We are going to fill out some of your review today

1. We are going to fill out some of your review today Also, turn in your annotated map!

2. The Americas • Maya • Aztecs Inca

3. MAYANS (600-900) Mayan Temple at Chichen Itza

4. Mayans Create Urban Kingdoms The Mayan kingdom included much of the Yucatan peninsula in southern Mexico, northern Guatemala and Belize Mayan Civilization: c. 250-900 C.E. Classical Era

5. Mayans Create Urban Kingdoms Mayans built many cities in their empire, with pyramids, temples, palaces, sports arenas and observatories. NOT UNIFIED City-states often at war. Temple at Tikal

6. Chichen Itza Pyramid

7. Tikal Temple Complex The pyramid at Tikal was the tallest building in North America until the early 20th century—212 feet high

8. Chichen Itza Ball Court and Observatory

9. Tens of thousands of people lived in Mayan cities. The center of the city and of daily life involved religious structures. Cities traded salt, feathers, shells, honey, cotton, jade and cacao beans. The latter was sometimes used for money. Their most important crops were maize (corn), beans and squash.

10. Clockwise from top right: NASA photos of irrigation canals; the Mayan god of corn (maize); modern maize; modern farm in Mayan region

11. Mayan Society The noble class, including the god-king, priests and leading warriors were at the top of Mayan society. Next were merchants and master craftsmen. At the bottom were the majority of the people, who were peasant farmers. The king was seen as a holy figure. When he died, his oldest son became king.

12. Mayan Religion Polytheistic Gods lived in 13 layers of the sky and 9 layers of the underworld. Mayans gave offerings of food, flowers and…their blood to make the gods happy. They thought that these offerings and human sacrifice kept the world in balance. Religious belief led to their development of a complex calendar, mathematics and astronomy.

13. Mayan Calendar Mayans had a 260 day religious calendar with twenty 13-day months and a 365 day solar calendar The calendars were highly accurate and based on their observations of the planets.

14. Mayan Writing • Mayans had the most advanced writing system in the Americas. • Consisted of about 800 glyphs • They wrote in books (codex) on paper made of tree bark • Most famous book: Popol Vuh— Mayan story of creation

15. Decline of the Maya • In late 800s the Maya suddenly abandoned many of their cities. Why? It’s a mystery, but some theories: Civil war that disrupted trade and city life, or overpopulated cities, or over-farming. Whichever, the results may have been famine and disease.

16. Aztecs (1325-1521)

17. Aztecs • Monarchy • Based on conquest of nearby areas • City formed the basis for modern Mexico City • Tenochtitlan • Larger than most European cities (150,000) • Largest Mesoamerican city • Cities were religious centers • Large-scale human sacrifice

18. Tenochtitlan:or “my city is floating on a lake, your argument is invalid”

19. Agriculture • Chinampas – floating islands of crops

21. Aztecs • Food tribute from conquered groups • Trade based on barter • No wheel • No beasts of burden (horses, camels, llamas)

23. Inca • Pastoralists • Depended on llama and alpaca • Built roads • Mit’a system • Mandatory public assistance • Used to assimilate conquered peoples • A form of work tribute

24. Incan Government • City of Cuzco • Smaller than Tenochtitlan • Home of Temple of the Sun, other temples • Animal sacrifices at temples • Social hierarchy was complex, huge difference between top and bottom

25. Innovations • Terrace farming • Calendar • Metalwork with gold, silver and copper was most advanced in the Americas • NO WRITING SYSTEM