Aztecs, Incas, Mayans
Native Americans
of Latin America
Aztecs
• Lived in Central Mexico
• Their capital was Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)
– It was originally built on two islands in the middle
of Lake Texcoco.
Tenochtitlan
Way of Life
• Warrior Society
– Highly developed military
• Farming was the main job.
– “Floating Gardens”
• rafts filled with mud to grow crops.
• Lived in huge cities
Religion
• Main God
– God of War and Sun
• Demanded constant war and human sacrifice
Government
• Emperor had supreme power over everyone!!
• Well organized
Education
• Controlled by the priests
• Learned history, Aztec traditions, and crafts
• Some were chosen for special schools to learn
official religious duties
Contributions
• Roads with “rest stops”
• Making education mandatory
• Gold work and the beginnings of medicine
• Farming on ‘floating boats”
Mayans
• Lived in the Yucatan Peninsula
• The capital of the second empire was Chichen
Itza
Way of Life
• Lived in small settlements in the country
• Large cities were religious centers
– No one lived there all the time.
• Almost all Mayans were farmers
Religion
• Worshipped rain gods,
gods of soil, sun god, corn
god
• Believed all gods and
humans descended from
the sun and moon
Government
• Not a lot known
about their
government
• Historians think:
– Each large city
controlled the area
around it.
Education
• Children learned at home from their parents
Contributions
• Accurate calendar (354 days)
• Advanced Math (discovered Zero)
• Advanced writing system
• Pyramid Architecture
Study the Stars and Created the Mayan
Calendar
Mayan Numbers
Mayan Hieroglyphics
sky
king
house
child
city
Kukulcan
Incas
• Lived in the Andes
Mountains
– Mainly in Peru
• Their capital was Cuzco.
• Famous Inca city is Machu
Picchu.
Machu Picchu
Way of Life
• Farmers
– Grew cotton, maize (corn), potatoes
– Carved flat surfaces in mountains to farm
• Terrace farming
• Artisans:
– Bricks
– Gold and Silver Jewelry
– Pottery
Created irrigation and roads
Religion
• Incas were polytheists (believed in many gods)
– Main god: Viracocha (Sun God)
• Priests were also surgeons.
• Sometimes sacrificed animals and children
Government (Socialism)
• Had an Emperor
– Believed he was a descendent of the Sun God
• Had a class system
– Priests
– Soldiers
– Artisans
– Farmers
– Slaves
• Mita (Labor Tax): Required people to work for
the emperor a short time each year.
Education
• Royalty
• Went to school at age 13
• Learned religion, government, history, and moral
norms
• Citizens
– Did not go to school
– Learned from their grandparents and parents
Contributions
• Architecture
– The way Incas created cities, irrigation, and roads
were GENIUS!