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MesoAmerica

MesoAmerica. Theories of where they came from: . First Americans originated in the Gobi Desert Some migrated to Siberia around 15,000 years ago Crossed the Bering Strait in Alaska Land bridge probably existed at the time Gradually dispersed Throughout North and South America.

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MesoAmerica

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  1. MesoAmerica

  2. Theories of where they came from: • First Americans originated in the Gobi Desert • Some migrated to Siberia around 15,000 years ago • Crossed the Bering Strait in Alaska • Land bridge probably existed at the time • Gradually dispersed Throughout North and South America

  3. Newest Theories • Ancestors of modern native Americans originated in Europe • Ice Age extended shorelines of North America, Europe and Greenland far into the Atlantic Ocean • Prehistoric people traveled along the shoreline hunting and crossed over- • Settled here and gradually dispersed throughout the hemisphere.

  4. Emergence of Indian Civilization • Indians developed different cultures depending on the ecology of the region where they settled. • Some developed true civilizations • Those in Southern Mexico, Northern Central America, and the Andes Mountains in Peru.

  5. Olmec Civilization • Appeared around 1200 B.C. • In Swampy region along the Gulf of Mexico near modern-day VeraCruz • Not in a river valley • 3 major cities: • San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Trees Zapotes

  6. Olmec Civilization

  7. Olmec Achievements • Olmec society was made up of farmers and a small elite. • Talented engineers and architects • Built underground sewer system at San Lorenzo • Built pyramids and palaces from stone • Also carved giant stone heads • Largest is 9 feet tall and weighs 15 tons • No one knows their exact function *Also developed a writing system and a System to record calendar dates.

  8. Olmec Religion • Polytheistic • Most important god portrayed as half man/half jaguar • Believed that certain people could turn into jaguars at will ( a variation of the werewolf myth).

  9. Stone Head- Made of Basalt

  10. Teotihuacan • Olmec civilization faded around 900 B.C. • Later influenced other civilizations • TEOTIHUACAN • 200-700 AD • Giant city containing 200,000 people • Two giant pyramids • Pyramid of the Sun • Pyramid of the Moon

  11. Mayans • Located in Yucatan, Honduras and Guatemala • 300-900 AD • Sophisticated agriculture • Two- three harvests a year • Supported population of 2 million people • Divided into a number of small states • Never a single united state

  12. Mayan Cities • Semi-urban people • Built huge ceremonial centers that resembled cities • Contained pyramids, wide streets • Only used during religious celebrations • Most Mayans lived in small villages that surrounded the centers

  13. Mayan Religion • Complex • Polytheistic • Chief god was Itzamna • Creator of human beings and inventor of art and science • Countless other gods below him • Offered human sacrifices to the gods in times of drought • Heaven and hell- • 13 levels of heaven • 9 levels of hell

  14. Mayan God

  15. Mayan Achievements • Sophisticated Mathematics • Understood concept of zero • Developed place-value system • Developed elaborate but accurate calendar • Literate, but little of their writing survives

  16. Collapse of Mayan States • Mayan states collapsed around 900 AD-perhaps due to natural catastrophe • Maya Farming methods may have worn out the soil. • Warfare between Maya city-states • Peasants revolted and overthrew the nobles and priests • Left behind impressive ruins, achievements in sciences, and language

  17. Toltecs • Moved around southern Mexico from north around time of Mayan collapse • Took over and expanded Mayan centers • Built capital city of Tula using Mayan architecture and construction techniques.

  18. More on Toltecs • Developed impressive metal-working industry- specialized in jewelry. • Established trade network which stretched into northern South America • Civilization flourished for around 100 years • Empire eventually fragmented into small states, constantly fighting among themselves

  19. The Aztecs Arrive • Also known as Mexicas • Originally a nomadic tribe from the north • Looking for a “Promised Land” • Found it in 1325 Ad on island in middle of Lake Tecoco in Central Mexico • Built capital city on island- • Tenochtitlan

  20. Aztecs • Rich mud of island home ideally suited for agriculture • Produced abundant crops • Standard of living increased dramatically • Were in high demand as mercenaries in wars between post-Toltec states • Rose rapidly- • Stepped into power vacuum and took over much of central and coastal Mexico and North Central America

  21. Tenochtitlan • Grew wealthy from Tribute(tax) from conquered territory • Turned city into magnificent place- • Canals served as arteries of transportation • Aqueduct system for fresh water and sophisticated waste removal system • Huge temples and palaces • Brightly colored art

  22. Tenochtitlan

  23. Aztec Religion • Two sets of gods- • Nature gods- • Worshipped by farmers • Had shape of the item the god controlled • Great gods of state- • Usually portrayed themselves as half human/half animal or as a monster • Chief god was Huitzilopochtli • God of the sun

  24. Quetzacoatal

  25. Human Sacrifice • Believed that the world has passes through 4 previous stages- • Each one destroyed by catastrophe • To prevent destruction of fifth “sun”, the sun god had to be appeased • By feeding him human hearts • Aztecs therefore sacrificed victims by ripping out their hearts and holding them up for the Sun God to symbolically eat.

  26. Human sacrifice

  27. How often did they do it? • The Spanish claimed that sacrifice was performed on a daily basis and that thousands were sacrificed on religious holidays. • Many say the Spanish exaggerated the number of sacrifices to justify their conquest and destruction of the Aztec civilization

  28. End of the Aztecs • Spanish conquistador, Hernando Cortez, destroyed the Aztec civilization in 1519. • Very tragic act • Wiped out a rich and vigorous culture • Enormous loss

  29. Inca • Rose to power in the 15th century through strong armies • a 6+ million population • Developed an Incan language- Quechua • More than 7 million people speak it today. • Had an emperor ruling class with nobility (dynasty) • The empire was divide into 4 quarters • The center was CUZCO, the capital

  30. More on the Incans • Spending through taxes ( taxes were collected at different rates) • Men could be called into the military • A public works labor • Awesome communication system • Empire was thousands of miles long • Two main highways (coastal and highland) • Used relay runners to transport messages • Could run 150 miles per day

  31. Incan Architecture • Masters in architecture • Used masonry construction to produce palaces, temples, fortress • Still standing today • Machu Picchu • Consists of civic and domesticated buildings • Fields were created on steep slopes • Conquered by the Spaniards

  32. Machu Picchu

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