MESOAMERICAMESOAMERICAEQ: 1) What is Mesoamerica?EQ: 1) What is Mesoamerica?
2) What are some contributions from 2) What are some contributions from Mesoamerica & how do they impact us? Mesoamerica & how do they impact us?
3) How does the development of 3) How does the development of Mesoamerica compare to the Mesoamerica compare to the development of other civilizations?development of other civilizations?
What is Mesoamerica?What is Mesoamerica?
Aka Middle AmericaAka Middle America
Central America & Central America & MexicoMexico
THE OLMECSTHE OLMECS
1400-500BCE1400-500BCE 11stst major American major American
civilizationcivilization Settled along the gulf Settled along the gulf
coast of Mexicocoast of Mexico Devoted to religion, Devoted to religion,
priests were honoredpriests were honored
THE MAYAS (300-900CE)THE MAYAS (300-900CE)
300-900CE300-900CE
MAYAS-Farming & TradeMAYAS-Farming & Trade
Advanced agricultural societyAdvanced agricultural society Most Mayans were farmersMost Mayans were farmers Men cultivated, women made foodMen cultivated, women made food
$$$ from profitable trade system$$$ from profitable trade system Traded across Central AmericaTraded across Central America Honey, cocoaHoney, cocoa
MAYAS-ReligionMAYAS-Religion
Priests held very high social positionsPriests held very high social positions
Elaborate rituals held to ensure good Elaborate rituals held to ensure good harvests & war victoriesharvests & war victories
Only the Only the priestspriests could conduct these could conduct these ritualsrituals
MAYAS-Social StructureMAYAS-Social Structure
Distinct social hierarchyDistinct social hierarchy Each city-state had a ruling chiefEach city-state had a ruling chief 1) Chief1) Chief 2) Nobles2) Nobles
City officials & military leadersCity officials & military leaders 3) Farmers3) Farmers Ruling class mostly male, but women Ruling class mostly male, but women
could obtain some powercould obtain some power
MAYAS-ContributionsMAYAS-Contributions AgricultureAgriculture
Grew more than enough foodGrew more than enough food
Raised fields in the rainforest Raised fields in the rainforest
ArchitectureArchitecture Giant pyramid temples & palacesGiant pyramid temples & palaces
Paintings & carvings about historyPaintings & carvings about history
MAYAS-ContributionsMAYAS-Contributions Education: Advanced Learning & ScienceEducation: Advanced Learning & Science
Hieroglyphic writing, books made of barkHieroglyphic writing, books made of bark
Priests created accurate 365 day calendarPriests created accurate 365 day calendar
Number system and concept of 0 before Number system and concept of 0 before EuropeansEuropeans
Archaeological DigArchaeological Dig
TemplesTemples
Inside temple-no Inside temple-no windowswindows
DECLINE OF THE MAYASDECLINE OF THE MAYAS Around 900CE, the Mayas abandoned Around 900CE, the Mayas abandoned
their cities…their cities…
Why? Why? Experts still not certain...Experts still not certain... Warfare?Warfare? Overpopulation leading to lack of food?Overpopulation leading to lack of food? Lower classes revolt?Lower classes revolt?
Language still spoken in Guatemala & Language still spoken in Guatemala & southern Mexicosouthern Mexico