1 / 30

Early Americas

Early Americas. Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Geography of Early Mayans. The region known as Mesoamerica stretches from the central part of Mexico south to include the northern part of Central America. It was in this region that a people called the Maya developed a remarkable civilization.

claus
Download Presentation

Early Americas

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Early Americas Maya, Aztec, and Inca

  2. Geography of Early Mayans • The region known as Mesoamerica stretches from the central part of Mexico south to include the northern part of Central America. • It was in this region that a people called the Maya developed a remarkable civilization.

  3. Geography continued… • Around 1000 BC the Maya began settling in the lowlands of what is now northern Guatemala.

  4. Geography • Guatemala has a thick tropical forest and the Maya cleared out some of this land for farming purposes. • They grew a variety of crops including: • Beans • Squash • Avocados • Maize

  5. Geography • The forests provided valuable resources too such as: • Forest animals for food such as: • Deer • Rabbit • Monkeys • Trees and forest plants used for building

  6. Geography • The early Maya lived in small, isolated villages. • Eventually these villages started trading with one another and with other groups in Mesoamerica. • As trade increased the villages grew • By 200 AD the Maya had begun to build large cities in Mesoamerica.

  7. The Classic Age • The Maya civilization reached its height between 250 AD and 900 AD. • This time in Maya history is known as the Classic Age. • During the Classic Age, Maya territory grew to include more than 40 large cities. Each with its own government and its own king. • NO SINGLE RULER EVERY UNITED EVERYONE!

  8. Classic Age • Instead of uniting, Maya cities were linked through trade. • People exchanged goods for products that were not available locally • Lets take a look at a map of the trade routes in Mesoamerica.

  9. Geography • The warm low lands were good for growing cotton and cacao, the source for chocolate! • But the lowland crops didn’t grow well in the cool highlands.

  10. Highlands • The Highlands did not have the climate to grow much agriculture. • Instead they relied on resources such as valuable stones like: • Jade • Obsidian

  11. Trading leads to great things • Through trade, the Maya got supplies for construction. • Maya cities had grand buildings, such as palaces decorated with carvings and paintings.

  12. Construction for Maya • The Maya also had guilt stone pyramids topped with temples. • Some temples honored local kings. For example in the city of Palenque, the king Pacal had a temple built in his honor. • Lets takes a look at the monument

  13. In Addition… • Along with palaces and temples, the Maya built canals and paved large plazas for open gatherings. • Farmers used stone walls to shape hillsides into flat terraces so they could grow crops on them.

  14. Entertainment • Almost every city in Maya had a stone court for playing a special ball game.

  15. Sports • Using only their heads, shoulders, or hips, players tried to bounce a heavy rubber ball through stone rings attached high on the court walls.

  16. Not all fun and games • The winners of this game would usually be showered in gifts like: • Jewels • Clothing • Supplies • The losers were not so lucky!

  17. Maya Culture • In Maya society, people’s daily lives were heavily influenced by two main forces. • 1.) Social Structure - how people get along • 2.) Religion

  18. Social Structure Pyramid

  19. Social Structure • The king held the highest position in Maya society. • The Maya believed their kings were related to the gods, so Maya kings had religious as well as political authority.

  20. Social Structure • Priests, rich merchants, and noble warriors were also part of the upper class. • Together with the king, these people held all the power in Maya society. • Most Maya, though belonged to the lower class. • This group was made up of farming families who lived outside the cities.

  21. Social Structure • The women cared for the children, cooked, made yarn, and wove clothing

  22. Social Structure • Mayan Men farmed, hunted, and crafted tools

  23. Social Structure • Lower class Maya had to “pay” their rulers by giving the rulers part of their crops and goods such as cloth and salt. • They also had to help construct temples and other public buildings. • If the city went to war, the men were to go fight.

  24. Maya Culture • In Maya society, people’s daily lives were heavily influenced by two main forces. • 1.) Social Structure - how people get along • 2.) Religion

  25. Religion

  26. Religion • The Maya worshipped many gods, making them polytheistic. Each god/goddess was believed to control a different aspect of daily life. • Their gods consisted of: • The creator • The sun God • The moon Goddess • The maize God • And many more maya gods.docx

  27. Religion • According to Maya beliefs, the gods could be helpful or harmful, so people tried to please the gods to get their help.

  28. Religion • The Maya believed their gods needed blood to prevent disasters or the end of the world. • Every person offered blood to the gods by piercing their tongue or skin • On special occasions, the Maya made human sacrifices. Usually a prisoner of war, but sometimes it even meant an upper class.

More Related