south america ancient history
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South America Ancient History . Mesoamerican Empires. MESOAMERICAN LOCATION NOTABLE EMPIREACHIEVEMENTS. Maya The Yucatan Peninsula, present -day Mexico , Belize, Guatemala. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SOUTH AMERICA ANCIENT HISTORY
MESOAMERICAN EMPIRES• MESOAMERICAN LOCATION NOTABLE EMPIRE
ACHIEVEMENTSMaya The Yucatan Peninsula,
present-day Mexico,
Belize, Guatemala
Hieroglyphic writing, astronomy, calendar, math, team sports
Inca Present-day Peru, Highway system,
Ecuador, Chile central govtAztec Present Mexico City
Great Temple
of Tenochititlan
MAYAN
THE MAYA
• Before cities, lived in villages grew corn, beans and squash• Slash-and-burn agriculture is burning vegetation to clear land for planting• Trade http://www.history.com/topics/may
a/videos#the-mayans
WHAT ABOUT SANDY???????
MAYA- CITIES/ GOVERNMENT
• Classic Age 250-900 AD built cities• Cities contained stone
pyramids, temples, palaces (built honor gods/rulers)• City-states each had
own ruler & govt• Linked in 2 ways 1.
trade 2. warfare
MAYA- SOCIETY/ RELIGION
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zul8w1RYypk
• Kings great influence, believed kings communicate with gods• Worshipped many gods• Performed private/public
rituals, blood to gods (piercing tongue/skin)• Playing Ball Game• Upper Class- Priests/
Warriors• Lower Class- Farmers/slaves
MAYA- ACHIEVEMENTS
• Impressive buildings and architecture• Astronomy, math, writing• Calendar system365 day farming260 day religious• #system- concept of zero• Glyphs-symbols
represented objects/ sounds• Codex- written book
MAYA-DECLINE
• 1. Environmental damage, overuse of resources/ drought• 2. Warfare
competition over land• 3. Abuse of power
AZTECS
AZTECS
• Legend- look for eagle perched on cactus eating snake, build city there• Lake Texcoco- Tenochtitlan• Formed alliance with
other city-states• Pay tribute, type of tax,
basis of economy• Military force destroy
towns
AZTEC- SOCIETY/ RELIGION
• King (Royal Family)• Priests (Interpreted
calendar & performed religious ceremonies)• Merchants & Artisans
(goods for tribute)• Farmers(poor, paid so
much in tribute)• Slaves (captured/
didn’t pay debt)
AZTEC-ACHIEVEMENTS
• Arts and science• Bright feathers into
headdresses• Metalworkers (gold,
silver, copper, jewelry/masks)• Stonework on
temples• Writing tax records
& business deals
INCA
INCA EMPIRE
• Began expansion from Andes 1400s • Leader was Pachacuti- used political alliances & military force gain territory • Height population
around 12 million
INCA EMPIRE
• GovernmentEmperor most powerNeeded help, didn’t
want people conquered to gain power
Moved in new leaders loyal to Inca Empire
Created stability Military protected
internal/ external attacks
INCA EMPIRE
• EconomyCommon people
require to pay a labor tax called mita
Mita paid by women weaving clothes, men work govt farms, mines
No markets but govt distributed food
Govt kept extra goods
INCA EMPIRE• EconomyUsed quipu or set of
colored and knotted cords keep track of goods
Colors and knots represented numbers or dates
No written languageUsed quipu record tax
records, livestock, population
Road system communication/ control economy
INCA EMPIRE
• SocietyAyllu-each family
grouped into a cooperative community
Each group of 10 ayllus had a chief
Worked together on different tasks (farming, building canals, performing religious rituals)
INCA EMPIRE
• SocietyClass divisions but no slavesLower Class farmers,
artisans, servants( plain clothes, serve upper class)
Upper Class King, govt officials, priests (DO NOT pay labor tax)
Religion- worship Sun God, sacrifices of llamas, cloth, food
INCA- ACHIEVEMENTS
• Talented buildings (temples, forts, roads- still standing)• Art- metalwork• Weavers- wool &
cotton (patterns status in society)