Mesoamerican Civilizations Achievements and Decline

Mesoamerican Civilizations Achievements and Decline Maya Aztec IncaMaya (250-900 CE)Tikal

Tikal Northern Guatemala Independent City-State linked through alliances and trade Ruled by a god-king Pyramids, temples, palaces dedicated to gods and rulers Tallest buildings in Americas until Flatiron Building in 1903

Farming Grew maize, beans, and squash Slash-and-burn agricultureBurn vegetation and plant in ashes Built raised beds above swamps and hillside terraces Cacao (chocolate) beans could be used as forms of currency

Social Structure and AchievementsAchievementsHuman sacrifice to please godsCalendar two of them260-day religious calendar365-day solar calendarUsed in tandem to identify best times to plant crops, attack enemies, etcWriting systemGlyphs 800 symbols Bark paper books CodexMath Developed decimal systemUsed the concept of zeroDecline Abandoned cities in late 800s Warfare broke out between city-states = disrupted trade Soil erosion = poor crops food shortages

Aztec (1300s-1500s) Tenochtitlan Founded on a small island in Lake Texcoco 200,000 plus people Build raised roads connecting island to mainland Massive palaces, temples, markets, residential districts City divided by canals Aqueducts brought fresh water to city

Government and Society Military society Empire divided into 38 provinces Local rulers govern own territory and pay tributeGold, maize, cacao beans, cotton, jadeEmperor ruled society absolute powerNobility made up of military leaders, govt officials, and priests

Social PyramidReligion Hundreds of temples and religious structures dedicated to the gods Adopted beliefs and practices from Toltecs Public ceremonies and rituals to communicate with godsSacrifices to Huitzilopochtil (Sun God) to keep him nourished with human bloodThousands of POWs sacrificed and hearts carved outConstant need for sacrifices as a result

Farming and DeclineFarmingChinampas Farm plots built on fringes of lakeFloating gardens7 crops a yearDeclineMontezuma II emperorConstant warfare for tribute and sacrificial victims weakening Aztec Spanish conquistadors Prophecy, technology, and disease

Crime and PunishmentWhat is the appropriate punishment for each crime?Crime Adultery Commoner wearing cotton clothes Cutting down a living tree Drunkenness Handling stolen property Kidnapping Treason PunishmentDeathDeathDeath1st Off. Head shaved, house destroyed2nd Off. DeathSold into slaverySold into slaveryDeath, loss of property, destruction of land, children sold into slaveryInca Society and Farming Land ownershipState lands, religious lands, community lands Terrace farming Maize, free-drying potatoes Ayllu small groups of people working for communal good Everyone must contribute through laborMita labor tribute to work on state farmlands, build public works, work in state warehouses

Social Structure Spread wealth, production, and distribution throughout society

Families divided into groups of 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 Each group led by a chiefLocal chief report to regional chief all the way up to Cuzco Religion Reinforce power of state Fewer gods than Aztecs Focused on nature spirits (stars, moon, thunder) Incan ruler descendent of Inti sun god) Young men women drafted into religious serviceGovernment Controlled lands through conquest and diplomacyAllowed areas to keep own customs One official language Quechua Built cities and roads in conquered areas to control populations Quipo knotted string to record dataRed strings counted warriors Communication Built 14,000 miles of roads and bridges to connect empireGuest houses along trailRunners employed as a postal serviceMove troops easily

Two calendars one for night and one for day

Decline Civil warSpanish arrival TechnologyDisease