pre-columbian empires to colonies the americas
TRANSCRIPT
PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES
THE AMERICAS
While complex civilizations were
emerging in Asia, Africa, and Europe, equally striking developments had occurred in the Americas
The “encounter” of Europeans with the peoples of the Americas brought the major civilizations of the world together for the first time and had a profound impact on all peoples
INTRODUCTION
What were the major
characteristics of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations?
How did the voyages of Christopher Columbus forever change the world?
THE BIG QUESTIONS
The earliest humans in the Americas
are believed to have migrated from Asia across a land bridge that was exposed during the last Ice Age
From Alaska, the earliest Americans spread southwards throughout North and South America
Separate languages and cultures developed
THE FIRST AMERICANS
EARLY MIGRATION
“Native Americans” experienced their own
Neolithic Revolution (grew maize [corn], squash, and beans – the “three sisters”)
Several complex civilizations emerged in Mesoamerica (called pre-Columbian civilizations, because they existed before the arrival of Columbus)
These did not emerge in river valley, but in warm and humid rain forests
Supported by farming corn (a crop unknown to peoples of Africa, Asia, and Europe) and used creative farming techniques adapted to their environments
GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS
The earliest civilizations in Meso-America were
the Olmec and Toltecs The Maya created a complex civilization over
3.000 years ago in present-day Guatemala Each city had its own chief ruler (considered
half-man and half-god) Engaged in frequent warfare Practiced human sacrifice (developed a ball
game that became popular throughout the Americas)
THE MAYA (1500 B.C. – 1546 A.D.)
MAYAN CIVILIZATION
King – considered half-man and half-godNobility – a small hereditary class who performed sacred ceremonies and assisted rulers (astronomers/scribes)Craftsmen – made luxuries for noblesPeasant farmers – laborers who grew corn and lived in thatched huts
MAYAN SOCIETY
KING
NOBILITY
CRAFTSMEN
PEASANTS
BUILDERS – built huge cities, large
palaces, temples, and pyramids WRITING SYSTEM – hieroglyphics (picture
symbols) MATH AND SCIENCE – complex number
system, used zero, 365 day calendar ARTISTRY – painted colorful mural, invented popular ball game
MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS
Around the 9th century, experienced a
great crisis (possibly food shortage, epidemic, or great war)
Mayans migrated northward to Yucatan Peninsula (in present-day Mexico) and built new city-states
Constant warfare from 13th to 16th centuries and pressures from neighboring wandering peoples, led to the final decline
DECLINE OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION
MAYAN POTTERY
MAYAN CALENDAR
HIEROGLYPHS
Created by an alliance of several local
peoples of the high valley in Mexico Created the city of Tenochtitlan
An island in the center of the Valley of Mexico
Grew crops in “floating gardens” in wet marshy land
Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer other people in the region
Made careful observations of the sky and aligned their temples based on the movements of the sun and moon and developed an accurate calendar.
THE AZTECS (1200 – 1521)
Emperor – all-powerfulNobility – held high positions in the government, army, or priesthoodCommoners – farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, warriorsSlaves – prisoners of war (laborers)
AZTEC SOCIETY
EMPEROR
NOBILITY
COMMONERS
SLAVES
Worshipped many gods (most important was Sun
God) Constructed calendars of stone based on
observations of the sky Believed Sun God needed human blood to continue
daily journeys across the sky Practiced human sacrifice on a massive scale (used
prisoners of war and others who volunteered for the honor)
Believed it was necessary to keep universe in motion
AZTEC CULTURE
AZTEC ART
HUMAN SACRIFICE OF THE AZTECS
AZTEC GODQUETZALCOATL
AZTEC CIVILIZATION
Developed along the Pacific coast and in the
Andes Mountains of South America Terraced mountains (grew potatoes and other
root crops) Kept llamas and alpacas for their meat and
wool and to carry goods Incas built upon these achievements, and
around 1400, began extending their rule across the Andes
THE INCA EMPIRE (1200-1535)
Built stone roads (over 10 thousand miles) to
unite the distant corners of their empire Preserved food and kept in storehouses Never developed the wheel or writing Instead of writing, used the quipu (bundles of
knotted and colored ropes) to count and keep records and send messages
Constructed stone buildings (fit together perfectly with no cement)
INCA ACHIEVEMENTS
MACHU PICHU
QUIPU
LLAMAS USED AS PACK ANIMALS
INCA CIVILIZATION
HIGHLY DEVELOPED CULTURE AND SOCIETIES
Artists made stone sculptures to decorate temples and palaces
Made ceramic bowls carved with human and animal forms for religious ceremonies
GENDER ROLES Established at birth Boys were given a machete by their fathers to establish
their masculine role and were taught crafts Girls received a stone instrument for grinding maize and
were taught to cook Women harvested grain, prepared food, cared for animals,
bore children, made flour, and could hold jobs outside the home (artisans, priestesses, merchants)
SUMMARY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN MESO-AMERICA
CREATE A COMPARISON CHART SUMMARIZING THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA
LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY
PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS
MAYAS AZTECS INCAS