Ancient Latin American Cultures

MAYA, INCA, AZTEC.

From Empires & Colonies to Free Nations

From Empires…From Empires… When Christopher Columbus came to the

New World in 1492. he thought he had landed off the coast of India. Therefore, he gave the name “Indian” to all people living in Latin America.

The three major Native America groups of the past were Maya, Aztecs, and Incas.

LOCATION OF THE MAYA The Yucatan

Peninsula (southern Mexico) was the prominent Mayan settlement area.

The greatest city was Tikal, in modern day Guatemala.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE MAYA Mayan culture was spread through military

alliances and trade. The lived in separate city-states.

o Wars were fought to obtain tribute (payment) and to acquire prisoners for religious sacrifice.

Polytheistic – The Mayan kings were thought to be descendants of the ancient gods and used human sacrifice to worship and honor them.

Built temples on top of great terraced pyramids

MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS Mayans developed one of the most sophisticated

writing systems in ancient Latin America. o Spanish destroyed many records

Kept time & developed a 365 day calendar based on the seasons and solar rotation.

Fine mathematicians – understood the idea of 0, developed a counting system using bars and dots.

Slash-and-burn agriculture and used underground reservoirs to store water.

LOCATION OF THE LOCATION OF THE AZTECSAZTECS

Lived in the Lived in the highlands of highlands of central central MexicoMexico

Their greatest Their greatest city was city was TenochtitlanTenochtitlan, , in modern-day in modern-day Mexico City. Mexico City.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE AZTECSTHE AZTECS

Conquered surrounding natives and Conquered surrounding natives and became rulers of Mexicobecame rulers of Mexico

Worshiped many gods (polytheistic) and Worshiped many gods (polytheistic) and held spiritual ceremonies to guarantee held spiritual ceremonies to guarantee good harvests. good harvests.

The Aztec’s developed a complex political The Aztec’s developed a complex political system in which conquered peoples would system in which conquered peoples would pay pay tributetribute to the Aztec Emperor. to the Aztec Emperor.o Believed in human sacrifice – killed victims and the Believed in human sacrifice – killed victims and the

blood and heart were offered to the gods.blood and heart were offered to the gods.

AZTECSAZTECS The Aztec maintained The Aztec maintained

their subsistence by their subsistence by utilizing fishing, utilizing fishing, hunting, gathering hunting, gathering and gardening and gardening techniques. techniques.

Conquered and Conquered and became rulers of became rulers of MexicoMexico

Aztec Culture (cont.)Aztec Culture (cont.) Chinampas Chinampas

– floating – floating artificial artificial islands. islands.

They used They used these these “artificial” “artificial” islands to islands to grow beans grow beans and maize.and maize.

AZTEC ACHIEVEMENTSAZTEC ACHIEVEMENTS Great engineers and architectsGreat engineers and architects

o Built bridges and canals throughout Built bridges and canals throughout Tenochtitlan for transportation and Tenochtitlan for transportation and irrigationirrigation

ChocolateChocolateo Took over the tribes that cultivated cacao Took over the tribes that cultivated cacao

and used it as a form of currency (money)and used it as a form of currency (money) Great farmersGreat farmers

o Grew maize (corn), beans, squash, Grew maize (corn), beans, squash, peppers, tobaccopeppers, tobacco

THE INCA Lived in the highlands

of the Andes Mountains, from Ecuador to Chile.

Their capital was Cuzco, in Peru.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE INCA Empire was run

by a central government and an emperor.

Gained power by getting other tribes to join them, not by war.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE INCAS Excellent road builders Excellent bridge builders Acurate record keeping with no written

language (used a series of strings) Built cities of stone Highly productive farmers (terraced farms,

canals for irrigation) Maintained communication using

runners/messengers

Inca Record Keeping Quipo – (KEE • poo).

A rope with knotted cords of various lengths and colors. o The Inca used these to

keep records and messages.

Review - Summary Which group were located in modern-day

Mexico? Which group were located on the Yucatan

Peninsula? Which group used chinampas for agriculture? Which group used quipu to keep messages

and records? What does polytheistic mean? What were the major cities of each group?

New World Video Tenochtitlan of the Aztecs 7:26 –

16:43 Christopher Columbus Meets the

Taino 31:54 – 37:11 Hernan Cortes and His Conquest of

the Aztecs 37:11 – 44:11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEK-U

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