Chapter 7 - The Americas Section 2: Mesoamerica

Aztec and Mayan Empires

Objectives

• What were the first civilizations in Mesoamerica like?

• What were some characteristics of Maya civilization?

• What made the Aztec empire one of the strongest in the ancient Americas?

Main Idea

Civilizations in Mesoamerica were some of the earliest and most advanced in the Americas.

Section 2: Mesoamerica

I. The First CivilizationsMesoamerica - first farming settlements in the Americas

A. The Olmec1200 BC - AD 300; built first large towns - pyramids, courtyard, giant stone heads

The Olmec carved giant heads from basalt that came from 50 miles away

A. The OlmecOlmec rulers, priests, and their families lived in towns. Everyone else lived outside town and supported them

La Venta was the largest Olmec town from 900 BC & 400 BC.

A. The OlmecElite led ceremonies, controlled trade from Gulf of Mexico to Pacific coast

Artist’s conception of the ancient Olmec city of La Venta

One of the ballcourts at Xochicalco. Note the characteristic -shape, as well as the ring set above the apron at center court. The setting sun of the equinox shines through the ring.

Ceramic sculpture from a Mexican tomb showing the Mesoamerican ballgame

B. The Zapotec1500 BC to AD 750 - began as farmers in southern Mexico; 500 BC - built capital city of Monte Albán

B. The ZapotecCity of Monte Albán showed Olmec influence - main plaza with pyramids, temples, ball court

C. The Toltec AD 900 to 1200 - highlands of central Mexico; militaristic society - warriors dominated region

C. The Toltec

Built pyramid-shaped temples and spread the worship of their god, Quetzalcoatl

Tula, capital city of the Toltec

II. The Maya1000 BC - Advanced people; occupied Yucatán peninsula – 10 million people in 40 cities

A. Early Maya CivilizationAD 250 to 900 - Mayan Classic Age, city-states with own ruler and government

The Great Plaza (center) and North Acropolis (top) at Tikal

A. Early Maya CivilizationWorshipped many gods; performed rituals – blood offerings and occasional human sacrifice

The shaman is about to perform a cha-chac ceremony: a petition to the

god, Chac, to send rain

B. AchievementsMany advancements in:

• architecture• math - concept of zero• astronomy – calendars 365-day farming, 260-day religious

Maya Calendar, called the Sunstone

B. AchievementsWriting system – glyphs represent objects and sounds; wrote in stone and bark-paper book called a codex

Pot used by the ancient Maya for drinking cacao

III. The AztecsEarly Aztecs - separate farming tribes from northwestern Mexico

A. Rise of the EmpireAD 1100s – migrated to Valley of Mexico, settled when they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake

A. Rise of the EmpireSaw eagle and snake on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco; founded city of Tenochtitlán

A. Rise of the EmpireFormed alliance with nearby cities; gained control over huge region beyond Lake Texcoco

A. Rise of the EmpireAztecs were fierce warriors; conquered 400 to 500 city states; required people to pay tribute

TYPICAL AZTEC WARRIOR AND WEAPONS

A. Rise of the Empire

Tenochtitlan was the capital city; had temples, markets, palaces and 200,000 people

B. Society and Religion

Society organized with king at the top, then priests, warriors, merchants, farmers, and slaves

Aztec Tribute List

B. Society and Religion

Believed gods needed blood; sacrificed prisoners and slaves to “feed” their sun god

B. Society and ReligionLate 1400s - Declined due to unrest among conquered peoples; defeated by Spanish in 1521

Hernan Cortes and Malinche meet Aztec emperor Moctezuma II