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

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/zapotecs/alban.gif

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.