Mesoamerican Civilizations

1. Mesoamerican Civilizations Chapter 9 section 2

2. Area that stretches from south from central Mexico to northern Honduras. • Story of Americas civilizations start here. Mesoamerica

4. First known civilization • 800 – 400 B.C. in southern Mexico • Known as the “mother culture” • Lived along Gulf Coast • Known for their gigantic stone carvings of heads. Olmec Civilization

5. San Lorenzo La Venta

6. Good Bad • Abundant salt & tar deposits. • Fine clay for pottery • Wood & rubber • Extensive river system • Flood plains of rivers provided fertile land for farming. • Mountains where rock was used to make tools/weapons • Hot & humid • Swamps • Jungles • Thick canopy • Over 100 inches of rain fell each year. Impact of Geography

7. San Lorenzo is oldest site of Olmec Civilization. • La Venta is another ceremonial/trade site. Olmec Society

9. Government Religion • Lead by one ruler. • Many Gods based on nature. • Major was Jaguar god • Half human/half jaguar Olmec Government & Religion

11. Olmec goods traveled as far north as Mexico City & South to Honduras • Large trading network brought in: • Iron ore • Various stones • Helped boost Olmec economy & influence Olmec Trade & Commerce

12. Reasons are not known why they disappeared: some ideas are…… • Outside invaders • Olmecs may have destroyed their own monuments at the death of their rulers. Decline of the Olmec

13. Zapotec Civilization

14. Olmecs had collapsed----Zapotec were developing their society located: • Southwest in the current Mexican state of Oaxaca. Zapotec

16. Good Bad • Oaxaca Valley: • Fertile soil • Mild climate • Rainfall to support agriculture • Zapotecs settled this valley • Rugged mountainous region • Numerous valleys. Geography of Oaxaca

17. Lived in scattered villages. • 1000 B.C. • Temple building • Sculptures of stone • Early form of writing and calendar Small beginnings

19. 500 B.C. first real urban center in the Americas was Monte Alban • At height it was home to 25,000 people. • Bustling trade center • Giant plazas, pyramids & palaces • Observatory; established a calendar Zapotec Flourishes

21. 600 A.D.---not sure why • Guesses are: • Suffered a loss of trade • Another economic crisis. Decline of Zapotec

22. Olmec Zapotec • Influenced the Maya • Arty & pottery w/ jaguar symbol. • Future societies copied pattern of urban design • Ceremonial centers • Ritual ball games • Carved stone symbols influenced future glyph writing. • Hieroglyphic writing system. • Calendar based on movement of sun. • First city builders • Urban centers • Ceremonial grandeur w/ living space Legacy of Olmecs & Zapotec

23. People and Empires in the Americas Chapter 16 Sections 1,2 &3

24. Maya Kings and Cities

25. Homeland of the Maya stretched from southern Mexico into northern Central America. • Were influenced by the Olmec. • By 250 C.E. was a flourishing civilization Location of the Maya

27. Tikal • Major center in northern Guatemala was built • All major cities were independent city-states with these common characteristics: • Ruled by god-king • Served as religious center Maya Urban Centers

29. Giant pyramids, temples & palaces • Population of cities was large (at least 10,000) • Lived around city-state • Ball court • Playing would maintain cycles of sun and moon • Bring rain. Features of a Maya City-State

30. City-states were linked through alliances & trade. • TRADE: • Exchanged local produce • No local currency • Agriculture: • Basis for everyday life. • Used Slash and burn • Raised beds above swamps • Terrace farming. Trade & Agriculture

32. Development of social classes: • King • Nobles ( priest & warriors) • Merchants • Peasants • King was holy figure • Position was hereditary Social Structure

33. Influenced most aspects of life. • Believed in many gods. • Each day a living god • Used system of calendars to predict behavior of gods. • Prayed • Made offering • Blood offering ( some human sacrifice) Religious Practices

34. God of Maize

35. Created a 260-day religious calendar • 365-day solar calendar • Two were linked to identify best time to • Plant crops • Attack enemies • Crown new rulers • Astronomy: • Calculated the solar year • Use of zero Math & Sciences

37. Most advance in the ancient Americas. • GLYPHS: • 800 hieroglyphic symbols • Stood for whole words or syllables • Used to record events • CODEX: • bark-paper book Writing System

39. Ended in mystery • Late 800s Maya abandoned their cities. • Occupied by Toltec invaders • Theories: • Warfare • Trade disruption • Over-farming • Over population Decline of the Maya

40. Aztecs control Central Mexico

41. Trace ancestry to the Olmecs & Zapotecs. Beginnings

42. Several large, shallow lakes • Fertile soil • Accessible resources • Attracted people to settle the area. Valley of Mexico

44. Teotihuacan • 150,000 to 200,000 population • Pyramids • Grand avenues • Apartment complexes • Center of thriving trade network • Obsidian: • Most valuable trade item • Green or black volcanic glass • Abrupt decline of city-state Early city-state

46. 900—rose to power • Ruled over central Mexico for 300 years. • Warlike people • Demanded blood & human sacrifice • Topiltzin: • Ruler tried to change religion • Worship new god: Quetzalcoatl • Was exiled Toltecs take over

47. Cortez as Quetzalcoatl

48. 1200 A.D. • Poor, nomadic people • Ambitious • Found own city: look for a place where an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth. • 1325 founded their city: Tenochtitlan Beginning of Aztec Empire

50. 1428 joined two other city-states • Triple Alliance: • leading power in the Valley of Mexico • 80,000 square miles • 5 to 15 million people • Power based on military conquest and tribute. Aztec Power