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Civilizations of Civilizations of the Americas the Americas Civilizations of Middle Civilizations of Middle America America

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Civilizations of the Civilizations of the AmericasAmericas

Civilizations of Middle Civilizations of Middle AmericaAmerica

Mayan Calendar: End of the Mayan Calendar: End of the World?World?

In your notes, tell me what you know In your notes, tell me what you know about the “end of the world” in 2012 about the “end of the world” in 2012

Geography of the AmericasGeography of the Americas

Approx. 30,000 years ago, Paleolithic Approx. 30,000 years ago, Paleolithic hunter gatherers reached North hunter gatherers reached North America from Asia America from Asia – Land bridge between SiberiaLand bridge between Siberia

and Alaskaand Alaska- Adapted to a variety of Adapted to a variety of

climatesclimates

OlmecsOlmecs

First complex civilization to First complex civilization to develop in MesoAmerica develop in MesoAmerica

Olmec influence spread Olmec influence spread over a wide area through over a wide area through tradetrade

Remains: Giant carved Remains: Giant carved stone heads; no one knows stone heads; no one knows how they moved these.how they moved these.

Most important legacy: Most important legacy: served as a base for later served as a base for later civilizations (Maya & Aztec)civilizations (Maya & Aztec)

Mayan Civilization: The Golden Mayan Civilization: The Golden Age of MesoAmerica Age of MesoAmerica

Flourished from 300-900Flourished from 300-900 Largest city: Tikal Largest city: Tikal

– Pyramid temples (Sacrifices & burials Pyramid temples (Sacrifices & burials took place here)took place here)

– Elaborate carvings on stone pillars; Elaborate carvings on stone pillars; record events in Mayan historyrecord events in Mayan history

– Wealth came from tradeWealth came from trade

Mayan Civilization: The Golden Mayan Civilization: The Golden Age of MesoAmericaAge of MesoAmerica

Social ClassesSocial Classes– Each city had a ruling chiefEach city had a ruling chief– Priests held great power- needed to Priests held great power- needed to

ensure good harvests and success in ensure good harvests and success in warwar

– Most Mayans were farmersMost Mayans were farmers Advances in LearningAdvances in Learning

– Hieroglyphic writing systemHieroglyphic writing system– 365-day solar calendar365-day solar calendar– 260-day calendar based on Venus 260-day calendar based on Venus

Mayan Calendar: End of the Mayan Calendar: End of the World? World?

December 21, 2012 (11:11 am): Sun December 21, 2012 (11:11 am): Sun aligned with the center of the Milky aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 yearsWay for the first time in 26,000 years

The Mayan calendar does NOT The Mayan calendar does NOT actually end in 2012actually end in 2012– It is the end of a It is the end of a cyclecycle– Similar to the way the Gregorian Similar to the way the Gregorian

calendar (our calendar) ENDS on calendar (our calendar) ENDS on December 31, and starts over with a December 31, and starts over with a new new cyclecycle on January 1 on January 1

Decline of Mayan Decline of Mayan Civilization Civilization

Around 900 AD, Mayas abandoned Around 900 AD, Mayas abandoned their citiestheir cities

Ideas about decline: Ideas about decline: – Frequent warfareFrequent warfare– Overpopulation Overpopulation overfarming overfarming– Heavy taxesHeavy taxes

Aztec Culture Aztec Culture Teotihuacán- Well planned Teotihuacán- Well planned

citycity– Worshipped nature Worshipped nature

goddess and rain godgoddess and rain god– Culture influenced Culture influenced

Aztecs Aztecs Arrival of AztecsArrival of Aztecs

– Told to look for eagle on Told to look for eagle on a cactus w/ snake in its a cactus w/ snake in its mouthmouth

– Built city of Built city of Tenochtitlan= present Tenochtitlan= present day Mexico cityday Mexico city

http://http://www.fcschools.net/www.fcschools.net/esl/lessons/esl/lessons/mexicounit/mexicounit/azteccactus.jpgazteccactus.jpg

The world of the AztecsThe world of the Aztecs

By 1500, the Aztec empire consisted of 30 By 1500, the Aztec empire consisted of 30 million peoplemillion people

Government and SocietyGovernment and Society– Aztecs had a single rulerAztecs had a single ruler– Nobles; Warriors; commoners (peasants); Nobles; Warriors; commoners (peasants);

slavesslaves Religious beliefs Religious beliefs

– Huitzilopochtli- Sun god; thousands of victims Huitzilopochtli- Sun god; thousands of victims were offered as sacrifices to him were offered as sacrifices to him

– Human sacrifice very common Human sacrifice very common

Human Sacrifice amongst the Human Sacrifice amongst the Aztecs Questions Aztecs Questions

1.1. What was the purpose of human sacrifice amongst the What was the purpose of human sacrifice amongst the Aztecs?Aztecs?

2.2. What impelled individuals to willingly accept the role of What impelled individuals to willingly accept the role of a sacrificial victim?a sacrificial victim?

3.3. How was human sacrifice an ultimate test of manhood?How was human sacrifice an ultimate test of manhood?4.4. Why would a warrior be a better sacrifice than a slave? Why would a warrior be a better sacrifice than a slave? 5.5. What were the different varieties of human sacrifice?What were the different varieties of human sacrifice?6.6. What is an auto-sacrifice? What is an auto-sacrifice? 7.7. What was the most common form of sacrifice?What was the most common form of sacrifice?8.8. How was the entire rite of sacrifice symbolic?How was the entire rite of sacrifice symbolic?9.9. Approximately how many victims were sacrificed by Approximately how many victims were sacrificed by

the Aztecs?the Aztecs?10.10. How do modern people regard human sacrifice?How do modern people regard human sacrifice?