ancient american civilizations. mesoamerican civilizations highly advanced complex writing systems...
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MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS
• Highly advanced• Complex writing systems• Each civilization covered hundreds of miles• Millions of people• Lasted for centuries• NOT peaceful civilizations
THE OLMECS
• 1500 - 300 B.C.• Developed in present-day Mexico,
Guatemala, and Honduras• Created cities with thousands of people• Known for their stone monuments and
drainage system
THE MAYANS
• 1000 B.C. – 800 C.E.• Present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras,
Belize• Population of about 2 million people• Skilled in mathematics• Astronomy• 365-day calendar• Giant stone pyramids
• Complex system of writing• Hieroglyphics
• Network of roads for trade
MAYAN RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT
• Mayan government was a Theocracy• Theocracy: Society ruled by religious leaders• Mayans believed that the gods controlled everything
that happened on Earth• Astronomy was used to understand the gods
• The pyramids were used to perform rituals to please the gods
THE AZTECS
• 1325 C.E. -1521 C.E.• Built in central Mexico• Capital: Tenochtitlan• 150,000-200,000 people• Modern-day Mexico City
• Strongest military of the Mesoamerican civilizations• 1400s: Conquered nearly all of its neighbors
• Aztec society was centered on religion• The location of Tenochtitlan was picked they saw a sign
from their gods• Practiced human sacrifice to please the gods• Warfare was important to capture prisoners for
these human sacrifices
THE INCAS
• Largest of the Mesoamerican civilizations• 9 million people
• Western highlands of South America• Capital: Cuzco• Founded in 1200 C.E.
• By the 1400s, Incan Empire stretched 3,000 miles, from present-day Colombia to northern Argentina and Chile• 10,000 miles of roads
• No written language
INCAN MILITARY
• Empire was built by the military• All men 25-50 could be drafted• Conquered regions could participate in
government if they did not resist• All land belonged to emperor
HOHOKAM
• 300 C.E. – 1300 C.E.• Present-day Arizona• System of irrigation• Pottery, carved stone, shells• Shells?• Traded with coastal people
ANASAZI
• 1 C.E. – 1300 C.E.• Developed where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and
New Mexico meet (Four Corners)• Great stone dwellings, known as Pueblos• Built cliff dwellings• Mesa Verde (Colorado)
• Complex road system
THE MOUND BUILDERS
• Central North America• Pennsylvania to Mississippi River Valley
• Built giant mounds• Burial chambers, temples
• Trade networks
• Mississippians: built Cahokia (Illinois)• 16,000 people• 100 ft high mound, Monks Mound
THE IROQUOIS
• Near Canada and northern New York• 5 Iroquois nations made up the Iroquois
League• Seneca• Onondaga• Mohawk• Oneida• Cayuga
• Women held important role in society• Owned land, elected men to serve on league
council
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