The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History.

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The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History

Transcript of The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History.

Page 1: The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History.

The Americas During the Middle Ages

9th grade World History

Page 2: The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History.

Early Americans

• Between 100,000 and 10,000 years ago, people began crossing a land bridge between Asia and the Americas

• As they spread, new cultures and beliefs began to emerge

• Focus is on Mesoamerica, or the areas of Mexico and Central America

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The Maya and Toltec

• Maya– Between A.D. 300-900– Yucatan peninsula– Up to 100,000 inhabitants

in cities surrounding temples

– City-states governed by hereditary rulers

– Advanced in astronomy and other sciences

• Toltec– Around A.D. 900-1200– Controlled upper Yucatan

Page 4: The Americas During the Middle Ages 9 th grade World History.

The Aztec

• Began building a civilization in 1325

• By 1500, four million lived under Aztec control

• Pyramids, temples, and palaces destroyed by Hernan Cortes in 1520

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The Inca

• Began in the 1440s• A state built on war• 200,000 armed forces

made it the biggest and best armed army

• Diminished due to an epidemic of smallpox

• Francisco Pizarro and Incan allies destroyed the capital and took control in 1535