure of the Aztecs;
 Emperor
 Nobility - Government officials,
religious leaders
 Commoners – merchants,
craftspeople, soldiers, farmers who
owned land
 Slaves
 Contributions of the Aztecs;
 Causeways over water.
 Floating gardens
 Two calendars believed to have been
derived from the Mayans
 Aztec Sunstone
 Religions of the Aztecs;
 Polytheistic, public ceremonies,
human sacrifices
 Founded their capital city based on
the Aztec legend of Huitzilopochtli
(god of the sun and warfare)
 Over 1,000 gods
 Elaborate public ceremonies to win
favor of different gods.
 Ritual dramas, songs, and dances
 The Aztecs believed the Sun god
Huitzilopochtli needed nourishment of
human blood for the sun to rise.
 Government of the Aztecs;
 Small city states
 Military State-Triple alliance in 1428
divided Empire into 38 provinces with
5 to 15million population.
 Economy of the Aztecs;
 The government ruled loosely over
the empire making conquered areas
pay tributes.
 If people resisted tributes or revolted,
Aztecs would destroy village and
capture or slaughter it’s inhabitants.
 Trade connected by water and canals
so canoes could bring products
directly to cities
 Technology of the Aztecs;
 Tenochtitlan was a planned city
greater than any in Europe of the time
 Engineers built causeways over
marshy land and water.
 Floating gardens (Chinampas) built on
marshy fringes of the lake.
 Aztec Art;
 Temples
 Pyramids
 Stone carvings and paintings for the
gods.
 Masks for religious rituals
 Incans (p. 459-465)
 Geography;
 Largest empire in the Americas
 Most of the West coast of South
America from Ecuador to Chile
 Social Structure of the Incas;
 Based on community cooperation
 Allyu (extended family group that would
undertake tasks too big for the single family).
 Divided family in groups of 10, 100, 1000.
 A Chief led each group. Local administration in
the hands of local rulers.
 Conquered peoples were allowed to continue
their traditional ways of life.
 Peacefully conquered peoples to gain their
loyalty whenever possible.
 Incan Social Stucture con’t
 Incans imposed a uniform single
language throughout their empire
 Social groups identified by officially
dictated patterns on clothing.
 Contributions of the Inca’s;
 Uniform architecture throughout the
empire
 Took care of indigent and elderly
 Freeze dried potatoes (chumo)
 Gov’t storehouses for times of famine
and shortages
 Public works ie..1400 mile network of
roads and bridges.
 Guest houses for travelers
 Contributions of Inca’s (con’t)
 Postal service
 Quipi knotted strings to record data
 Never developed a writing system
 Everything was oral
 Religions;
 Two calendars-one for night, one for
day
 Believed gods ruled night and day
 Reinforced power of the state
 Creator god – Viracocha
 Sun god - Inti
 Viracocha
 Incan Religions
 Mamakuna-”Virgins of the sun”
 Committed to lifetime of religious
service, religious activities, teachers,
spinners, weavers.
 Yamacuna- men- workers for the
state and to aid in religious activities.
 Incan Government;
Largest Empire in western hemisphere
Had to be a descendant of Inti to rule
Had 80 provinces and about 16 million
people.
Conquest was through diplomacy and
military force.
Large bureaucracy
Tributes were paid with labor.
Compatible to socialism today.
 Incan Economy;
 Efficient system
 Extensive road system to tie empire
together.
 Regulated production and distribution
of goods throughout the empire.
 Incan Technology;
 Masterful engineers and stonemasons
 No iron tools or wheels or mortar
 Incan Arts;
 Temple of the Sun in Cuzco (religious
capital)-most sacred shrine covered in
gold
 Gold covered walls in city and was
extremely abundant.