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Ancient Latin Ancient Latin American American Civilizations Civilizations Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas

Ancient Latin American Civilizations Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas

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Ancient Latin American Ancient Latin American CivilizationsCivilizations

Mayas, Aztecs, and IncasMayas, Aztecs, and Incas

Maya CivilizationMaya Civilization

Arrived in (present-day) northern Arrived in (present-day) northern Guatemala around 1000 BCGuatemala around 1000 BC

The Mayas are BEST known for:The Mayas are BEST known for:1.1. Studying the stars and planets (led to a Studying the stars and planets (led to a

calendar being created)calendar being created)

2.2. Developing a system of writing called Developing a system of writing called HIEROGLYPHSHIEROGLYPHS

The Maya also lived in southern Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize.

Maya Origins and ReligionMaya Origins and Religion Origins:Origins:

Early Maya lived in small, isolated villagesEarly Maya lived in small, isolated villages Villages soon began Villages soon began TRADINGTRADING with each other---as with each other---as

TRADETRADE increased, villages increased, villages GREWGREW TRADETRADE, not , not RULERSRULERS, linked the Maya’s cities, linked the Maya’s cities

Religion:Religion: Worshipped Worshipped MANYMANY gods gods

EXS: sun god, moon goddess, and maize (corn) EXS: sun god, moon goddess, and maize (corn) godgod

Believed each god controlled a different part of Believed each god controlled a different part of everyday lifeeveryday life

Wanted to please the gods---believed them to be Wanted to please the gods---believed them to be BOTH HELPFUL BOTH HELPFUL andand HARMFUL HARMFUL

AdvancementsAdvancements

Studied math and astronomy extensively Studied math and astronomy extensively (With a lot of detail)(With a lot of detail)

Created calendars based on various Created calendars based on various movementsmovements Ex.: Ex.: 260-day260-day calendar for calendar for sacred dayssacred days and a and a

365-day365-day calendar based on the calendar based on the sun’s sun’s movementsmovements

Maya calendar was Maya calendar was MOREMORE accurate than any accurate than any calendar used by Europeans until the 1700s. calendar used by Europeans until the 1700s.

HIEROGLYPHSHIEROGLYPHS

Created a system of writing called Created a system of writing called HieroglyphsHieroglyphs Best developed written language in ancient Best developed written language in ancient

Latin AmericaLatin America

Example of Maya hieroglyphs from the Museo de sitio in Mexico.

The Mayans Disappear?The Mayans Disappear?

Early AD 900s, the empire began to Early AD 900s, the empire began to declinedecline

People stopped building structures and left People stopped building structures and left the cities, moving back to the countrysidethe cities, moving back to the countryside

There are MANY theories (ideas) as to There are MANY theories (ideas) as to why the Maya empire collapsed, but one why the Maya empire collapsed, but one thing is for sure---by the time the Spanish thing is for sure---by the time the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, the Mayas had faded.arrived in the 1500s, the Mayas had faded.

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization

Arrived in the Arrived in the Valley of MexicoValley of Mexico in the in the 1100s1100s

The Aztecs were made up of a number The Aztecs were made up of a number of wandering warriors, most from the of wandering warriors, most from the Mexica tribeMexica tribe

All the “good” land was taken, so they All the “good” land was taken, so they settled on a swampy island in the settled on a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcocomiddle of Lake Texcoco

Had little land to farm on, so the Aztecs Had little land to farm on, so the Aztecs built floating gardens called built floating gardens called CHINAMPASCHINAMPAS

Aztecs ExpandAztecs Expand

1325: began building their capital, 1325: began building their capital, TenochtitlanTenochtitlan, and conquering nearby , and conquering nearby townstowns

Came to power mainly due to war and Came to power mainly due to war and the conquest of other peoplesthe conquest of other peoples

The Aztecs forced those conquered to pay The Aztecs forced those conquered to pay TRIBUTES (taxes)TRIBUTES (taxes)

How could tributes be paid?How could tributes be paid? Food, cotton, gold, or slavesFood, cotton, gold, or slaves Tributes allowed the Aztecs to grow very richTributes allowed the Aztecs to grow very rich

Aztec SocietyAztec Society

The MOST important The MOST important member of society member of society was the EMPERORwas the EMPEROR Chose trusted nobles Chose trusted nobles

to oversee his to oversee his demands regarding demands regarding trade, payment trade, payment collections, and collections, and warfarewarfare

Emperor

Nobles

Warriors and Priests

Merchants and Artisans

Farmers and Laborers

SLAVES

All men, including PRIESTS, had to join Aztec army for 2 reasons: (1) help maintain a powerful empire and (2) religious.

Religion Religion

Religion:Religion: Worshipped Worshipped MANYMANY gods, believed the gods gods, believed the gods

controlled nature and human activities. controlled nature and human activities. Exs.: Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Exs.: Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and

HuitzilopochtliHuitzilopochtli Human sacrifices were regularly made by priests to please Human sacrifices were regularly made by priests to please

the gods the gods (mostly (mostly SLAVESSLAVES and those captured in and those captured in battle battle

were sacrificed)were sacrificed)

Aztec AchievementsAztec Achievements

Sculpted stone pyramids and statuesSculpted stone pyramids and statues Like the Maya, studied astronomy and Like the Maya, studied astronomy and

made a calendarmade a calendar Like the Mayans, used HIEROGLYPHS Like the Mayans, used HIEROGLYPHS

for their writings and kept detailed records for their writings and kept detailed records of historical informationof historical information

Had a strong oral traditionHad a strong oral tradition

End of Aztec EmpireEnd of Aztec Empire

LateLate 1400s: Spanish arrive 1400s: Spanish arrive Are looking for (1) Adventure, (2) Riches, Are looking for (1) Adventure, (2) Riches,

and (3) Converts to Catholicismand (3) Converts to Catholicism 1519: Group was led by conquistador 1519: Group was led by conquistador

(conqueror) Hernan Cortes (conqueror) Hernan Cortes Aztec’s are taken over by Cortes and the Aztec’s are taken over by Cortes and the

SpanishSpanish

Hernan Cortes vs. Montezuma II story

IncasIncas

1200: Settled in Cuzco, which is a village in 1200: Settled in Cuzco, which is a village in the Andes (South America)the Andes (South America) Began as a small tribe in the AndesBegan as a small tribe in the Andes

Cuzco eventually became the capital cityCuzco eventually became the capital city Mid 1400s: Inca ruler, Pachacuti, began to Mid 1400s: Inca ruler, Pachacuti, began to

expand Inca territory (some conquering)expand Inca territory (some conquering) Other leaders soon followed his exampleOther leaders soon followed his example

Empire eventually stretched from (present-Empire eventually stretched from (present-day) Ecuador to central Chileday) Ecuador to central Chile About 12 million Incas lived in the empireAbout 12 million Incas lived in the empire

Inca GovernmentInca Government

To rule effectively, built a strong To rule effectively, built a strong CENTRALCENTRAL government government

Pachacuti removed local leaders from Pachacuti removed local leaders from conquered lands because he wanted to conquered lands because he wanted to remain the remain the MAINMAIN leader/ruler leader/ruler

Created an official language (Quechua) to Created an official language (Quechua) to UNIFYUNIFY the people the people

Government also told households what Government also told households what work to do.work to do.

Social DivisionsSocial DivisionsUpper Class:

Emperor

Government Officials

Priests

Lower Class: Farmers Artisans Servants

Inca had NO Slaves, didn’t practice this idea.

Incan ReligionIncan Religion

Worshipped many godsWorshipped many gods Inti, the sun god was the most importantInti, the sun god was the most important

Incas thought their Incas thought their rulersrulers were related to the were related to the SUNSUN god (their most important) and that god (their most important) and that theythey never really died. never really died.

Inca had ceremonies with sacrifices, but didn’t Inca had ceremonies with sacrifices, but didn’t use humans like the Maya and Aztec. use humans like the Maya and Aztec.

Those outside of Cuzco worshipped other gods Those outside of Cuzco worshipped other gods as well and at other “sacred” locationsas well and at other “sacred” locations Mountaintops, rocks, and springsMountaintops, rocks, and springs

Inca AchievementsInca Achievements

Excellent farmers, builders, and managersExcellent farmers, builders, and managers Cuzco (capital) was the center of Cuzco (capital) was the center of

government, trade, learning, and religiongovernment, trade, learning, and religion Built more than 19,000 miles of roadsBuilt more than 19,000 miles of roads Why? Why?

Roads allowed the Incas to better govern their Roads allowed the Incas to better govern their empire; they could get to other areas easierempire; they could get to other areas easier

Achievements continuedAchievements continued

The Incas also built canals and aqueductsThe Incas also built canals and aqueducts What is an AQUEDUCT?What is an AQUEDUCT?

Pipe or channel designed to carry water from Pipe or channel designed to carry water from a distant sourcea distant source

Why did the Incas feel that canals and Why did the Incas feel that canals and aqueducts were important?aqueducts were important? Allowed the Incas to irrigate (dampen) land that was Allowed the Incas to irrigate (dampen) land that was

otherwise too dry to grow cropsotherwise too dry to grow crops

Inca Language?Inca Language?

Had Had NONO written language written language Recorded info. using a Recorded info. using a QUIPUSQUIPUS (kee-pooz)(kee-pooz)

What is a Quipus?What is a Quipus? A “writing” system of knotted strings where A “writing” system of knotted strings where

the the knots=numbersknots=numbers and the and the differentdifferent color color strings represent info. about strings represent info. about cropscrops, , landland, and , and other important topicsother important topics

When Spanish arrived, they had Inca When Spanish arrived, they had Inca stories/historical info. written in Spanish stories/historical info. written in Spanish

QuipusQuipus

The End of the Inca EmpireThe End of the Inca Empire Late 1520s: Civil War breaks out amongst the Late 1520s: Civil War breaks out amongst the

Incas—2 brothers both want to be Incas—2 brothers both want to be NEWNEW ruler ruler Atahualpa Atahualpa (ah-tah-WAHL-pah)(ah-tah-WAHL-pah) vs. Huascar vs. Huascar

1532: Atahualpa wins, but the fighting has 1532: Atahualpa wins, but the fighting has weakened the Inca armyweakened the Inca army

On the way to his crowning, Atahualpa learns On the way to his crowning, Atahualpa learns of a Spanish group in the area; led by of a Spanish group in the area; led by Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish attackFrancisco Pizarro, the Spanish attack

Atahualpa is captured (and later killed) and Atahualpa is captured (and later killed) and the Incas are defeatedthe Incas are defeated