Cities and Empires: Olmec, Aztec, Inca Empire
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Anticipatory Set: I see, I think, I wonder
Civilizations• Great civilizations (highly
developed societies) were established in Mexico, Central America, and South America centuries before the Europeans arrived.
• The largest and most advanced were Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca.
• They built huge cities in forests and mountains.
• Turn and talk: What enabled these civ’s to become highly developed?
Olmec
• Located along Gulf Coast of present day Mexico (around 1200 B.C. – 300 B.C.)
• Built stone houses, monuments, and drainage systems
• Collapsed about 300 B.C., but had a strong influence on future cultures.
The Maya• Reached its peak around A.D. 250-
900• Lived in large cities• Was a theocracy (society ruled by
religious leaders)• Developed system of writing called
hieroglyphics (symbols that represent things, ideas, and sounds)
• Were active traders but did not have wheeled vehicles or horses, so carried items on their backs and used canoes
• The Maya declined around 1200; reason is a mystery
The Aztec• 1325 this group of hunters
established their permanent home in central Mexico video
• Their capital was Tenochititlan (present day Mexico City) – largest city in the Americas and one of the largest in the world
• Created a military empire and conquered many neighboring communities
• Culture revolved around religious beliefs (human sacrifices) Video
The Aztec Continued
• Aztec Empire still thriving when Europeans arrived
• Conquered by Cortez (Spanish)• Video
Inca • Largest of all early American civilizations• Capital called Cuzco – established around
1200• Located in highlands of South America• The emperor Pachacuti came and
expanded their empire- people believed he was a descendant of the sun god
• Built around war – men 25-50 could be drafted
• Weapons included clubs, spears, and spiked copper balls on ropes
• One great city called Machu Picchu which was devoted to religious ceremonies
• Conquered by Pizarro (Spanish)
Inca (continued)• Large population required a lot
of food and had to farm mountainous lands so they cut terraces (broad platforms) into steep slopes
• Managing such a large territory (about 3000 miles!) was difficult
• Built roads and rope bridges• Like the Aztecs, the Inca were
thriving in the early 1500’s when Spanish soldiers would come and cause a dramatic change in their lives Video
Machu Pichu (The Hidden City)
Shared Characteristics of these Civilizations
1. Farming 2. Higher population due to farming3. Higher populations gave them edge in
conquering others4. Developed ideas about religion5. Built great cities due to sedentary shift
(stopped hunting and started farming)
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• Tweet one thing you found interesting.• #Aztec, #Inca #Maya #Olmec
