Civilizations of the

AmericasGlobal 9

Geographic setting• Paleolithic (stone age) hunters migrated to

North America from Asia

Ice Age• Water froze into thick ice sheets• Land bridge between Siberia and Alaska • Ocean levels dropped

• Hunters followed herds of bison and mammoth into North America

• Hunter- gatherers in North America migrated eastward and southward

Neolithic farmers• In Mexico raised: corn beanssweet potatoesPeppers tomatoessquash

Agricultural revolution• In Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas people

learned how to domesticate animals and cultivate crops.

• This Agricultural Revolution had a major impact on the population.

• Cities developed in Mesoamerica (Middle America)- Mexico and central America

Olmecs

• 1400 B.C. – 500 B.C.• The first major civilization in the Americas• Emerged in tropical rainforests along gulf coast of Mexico

Olmec achievements• Ceremonial centers with pyramid shaped

temples • Calendar• System of writing with carved inscriptions• Devotion to religion- especially honored class

of priests

Mayas• 300-900 A.D.• Influenced by Olmecs• Complex agricultural society• Established large city states in southern Mexico and throughout Central America

Trade• Mayans accumulated wealth from a profitable trade system.• Crops- corn, beans, squash• Trade- honey cocoa, feathers

priests• Religion played a significant part in Mayan life.• Priests held high social status• Only priests could conduct rituals to ensure good harvests and victories in battle

Mayan Social Structure • 1. Each city state had its own ruling chief

• 2. Nobles- served as city official and military leaders

• 3. farmers

Mayan Contributions• Architecture- giant pyramid temples, large palaces with elaborate paintings and carvings• Agriculture- large amounts of food grown by clearing rainforest and building raised fields which could hold and drain rain water• Learning and science- hieroglyphic writing, books, calendar, number system with zero

The Aztecs• Late 1200s• Nomadic group migrated from north into Valley of MexicoConquests and alliances built a huge empire• Capital at Tenochtitlan (present Mexico City)• Fierce warriors

Tenochtitlan• Well planed city• Wide roads• Massive temples• Large apartment buildings

Social Structure• Emperor- ruler• Nobles/ Priests- government officials, judges• Warriors- fought battles• Traders- brought exotic goods to empire, scouted

new lands• Farmers- grew food• Slaves- criminals, enemy soldiers

Religion• Priests lead rituals to appease the gods• Chief god- Huitzilopochtli (sun god)• Battled forces of darkness each night and was reborn

each morning• Human sacrifice (prisoners of war, or nobles who

volunteered)offered to give the sun god the strength to rise each day

Aztec Contributions

• Agriculture- • used fertilizers to convert swamp land• chinampas- artificial islands anchored to

shallow bed of lake Texcoco, used to grow corn, beans, squash

• Could support a vast empire with all the food grown

The Incas

• 1400s• Andes Mountains and over 2500 miles down

the Pacific coast• The empire was made up of many separate

conquered people

Government• Emperor had absolute power and owned all people, land, herds, mines• Strong military leaders who led army through successful conquests became emperors• Chief religious leader, and claimed divine status and son of the sun god • strict control of people – same language and religion

Roads• Emperor could enforce strict control because

of a remarkable road system• Runners carry news form far-off provinces to

capital• Army could quickly crush rebellions in far off

corners of the empire

Contributions• Architecture and engineering- road system was a

major achievement, over 12,000 miles of roads, bridges, and tunnels build

• Capital city Cuzco- temple of sun• Agriculture- terraced gardens on mountain sides• Communication- quipus, knotted colorful strings

used to keep records • Science- advanced surgery on head wounds,

knowledge of diseases and medicines