Chapter 11 Mesoamerican Civilizations:

1. Chapter 11Mesoamerican Civilizations: The Mayans The Aztecs The Incas

2. Geographic Setting • During the last ice age, as water froze into ice, water levels in the oceans dropped. Between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska a land bridge was created which allowed Paleolithic hunters in Asia to travel to North America. • Over time these nomadic hunter-gathers migrated east and south, and adapted to many different climates and landforms. • Between 8500 BC and 2000 BC, these groups learned to grow crops and domesticate animals (Neolithic Revolution/ agricultural revolution). • Neolithic farmers in Mexico raised many crops such as: corn, beans, sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and squash. • Farmers in South America domesticated llamas and other animals valued for their wool.

3. Impacts of the Neolithic Revolution • Farmers settled into villages – populations grew due to a steady food supply • Villages sometimes became large religious centers, which would grow into cities • Civilizations with complex cultures developed (cities, government, religion, writing, art, and social structures) • Social structures included rulers, and an upper class of priests, government officials and warriors, artisans, farmers and craftspeople.

4. The Mayans • Mayas were influenced by the Olmecs • Mayas developed a complex agricultural society which flourished from about AD 300 to 900. • Farmers – most of the Maya were farmers. The men grew the crops and the women turned the crops into food. Taxes were paid in the form of crops which supported the cities and the temples. • Trade – the Maya gained wealth from trade in honey, cocoa and feathers.

5. Religion was important to the Maya. Priests occupied an exalted place in the social hierarchy because they alone could conduct the rituals that the Mayas believed would ensure bountiful harvests and victories in battle. • Social Structure – Each Mayan city-state had its own ruling chief. Below the chief were the nobles, who served as city officials and military leaders.

6. Contributions • Architecture: giant pyramid temples and large palaces, decorated with paintings and carvings on the walls depicting Mayan history • Agriculture: they grew enough food to support large city populations, by clearing out rainforests and building raised fields that could hold or drain rainwater • Learning and Science: developed a hieroglyphic system of writing and recorded knowledge in books made of bark, developed an accurate 365 day calendar, used a numbering system and understood the concept of zero before Europeans did

7. The Aztecs • The Aztecs were originally a nomadic group from the north. • They founded Tenochtitlan in 1315. • They enlarged their empire through alliances and military conquest. • By the early 1500s, the Aztec empire covered most of Mexico and had a population of about 30 million people.

8. Aztec Social Structure • Aztecs were ruled by a single emperor who was chosen by a council of nobles and priests. • Noble class – officials, judges and provincial governors. • Warriors might rise into the noble class through superior performance on the battlefield. • Traders carried goods over long distances to exchange for exotic goods and scouted distant lands to help plan future conquests. • Most Aztecs were farmers. • Slaves were the lowest class and were mainly criminals or captured enemy soldiers. They had rights guaranteed by Aztec law and some owned land and eventually bought their freedom.

9. Religion was important to the Aztecs • Priests were important because they led rituals to appease the gods. The Aztecs build huge pyramids to honor their chief deity, the sun god. • To please their gods, Aztec priests offered many thousands of human sacrifices.

10. Contributions • Learning - accurate calendar, established schools, recorded historical events • Science – medical advances such as bone setting and treating dental cavities • Architecture and Engineering – Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was originally two small islands in the middle of a lake. The city was connected to the mainland by two wide stone causeways. The city had huge pyramid temples, an elaborate emperor’s palace, and busy outdoor markets. • Agriculture – use of fertilizers, converted swampy areas into farmland, built chinampas– artificial islands made of earth piled on reed mats that were used to grow corn, squash, and beans. The ability to produce lots of food was a major factor in the success of the Aztec Empire Decline of the Aztecs was due to conquest by the Spanish

11. The Incas – Began conquest in the 1400s and conquered an area that extended over 2,500 miles down the Pacific coast. • An emperor ruled the Incas. The first emperor was a warrior that led many successful campaigns of conquest. The emperor held absolute power and owned all of the people, land, herds, and mines. The emperor claimed divine status as the son of the sun. • All the people had to speak the same language, Quechua. • The empire had a strong central government that was able to function due to a vast road system. Runners used the roads to carry news and messages. When necessary armies could use the roads to crush any rebellions formed in distant parts of the empire.

12. Religion • Everyone in the empire had to practice the Incan religion. • Incan religion affected all parts of daily life. • The people worshiped many gods related to forces of nature as well as guardian spirits in the home. • The chief Incan deity was the sun god. • The priests were powerful and conducted rituals and led monthly festivals that featured sports and game.

13. Contributions • Engineering and Architecture – The Incan system of roads was a major accomplishment of their civilization. It extended more than 12,000 miles, included hundreds of bridges, and even used tunnels and steps to pass through mountainous terrain. • The Incas built temples of close fitting stones with out mortar which were so strong they were able to withstand major earthquakes. • Communication – The Inca had no writing system, but Incan government officials kept records by means of a system of knotted, colored strings called quipus.

14. Agriculture Incan farmers overcame limited flat farmland by terracing the sides of mountains. Their terraces were reinforced by stone walls, and used precise irrigation systems.

15. Science – The Incas excelled at medicine • They performed successful surgery to treat head wounds. • They had knowledge about diseases and medicines • They used herbs as antiseptics

16. Mesoamerican civilization similarities • Agriculture was the primary economic activity that allowed populations to grow. • Religion unified each empire. • Complex government systems and trade networks. • Advances in agriculture, medicine, mathematics and engineering.