During the Ice Age, prehistoric nomads
migrated across the land bridge.
between Asia & America.
Civilization would begin to develop
around 1,500 BCE.
• The first American civilization, located in
Mesoamerica.
• Often referred to as the “Mother Culture”
because they influenced other
Mesoamerican societies.
• The Olmec's developed a strong trade
network that allowed them to spread their
culture throughout Mesoamerica and
brought them extensive wealth
• First known written
language and
numbering system in
Mesoamerica
• Large stone
monuments &
pyramids to honor their
leaders & gods
• For unknown reasons (most likely
environmental), the Olmec civilization
declined by 400 B.C.
• Their cities & symbols influenced later
cultures, especially the Mayans.
• Government: Mayans
were divided into
individual city-states
ruled by king-gods
• Economy:
The Mayan economy
was based on trade &
farming maize, beans
Mayan Society
Society:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Kings (dynasties)
Nobles, priests
Warriors
Merchants, artisans
Peasants
• Mayans were polytheistic & offered their
blood, food, & sometimes human
sacrifices to please the gods
• Children and warriors were desirable
sacrifices
• Methods include decapitation,
disembowelment, heart removal, pierced
by arrows, and thrown down pyramids or
into centos
• Sacred Animals include the eagle, jaguar,
and serpent.
Mayans invented a
writing based on
pictures called
glyphs, an accurate
365-day calendar,
& advanced
temples.
Giant Calendar! 4 sides of 91 steps
and the temple on top = 365
• Long, slopping,
flat foreheads.
• Crossed Eyes
• Pointed teeth,
imbedded with
jewels
• Around 800 A.D., the Mayans mysteriously declined
• May have been due to warfare among Mayan citystates, over-farming, or drought.
• Major population centers were abandoned but
Mayan culture persisted in some capacity until the
arrival of the Spanish.
• Decedents of the Mayans live in the Yucatan today.
• After the decline of the Mayans, the Aztecs were
developing in present-day Mexico
• Around 1200, Aztecs arrived in Mexico & built their
city Tenochtitlan in 1325
The Aztecs formed a massive
empire, controlled it through 38
provinces, & received tribute from
conquered peoples.
• They survived on tribute & farming.
• They built “floating gardens” (chinampas)
which could yield multiple crops each year.
• Cacao beans were used as a form of
currency.
Society:
(1) Kings
(2) Nobility
(3) Commoners
(4) Slaves
Aztecs worshipped
many gods,
especially the sun
god & made
thousands of
human sacrifices
each year.
Like the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an
accurate calendar & built advanced temples.
Aztec Decline
• Around 1500 A.D., the Aztecs began to decline; A
century of brutal rule over the provinces & millions
of human sacrifices led to revolts.
• But, the true demise of the Aztecs came when the
Spanish discovered America & conquered the
Aztecs
• Hernando Cortez aligned himself with Aztec
enemies and overthrew the empire.
• While the Aztecs ruled
Mexico, the Incas began
to dominate the area of
the Andes Mountains of
South America.
• Many Incan cities like
Machu Picchu & Cuzcu
were built in the
mountains.
• Like the Aztecs, the Incas
built a vast empire which
included 80 provinces.
• But, the Incas ruled with
tolerance & unified their
empire with roads,
schools, & a common
language.
Incan Economy
• The Incan government
controlled the economy &
required all citizens to farm for
the good of the empire.
• Terrace farming allowed the
Incan people to farm in the high
mountains.
• Developing a system of canals
and aqueducts to direct water
through dry land and increase
fertility levels and growth.
Incan Society
(1)King (Sapa Inca)
(2)Royalty
(3)Nobility (Kuraca)
(4)Commoners (Ayllu)
• The Inca were polytheistic.
• Made offerings/sacrifices to the gods in the form of
llamas, food, and occasionally humans.
• Human sacrifices were mainly performed before or
after major events (death of the Sapa Inca, during a
famine)
• Physically perfect, healthy children between the ages
of 6-15 were usually selected for sacrifice and
pampered in the time leading up to it.
• Often were taken high into the mountains and left to
freeze to death.
Inca innovations included quipu,
a means of record keeping
involving knotted ropes as well
as an extensive system of roads
& suspension bridges.
• In the 1520s, a civil war divided & weakened the Incan
Empire.
• Ten years later Spanish conquistadors conquered the
empire.
• Francisco Pizarro was charged with conquering the
Inca.
• Pizarro imprisoned Atahualpa, the Sapa Inca, and
demanded a ransom. Even though the ransom was paid.
Atahualpa was executed.
• With a partner (somebody sitting next
to you.) fill out the Ancient Civilizations
Chart.
• When you have finished with the chart
decide which ancient civilization you’d
want to live in. Give reasons why based
on the information you’ve learned today.
Write using full sentences.