Early Civilizations of the Americas

1. Early Civilizations of the Americas Chapter 2, Section 3

2. Mayans • Mayan cities flourished for over 1,500 years. • Civilizations: an advanced culture which usually includes cities, well organized government, complex religion, social classes, specialized skills and jobs. • Mayan civilization emerged roughly 3,000 yearsago in the rain forests of present day Mexico and Guatemala

3. Large Cities • Most Mayas lived in simple homes made of mud walls. • Wealth and powerful Mayas lived in stone palaces in great cities like Tikal and Copan. • Mayan cities rose in many parts of Mexico and Central America. • Each city controlled its surrounding area and had its own ruler.

4. Large Cities • Rival cities sometime fought but also enjoyed times of peace. • Roads cut through the jungle. • Cities had huge pyramidswith temples on top. • In theses temples priests performed elaborate ceremonies to please Mayan gods.

5. Mayan class system 1. Priests 2. Nobles, government officials, and warriors 3.Peasant farmers 4. Slaves, generally war prisoners.

6. Mayan Achievements • Studied the heavens and tried to predict the future to honor gods who they believed controlled events such as harvesting, trade, and hunts. • They created an accurate 365 day calendar • They developed an advanced number system which included the number zero. • Hieroglyphics: writing that used pictures to represent words and ideas • Mayan priests used hieroglyphics to record their findings.

7. Mayan Achievement • About 850, Mayans abandoned their cities and the jungle took over their land. • Historians are unsure why the Mayans left their cities 1. Peasantsmay have rebelled againt rulers 2. Farmingmay have wore out the soil. • Today more than 2 million people speak Mayan languages.

8. The Aztecs • North of the Mayan cities the Aztecs built a powerful empire. • Until 1300s the Aztecs were wanders moving in search of food. • Legend states that a god told the Aztecs to look for an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth and build their capital.

9. A great capital • Tenochtitlan: Aztec capital built on an island in Lake Texcoco. • Built causeways or roads to connect the island to the mainland. • Farmers built canals and filled in parts to create farmland. • Created floating gardens which harvested as many as seven crops a year.

10. A great capital • In the 1400’s Aztecs expanded their power by conquering neighboring people. • Riches from trade and conquers turned Tenochtitlan into a bustling city. • Marketplaces offered an abundance of food. • Drawbridges were created to raise in case the city was attacked.

11. Aztec Religion • Religion was central to Aztec life. • Men and women went to school to train to become priests and priestesses • Like the Mayas Aztec priests studied the heavens and created calendars. • Divided the year into 18 months. • Calendars were used to predict when to plant and harvest.

12. Aztec Religion • Worship the sun god. • Called themselves “warrior of the sun” • Aztecs believed the sun required humansacrifice to ensure a successful journey across the sky. • Sacrificed tens of thousands prisoners of war to please the gods.

13. A powerful empire • By 1500 the Aztecs ruled millions of people from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. • Emperor had absolute power and was treated like a god. • Servants carried him from place to place and when he did walk flower petals were thrown at his path. • Heavy taxes and human sacrifice fueled revolts among neighboring people. • Enemies of the Aztecs helped bring about their defeat in the 1520’s.

14. The Incas • Far south from the Aztecs, the Incas united the largest empire in the Americas. • Cuzco: the Inca’s capital high in the Andes Mountains. • Incas ruled more than 10 million people.

15. Expert farmers • Incas carved terraces into the steep mountain sides. • Huge stone walls kept rainfall from washing soil away.

16. Expert engineers • Incas perfected highly advanced building techniques. • Incas made elaborate building using masonary skills and human labor. • Their buildings have survived hundreds of earthquakes. • Some Inca building remain standing today

17. Holding the empire together • To unit their huge empire, Incas built complex road networks. • 19,000 miles of roads united their empire. • Teams of runners carried royal commands and messages to nearby villages where the next runner would carry the message to next village.

18. Achievements in medicine • Treated malaria with quinine • Performed successful brainsurgery. • Discovered medicines to lessen pain

19. Religious beliefs • Also worshipped the sun • To honor the sun Incas lined the temples and palace walls with sheets of gold. • They called gold the “sweat of the gods” • Very little Inca gold has survived. • In the 1530’s Spanish invaded the Incas and melted down their gold to send back to Europe.