3 Major Pre-Columbian 3 Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations: Civilizations: Maya, Aztec, Maya, Aztec,

IncaIncaFind these locations and label them on Find these locations and label them on

your map.your map.

Early Human Early Human MigrationsMigrations

A.D. 250 - A.D. 900

Lands of the Lands of the MayansMayans

The Yucatan

Peninsula

The Yucatan

Peninsula

TikalTikal, Guatemala, Guatemala

Map of TikalMap of Tikal

Temple of the Masks

Temple of the Masks

Tikal:Tikal:

Temple Temple of the of the MasksMasks

Tikal - Wall Mask of Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain Godthe Rain God

Tikal Jungle View at Tikal Jungle View at SunsetSunset

Chichen-ItzaChichen-Itza - - PyramidPyramid

Cities were religious centers. Pyramid style Temples stood in the middle of the city. Worshiped many gods and performed rituals including human sacrifice to their gods.

PakalPakal: The Maya : The Maya AstronautAstronaut

Quetzalcoatl:The God of Wisdom The God of Wisdom

& Learning& Learning

Every Spring and Fall equinox, the sun hits the pyramid just perfectly that a snake is formed on the edge of the staircase. The head is down on the bottom of the staircase. Architects still aren’t exactly sure of how the Mayans figured out how to build this.

Chichen-Itza - Chichen-Itza - ObservatoryObservatory

Mayan priests studied the stars and planets. Designed an accurate calendar to determine cycles.

Mayan MathematicsMayan MathematicsFirstFirst number number system system

with a with a 00

MayanMayan Hieroglyphic Hieroglyphic

Writing Writing SystemSystem

sky king house child citysky king house child city sky king house child citysky king house child city

Chichen-Itza - Ball Chichen-Itza - Ball Court Game:Court Game:Pok-ta-PokPok-ta-Pok

Mayan Mayan Cultivation of Cultivation of

MaizeMaize

Chac, God of Rain Chac, God of Rain

Chac, God of Rain Chac, God of Rain Farmers worked in fields surrounding the

city. Maize most important crop. Also grew squash, beans, peppers, avocados, and papayas.

Mayan Underground Mayan Underground Granaries: Granaries: ChultunesChultunes

Ground the corn into flour to make tortillas.

Mayan Drinking Mayan Drinking Cup for ChocolateCup for Chocolate

The Great Mystery of the Mayas:Collapse of the Mayan Civilization

Suddenly left their cities. Why??Enormous Population

– Lack of Resources (water, food, materials)Revolution against the Government

– Peasant uprising against nobles & priests InvasionsNatural Disaster (earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanos etc.)DiseaseCalendar Prophesies

-Mayans believed they were headed for collapse because their calendar said they were, therefore they thought they should move to new centers

Maya Review

A.D. 1100 – A.D.1521

Lands of the Lands of the AztecsAztecs

Aztec View of Aztec View of TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Island in Lake TexcocoPopulation 200,000

Tenochtitlan: The Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the “Venice” of the

AmericasAmericas

Ruins of the City Ruins of the City Center, TenochtitlanCenter, Tenochtitlan

Aztecs Aztecs Human Human Sacrifice Sacrifice of of Neighboring Tribes Neighboring Tribes to the Sun Godto the Sun God

Aztec Sun MotifsAztec Sun Motifs

Heart SacrificeHeart Sacrificeon an Aztec Temple on an Aztec Temple

PyramidPyramid

Wall of Skulls, Wall of Skulls, TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Sacrificial Statue, Sacrificial Statue, TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Aztec Aztec ChinampaChinampa or or Floating GardenFloating Garden::

15ft. to 30ft. wide15ft. to 30ft. wide

Tenochtitlan – Tenochtitlan – Chinampas of Chinampas of maize, maize,

squash, & beanssquash, & beans

Aztec MedicineAztec MedicineAztec doctors made more than 1,000 medicines from plants. Also set broken bones and practiced dentistry.

Aztec Aztec MathMath

Aztec Aztec WritingWriting

Aztec Aztec CodexCodex (15c Manuscript)(15c Manuscript)

Aztec Sun Stone -- Aztec Sun Stone -- CalendarCalendar

The The Aztecs Aztecs WereWereFierce Fierce WarriorsWarriors

Aztec Aztec GoldGold

Aztec Aztec TradingTrading

Montezuma II Aztec Ruler 1519

Hernan Cortes formed an alliance with the peasants and defeated the Aztecs in 1521

Aztec CollapseAztec Collapse

A.D. 1200 - A.D.1535

Lands of the Lands of the IncasIncas

CuzcoCuzco: Ancient Capital of the : Ancient Capital of the IncaIncaStone Architecture with no mortar or cement. Architecture Stonework

and earthquake proof structures – trapezoid doors and windows & walls tilted in at 80 degrees instead of 90 degree straight walls.

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu: : rediscovered 1911rediscovered 1911

This city is built into the mountainside with over 3,000 steps connecting the different levels of the city.

Machu PicchuMachu Picchu

Many GodsHuman SacrificeInti – god of sun: most important godViracocha – god of Andes people

Incan ReligionIncan Religion

Incan Incan Road Road SystemSystem15,000 miles of roads. Runners used to relay messages over vast empire.

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Incan Terrace Terrace FarmingFarming

Incan Digging Incan Digging SticksSticks

MaizeMaize in Incan in Incan PotteryPottery

& Gold Work& Gold Work

Over 100 Different Types of Over 100 Different Types of PotatoesPotatoes Cultivated Cultivated

by the Incansby the Incans

Produce from a Typical Produce from a Typical Incan Incan

Market Market

Peppers, Tomatoes, Peanuts

Incan Ceramic JarsIncan Ceramic Jars

PeanutPeanutPeanutPeanut PotatoPotatoPotatoPotato SquashSquashSquashSquash

Cacao Cacao GodGod

Cacao Cacao GodGod

Cacao PodCacao PodCacao PodCacao Pod

Incan Incan AqueductsAqueducts

The The QuipuQuipu:: An Incan An Incan Data Data CollectingCollecting Method Method

Inca Inca GoldGold & & SilverSilver

Francisco Pizarro– Guns, cannons, and horses– European diseases

Incan Collapse: Incan Collapse: 15351535

Incan MummiesIncan Mummies

The End