people and empires in the americas 900-1500. vocabulary glyph: a symbolic picture- used as a part of...
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Vocabulary
Glyph: A symbolic picture-used as a part of a writing system
Codex: Book with pages (flip book)
Papol Vuh: Mayan creation story
Obsidian: Volcanic glass/very sharp
Quetzalcoatl: Feather Serpent.
Montezuma II: Last ruler of the Aztec Empire. Weakened the empire.
Pachacuti: First Incan Kingdom ruler. Conquered all of Peru.
Quipu: Knotted strings that could be used to record data
Machu Picchu: Hidden Incan city. Excavated in 1912 (Andes Mts.)
Maya Create Urban Centers
Urban Centers Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
Golden Age from 250-900
Built pyramids over 200 feet tall
Mayan Kings and Cities
Agriculture and Trade Support Cities Cities were independent, but linked through trade and
alliances Grew maize, beans, and squash
Kingdoms built on dynasties King was worshipped as a god
Social Classes Priests/warriors upper class, peasants on the bottom
Religion Shapes Mayan Life
Religious Practices Believed in many gods
(polytheistic) Offered food, flowers, incense,
and blood to gods as sacrifices
Math Develops to Support Religion Were advanced mathematicians
and astronomers Figured out the length of the
solar year Used astronomy to calculate
which god was most powerful on a certain day
Mayans: Rise and Fall
Written Language Preserves History Used glyphs to
represent words or syllables
Histories written in a codex
Mayan DeclineBy late 800’s,
Mayan cities began to be abandoned
Civil war and disruption of trade led to downfall of Maya
Only a few weak city-states remained by 1500’s
Main Idea Questions
1. What was the basis of Mayan life?
2. Why was the calendar important for the Mayan religion?
3. What three explanations have been given for the collapse of the Mayan civilizations?
The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
The Valley of Mexico Teotihuacán: An Early
City-State City contained 125,000
people Traded obsidian, a
material used to make weapons
City abandoned in 750
The Aztecs Build an Empire
Aztecs Grow Stronger Founded capital city in
1325 at Tenochtitlan Power was based on
military conquest and tributes from conquered people
Nobles Rule Aztec Society Government officials,
priests, and military leaders were top of society
Middle was commoners, bottom was slaves
Tenochtitlan: A Planned City Had largest
marketplace in the world
Home to 200,000 people
Great Temple was the center of the city
Sacrifices for the Sun God
Any Volunteers?
Aztecs believed that the sun would rise only if they gave human sacrifices
Thousands of prisoners of war were executed
Religion, the Center of Aztec Life
Problems in the Aztec Empire
Montezuma II Called for more tribute
and sacrifice from conquered provinces
Led to rebellions which weakened the empire
Spanish arrive on the coast
Main Idea Questions
1. On what was Teotihuacan’s power and wealth based on?
2. How did the Aztecs rule their empire?
3. Why did the Aztecs think it was necessary to make blood scarifies to their “Sun God?”
The Inca Come to Power
Incan Beginnings Formed a small
kingdom in southern Peru 1200
Pachacuti Builds an Empire 1438 Conquered all of Peru,
empire stretched 2,500 miles
Used military strength and diplomacy to conquer other people
Were kind rulers to conquered people
Incan Government Creates Unity
Roads Link the Empire Built 14,000 miles of roads through mountains and deserts System of runners sent messengers throughout kingdom Guest houses along the roads to house travelers
State Controls the Economy Government regulated what crops were produced where Produced grain, corn, and potatoes
Government Keeps Records Never developed a written language Used accounting device known as quipu to keep track of
numbers
Religion Supports the State
Polytheistic Religion Worshipped creator
god, sun god, and several other nature gods
Revolved around animal sacrifice, and exchange of goods
Built temples to sun god, encased in gold
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