The Mayans

1. The Mayans Chapter 16, Section 2: Maya Kings and Cities The Maya develop a highly complex civilization based on city-states and elaborate religious practices.

2. Objectives • To describe the key features of the Mayan kingdoms • To explain Mayan beliefs about achievements • To identify reasons for the decline of the Maya

3. Maya Create City-States The Land of the Maya • Maya live in Southern Mexico and northern Central America • Land, vegetation of this region varies • Maya culture influenced by Olmec civilization

4. Who were the Olmec? • Mesoamerican civilization; lived along Gulf Coast of Mexico 1200 BC – 400 BC • “Mother culture” • First sign of culture: massive sculpture of head found 1860 • Worship nature gods • Reasons for collapse unknown • Legacy • Art and construction affect future cultures like the Maya • Develop ceremonial centers, ritual ball games, and ruling class • Later cultures in Mesoamerica adopt Olmecwayts

5. Urban Centers • In Classic Period (250 to 900) Maya build spectacular cities • Cities, like Tikal, have pyramids, temples, palaces, stone carvings • Each has a court where ritual ball game is played

6. Maya Create City-States Agriculture and Trade Support Cities Kingdoms Built on Dynasties Farming success leads to rise of social classes King is leader, holy figure Priests, warriors at top of social class Middle class: merchants, artisans Bottom: Peasants • Cities linked by alliances, trade • Farming maize, beans, squash is foundation of Maya life • Maya use different farming techniques

7. Religion Shapes Maya Life • The Importance of Religion • Maya believe in many gods, who could be good, evil, or both • Each day is a god whose behavior could be predicted with calendars • Religious Practices • Many ways of worshiping: prayer, offerings, giving blood • Maya also make human sacrifices to please gods and balance world El Castillo – “The Castle” Kukulcan Pyramid Chichen Itza

8. Religion Shapes Maya Life • Math and Religion • Religion leads to advances in calendar, math, astronomy • Maya use two calendars: one religious (260 days), one solar (365 days) • Use calendars to find best days for life activities • Written language preserves history • Writing system has 800 glyphs – symbols • Use writing to record history in codex – bark-paper book • PopulVuh – famous codex that contains Maya story of creation Mayan calendar

9. Mysterious Maya Decline The End of the Maya • In late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for abandonment unknown • Signs of social problems: • In 700s, fighting among many Maya city-states • Population growth, over-farming might have hurt environment • By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states

10. The AztecChapter 16, Section 3: The Aztecs Control Central Mexico Through alliances and conquest, the Aztecs create a powerful empire in Mexico

11. Objectives • To describe two early cultures of the valley of Mexico: Teotihuacan and Toltec • To explain the rise of the Aztecs and their society • To characterize the main features of Aztec religion • To identify factors that led to the decline of the Aztecs

12. The Valley of Mexico Geography • Mountain basin 7,500 feet above sea level, large lakes, fertile soil • Development of Teotihuacan (early city-state) and the settlement of the Toltec lead to the development of civilization in the valley

13. Valley of Mexico – Early City-State:Teotihuacan An early city-state • Teotihuacan city-state rises in first century A.D. • At peak, in 500s, city has up to 200,000 people • Serves as center of trade, especially of obsidian – volcanic glass (weapons) • No evidence attempt to create an empire • City quickly declines; by 750 abandoned

14. The Aztec Empire Arrival of the Aztecs • Aztecs (or Mexica) arrive around 1200 AD, begin working as soldiers • By own legend, a Aztec sun god – Huitzilopochtli - leads them to found city of Tenochtitlan Aztecs grow stronger • Triple Alliance – 1428 AD agreement of Aztec and two other city-states • By early 1500s, Aztecs have large empire and rule 5-15 million people • Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests

15. The Aztec Empire (continued) Nobles Rule Aztec Society • Emperor’s power is absolute; lives in palace; revered • Noble class – military leaders, officials, priests – rules Aztec society • Nobles own vast estates, live life of wealth and luxury • Commoners: merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers • Lowest class: enslaved people

16. Tenochtitlan: A Planned City Extraordinary Urban Center • Causeways connect island city to mainland areas • Canals enable people to carry goods to city and its huge main market • Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops • Central area has palaces, temples, government buildings • Modern day Mexico city is built on the ruins

17. Religion Rules Aztec Life Many Gods • Religion includes 1,000 gods, many adopted from other peoples Religious practices • Center of religion is public ceremonies to win gods’ favor • Many religious festivals throughout year Sacrifices for the Sun God • Most important rituals are for sun god, Huitzilopochtil • He needs human sacrifices to be strong • Aztecs engage in war to provide captives for these sacrifices

18. Problems in the Aztec Empire A New Ruler • In 1502, Montezuma II becomes emperor; he calls for more tribute • These sacrifices lead to revolt in outlying areas • Emperor tries to make life easier, but Aztecs worry about future • Soon after, Spanish arrive

19. The IncaChapter 16, Section 4: The Inca Create a Mountain Empire The Inca build a vast empire supported by taxes, governed by a bureaucracy, and linked by extensive road systems.

20. Objectives • To describe the Inca rise to power • To explain how the Incan government functioned • To list the basic features of Incan religion • To describe discord in the Incan Empire

21. The Inca Build an Empire Incan Beginnings • Inca first lived in high plateau of Andes Mountains • By 1200s, they have a kingdom in Valley of Cuzco • Inca believe their ruler is descended from sun god, Inti

22. The Inca Build an Empire (continued) Pachacuti Builds an Empire • Pachacuti, a powerful and ambitious emperor, takes control in 1438 • Under Pachacuti, Inca conquer lands holding 16 million people • Inca use diplomacy and military force to achieve conquests

23. Incan Government Creates Unity Organize Rule • Inca divide conquered lands into smaller units to govern easily • Make Quechua official language of entire empire Incan Cities Show Government Presence • Inca build cities with same architecture for government buildings • Capital is Cuzco, which has temples, plazas, palaces • Inca are very skilled builders

24. Incan Government Creates Unity (continued) Incan Government • Inca government controls economy and society • Use ayllu – extended family group – to control how people live, work • Divides society into groups of 10; 100; 1,000; 10,000 • Chain of command stretches from central government to smallest unit • Demands mita – requirement that people work for the state • Cares for aged and disabled

25. Incan Government Creates Unity (continued) Public Works Projects • Government creates public works, including 14,000-mile road network • Runners carry messages along the roads to different places Government Record-Keeping • Inca do not develop system of writing • Use quipu – set of knotted strings – as accounting device • Might also have had elaborate two-calendar system Real Quipu

26. Religion Supports the State Inca Gods • Inca have fewer gods than Aztecs • Creator god and sun god are most important Religious Practices • Priests draft young women to assist in ceremonies • Some young men also became specialized religious workers

27. Religion Supports the State (continued) Great Cities • Cuzco has magnificent Temple of the Sun decorated in gold • Other cities might have had religious importance as well (pictures of Coricancha, most important temple in Cuzco dedicated to Inti, sun god)

28. Discord in the Empire Problems Arise • In early 1500s, Inca Empire reaches its height under Huayna Capac • Capac dies, perhaps of smallpox, while touring newly conquered Ecuador • In 1520s, his sons Atahualpa and Huascar split empire • Atahualpa wants control of whole empire and begins civil war • This war weakens Inca state just before Spanish arrive

29. Activity • Task:Students will write a diary entry from the perspective of an individual living in one of Latin Americas early civilizations • Purpose: Synthesize and convey information about daily life • Activity: Write a journal entry describing a day in the life of a fictional citizen. Each student will be assigned one of the three civilizations to focus on. Decide on specific vocation and social class of their subject (peasant, laborer, merchant, artisan, priest, warrior, priosoner). Find out more about what life would have been like for that person. The entry for that day should include references that help identify the civilization the individual belongs to. Edit each entry for grammar, punctuation, and style consistency. • Evaluation standards – Journal entries should… • Convey an accurate sense of life in the Aztec world • Tell an interesting story • Be written in consistent style • Should include a works-cited page with at least 3 resources • Creative presentation technique