mesoamerican civilizations chapter 9 section 2. mesoamerica area that stretches from south from...
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Mesoamerican Civilizations
Chapter 9 section 2
Mesoamerica
Area that stretches from south from central Mexico to northern Honduras.
Story of Americas civilizations start here.
Olmec Civilization
First known civilization
800 – 400 B.C. in southern Mexico
Known as the “mother culture”
Lived along Gulf Coast
Known for their gigantic stone carvings of heads.
La Venta
San Lorenzo
Impact of Geography
Good Bad
Abundant salt & tar deposits.
Fine clay for pottery
Wood & rubber
Extensive river system
Flood plains of rivers provided fertile land for farming.
Mountains where rock was used to make tools/weapons
Hot & humid
Swamps
Jungles
Thick canopy
Over 100 inches of rain fell each year.
Olmec Society
San Lorenzo is oldest site of Olmec Civilization.
La Venta is another ceremonial/trade site.
Olmec Government & Religion
Government Religion
Lead by one ruler.
Many Gods based on nature.
Major was Jaguar god◦ Half human/half jaguar
Olmec Trade & Commerce
Olmec goods traveled as far north as Mexico City & South to Honduras
Large trading network brought in:◦Iron ore◦Various stones
Helped boost Olmec economy & influence
Decline of the Olmec
Reasons are not known why they disappeared: some ideas are……
◦Outside invaders
◦Olmecs may have destroyed their own monuments at the death of their rulers.
Zapotec Civilization
Zapotec
Olmecs had collapsed----Zapotec were developing their society located:
◦Southwest in the current Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Geography of Oaxaca
Good Bad
Oaxaca Valley:◦ Fertile soil◦ Mild climate◦ Rainfall to support
agriculture
Zapotecs settled this valley
Rugged mountainous region
Numerous valleys.
Small beginnings
Lived in scattered villages.
1000 B.C. ◦Temple building◦Sculptures of stone◦Early form of writing and calendar
Zapotec Flourishes
500 B.C. first real urban center in the Americas was Monte Alban
◦At height it was home to 25,000 people.◦Bustling trade center◦Giant plazas, pyramids & palaces◦Observatory; established a calendar
Decline of Zapotec
600 A.D.---not sure why
Guesses are:◦Suffered a loss of trade◦Another economic crisis.
Legacy of Olmecs & Zapotec
Olmec Zapotec
Influenced the Maya
Arty & pottery w/ jaguar symbol.
Future societies copied pattern of urban design◦ Ceremonial centers◦ Ritual ball games
Carved stone symbols influenced future glyph writing.
Hieroglyphic writing system.
Calendar based on movement of sun.
First city builders
Urban centers◦ Ceremonial grandeur w/
living space
People and Empires in the Americas
Chapter 16 Sections 1,2 &3
Maya Kings and Cities
Location of the Maya
Homeland of the Maya stretched from southern Mexico into northern Central America.
Were influenced by the Olmec.
By 250 C.E. was a flourishing civilization
Maya Urban Centers
Tikal◦Major center in northern Guatemala was built
All major cities were independent city-states with these common characteristics:◦Ruled by god-king◦Served as religious center
Features of a Maya City-State
Giant pyramids, temples & palaces
Population of cities was large (at least 10,000)◦Lived around city-state
Ball court◦Playing would maintain cycles of sun and moon◦Bring rain.
Trade & Agriculture
City-states were linked through alliances & trade.
TRADE:◦Exchanged local produce◦No local currency
Agriculture:◦Basis for everyday life.◦Used Slash and burn◦Raised beds above swamps◦Terrace farming.
Social Structure
Development of social classes:◦King◦Nobles ( priest & warriors)◦Merchants◦Peasants
King was holy figure◦Position was hereditary
Religious Practices
Influenced most aspects of life.Believed in many gods.
◦Each day a living god
Used system of calendars to predict behavior of gods.
PrayedMade offering
◦Blood offering ( some human sacrifice)
God of Maize
Math & Sciences
Created a 260-day religious calendar
365-day solar calendar
Two were linked to identify best time to◦Plant crops◦Attack enemies◦Crown new rulers
Astronomy:◦Calculated the solar
year
Use of zero
Writing System
Most advance in the ancient Americas.
GLYPHS:◦800 hieroglyphic symbols◦Stood for whole words or syllables◦Used to record events
CODEX:◦ bark-paper book
Decline of the Maya
Ended in mystery
Late 800s Maya abandoned their cities.
Occupied by Toltec invaders
Theories:◦Warfare◦Trade disruption◦Over-farming ◦Over population
Aztecs control Central Mexico
Beginnings
Trace ancestry to the Olmecs & Zapotecs.
Valley of Mexico
Several large, shallow lakesFertile soilAccessible resources
Attracted people to settle the area.
Early city-state
Teotihuacan◦150,000 to 200,000 population◦Pyramids◦Grand avenues◦Apartment complexes
Center of thriving trade network◦Obsidian:
Most valuable trade item Green or black volcanic glass
Abrupt decline of city-state
Toltecs take over
900—rose to power◦Ruled over central Mexico for 300 years.
Warlike people◦Demanded blood & human sacrifice
Topiltzin:◦Ruler tried to change religion◦Worship new god: Quetzalcoatl◦Was exiled
Cortez as Quetzalcoatl
Beginning of Aztec Empire
1200 A.D.◦Poor, nomadic people◦Ambitious
Found own city: look for a place where an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth.
1325 founded their city: Tenochtitlan
Aztec Power
1428 joined two other city-states
Triple Alliance:◦leading power in the Valley of Mexico◦80,000 square miles◦5 to 15 million people
Power based on military conquest and tribute.
Aztec Rule
Loose control
Allowed local rulers to govern their own regions
Brutally destroyed any resistance
Aztec Society
Emperor
Noble class made up of:◦Military leaders◦Priests◦Government officials.◦Ruled Aztec society
MerchantsCommoners Enslaved people
Tenochtitlan
Capital city◦Planned◦Island connected by raised roads.
200,000 to 400,000 populationCanals, board avenues
Most food was grown on chinampas or “floating gardens”
Religious Practices
Played a major role in Aztec society.Worshipped Quetzalcoatl in many forms.
Elaborate public ceremonies◦Communicate w/ the gods.◦Win favor◦Priest made offerings
Song, dance, dramas
Problems in the Aztec Empire
1502:Montezuma II was crowned emperor.
◦Empire weakens due to: Demanded increase in tribute & sacrificial victims Provinces rose up against the oppression.
After some time he tried to decrease the demands----did not help!
Spanish Arrival
Many Aztec believed that the fair skinned, bearded faced Spaniards was the return of Quetzalcoatl.
The Inca Create a Mountain Empire
The beginning
Inca settled in the fertile lands of the Valley of Cuzco.
1200s—estalbished their own small kingdom.
Many customs and traditions of the empire began during this time.
Inca Government Controls all Levels
Economic Social
Regulated production and distribution of goods
Extensive road system for trade
One languageGroups were identified
by the patterns on clothing
Allyu:◦ Extended Family group◦ Cooperative◦ Chief led each group
Chain of command that led straight to king.
Pachacuti
Conquered all of Peru◦1500—Inca ruled 2,500 miles of west coast of
South America◦“Land of the Four Quarters”◦80 to 16 million people
Diplomacy was used as well to gain land.◦Surrender and would be allowed to practice
own customs.◦Exchange----be loyal to the emperor
Mita
Incan state placed on its subjects a tribute in the form of labor.
◦Required ALL able-bodied citizens to work for the state a certain # of days a year.
Record-keeping
Never developed a writing system.
History & literature were memorized.◦Oral storytelling.
Numerical system:◦Quipu:
a set of knotted strings that was used to record data.
Religion
Worshipped fewer gods than the Aztec.◦Moon, stars and thunder◦Creator God & A Sun God
Ceremonies to the sun god◦Led by young, unmarried women◦Llamas were sacrificed
Sun God: Inti
Thunder God
Goddess of the Moon
Major Incan Cities
Cuzco was the religious capital◦Temple of the Sun
Machu Picchu◦Large temples◦Public buildings◦Central plaza
Cuzco
Machu Picchu
Decline of the Inca
Height was early 1500s◦Last ruler died of a disease◦Empire was split b/t his sons◦Sons began to fight
Spain came in and took advantage of the weak empire & conquered it.