AMERICA

MESOAMERICA

● Some of the earliest civilizations in the Americas developed in Mesoamerica

● The Maya and Aztec lived in the Mesoamerican region.
● Scientists believe that thousands of years ago, many groups of hunters migrated from
Asia to North America. From here it is gradual. They gradually migrated to South
America.
● Between 300 and 700 centuries, the Maya civilization emerged in Central America. They
built religious centers in the Yucatan Peninsula, where modern Mexico and Guatemala
meet today.
● Meanwhile, in the 15th century, two new states arose, the Aztec in Mexico and the Inca
in South America. Through conquest, they controlled vast lands and amassed wealth.

GEOGRAPHY
● The continents of North and South America are vast. The latter is home to the Amazon
Basin, one of the world's largest tropical rainforests, and the Atacama, the world's driest
desert. The continent is joined by a narrow strip of land called the isthmus of Panama.

How did people first get to the Americas?

Theory 1 - Bering and Land Bridge
Human migrated into North America from Asia by crossing over a land bridge between Alaska
and Siberia

Theory 2 - Coastal Migration

Humans migrated to the Americas by crossing the seas, most likely the Pacific Ocean, and
settling along the western coast of the Americas

MAYA CIVILIZATION

● Maya civilization was a mesoamerican civilization

● It is well known for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical
● It was developed in the Yucatàn Peninsula, in the eastern part of Mesoamerica. This
area included Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize

LANGUAGE
● Mayan itself is a language and most Mayan descendants now speak Spanish. The
Mayan language was spoken 5,000 years ago

RELIGION
 ● In Mayan religion it mostly considered of the worship of nature gods. Gods like of the
sun, rain and corn.
● They showed the importance of astronomy and astrology.
● Rituals of human sacrifices and the building of pyramidical temples. Some of the Mayan
religion still lives on today

POLITICAL STRUCTURE
● The Maya were not an empire and not united politically
● Maya Civilization was made up of city-states
● Each city states had its own ruler

GOVERNACE
● Government was an important part of the Maya Civilization
● Priests seemed to be the most important person
● Many of them were rulers of the cities
● Rulers were seen as half gods and worshipped them in stone pyramid structures

AGRICULTURE AND TRADE

● Agriculture was the main occupation
● The Mayans traded with many nearby countries, which allowed the exposure to different
cultures and religions

SOCIAL STRUCTURE
The Mayans had 3 main social levels

● Elite Class: At the top were the rulers, priests, and nobles who held political and religious
power. They lived in grand palaces and had significant influence.

● Commoners: The majority of the population comprised farmers, artisans, and traders.
They worked the land, created goods, and engaged in commerce.

● Slaves and Captives: At the bottom of the social hierarchy were slaves and captives,
often prisoners of war. They performed laborious tasks and were considered property
rather than free individuals.

CONTRIBUTIONS

The Maya civilization made significant contributions in various fields, including:

 ● ARCHITECTURE: The Maya built impressive structures such as pyramids, temples, and
palaces, with advanced knowledge of mathematics and astronomy evident in their
precise alignments and use of celestial bodies.

● MATHEMATICS: The Maya developed a sophisticated number system, including the

concept of zero. They used a base-20 counting system and created intricate calendars
for religious and agricultural purposes.

● ASTRONOMY: Maya astronomers made accurate observations of celestial bodies,

creating complex calendars such as the Long Count and the Tzolk'in. Their astronomical
knowledge influenced religious practices and agricultural activities.

● HIEROGLYPHICS WRITING: The Maya developed a complex writing system using

hieroglyphs. They recorded historical events, religious rituals, and astronomical
information on stelae, codices, and other inscriptions.

● AGRICULTURE: Maya agriculture was advanced, employing techniques such as

terracing, raised fields, and the use of canals. They cultivated crops like maize, beans,
and squash, sustaining their population in the often challenging Mesoamerican
environment.

● ART AND POTTERY: The Maya produced intricate artwork, including murals,
sculptures, and pottery. Their artistic expressions reflected religious beliefs, mythology,
and everyday life.

● TRADE NETWORKS: The Maya engaged in extensive trade networks, exchanging

goods such as jade, obsidian, cacao, and salt with neighboring civilizations. This
facilitated cultural exchange and economic prosperity.

● SOCIAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION: The Maya had complex city-states with

hierarchical social structures. Their rulers held religious and political authority,
overseeing a system of tribute and trade.

● MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY: Maya healers had knowledge of medicinal plants and
practiced dentistry, as evidenced by dental procedures observed in skeletal remains.

● BALL GAME: The Maya played a ceremonial ball game that held religious and ritual
significance. The game showcased athleticism and had cultural importance in their
society.

These contributions highlight the sophistication and cultural richness of the Maya civilization.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MAYANS?

The reasons for the collapse of many Maya city-states around the 9th to 10th centuries are
debated. Factors may include environmental degradation, warfare, political instability, and social
unrest.

Despite the decline of their classical civilization, the Maya culture persisted, and descendants of
the ancient Maya continue to inhabit the region, maintaining rich traditions and heritage.

AZTECS CIVILIZATION

● Aztecs lived in what is known as the Valley of Mexico in Central Mexico

● TENOCHTITLAN was the capital city of the Aztec Empire

LEGEND OF TENOCHTITLAN
The gods told the Aztecs to search for an eagle holding a snake in its beak perched atop a
cactus. This is where they were to build their capital city. The aztecs saw this sign on a swampy
island in lake Texcoco

HOW DID THE AZTECS BUILD A CITY IN THE CENTER OF A LAKE?

● Tenochtitlan was built on an island

● It was connected to the mainland by causeways leading north, south, and west of the
city
● The city was interlaced with a series of canals, so that all sections of the city could be
visited either on foot or by canoe.

GOVERNMENT
● The Aztecs created an empire through conquest
● Conquered people and local rulers had to pay tribute to the Aztecs
● The Aztecs had an emperor
● The Aztec Emperor's main job was to lead in war

RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY

● Aztecs were Polytheistic
● Huitzilopochtli was the main Aztec god.
● The Aztecs built massive temples and pyramids dedicated to their gods
HUMAN SACRIFICE

● Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs

● For the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1478, the Aztecs reported
that they sacrificed 84,400 prisoner over the course of four days
● To give the sun strength to rise each day, human sacrifices were offered

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AZTECS?

● Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the
Aztecs in 1521.

INCA CIVILIZATION

● The Inca controlled an empire in the Andes Mountain region of South America

GOVERNMENT
● The Sapa Inca (emperor) had absolute power
● The emperor claimed to be the son of the sun
● The emperor was also the empire's religious leader
● The empire was divided into four regions with the Capital at Cuzco

UNITING THE EMPIRE

● The Inca built a massive road network through mountains and across rivers and gorges

STONEWORK
● The Inca constructed stone temples without using mortars yet the stones fit together so
well that a knife would not fit between the stones.

RELIGION
● The Inca were Polytheistic
● The primary god was Inti, the sun of god
● Inca believed in reincarnation
● The Inca practiced cranial deformation
- They achieved this by wrapping tight cloth straps around the heads of newborns
to alter the shape of their soft skulls into a cone-like shape.

MEDICAL ADVANCES
● The Inca performed successful skull surgery
 ● The Inca also used medicines to make patients unconscious during surgery

ORGANIZATION
● Each family in a community was assigned a specific job
● Government officials arranged marriages
● The government organized mandatory public service building projects

CONTRIBUTION
● Agriculture and Terracing:The Incas were masters of agriculture, particularly in the
challenging terrain of the Andes. They developed extensive terrace farming systems to
cultivate crops on steep slopes. This innovation allowed them to grow a variety of crops,
including potatoes, maize, quinoa, and more.

● Engineering and Architecture:Inca architecture is renowned for its precision and

ingenuity. The construction of structures like Machu Picchu and Sacsayhuamán without
the use of mortar is a testament to their advanced engineering skills. The stones were
precisely cut and fit together, showcasing the Inca's mastery of stonework.

● Road System: The Inca road network, known as the "Qhapaq Ñan," was an impressive
feat of engineering. It covered over 20,000 miles and connected the vast territories of the
Inca Empire. These roads facilitated communication, trade, and the movement of
armies.

● Cuzco: The capital city of Cuzco was the heart of the Inca Empire. It was not only a
political and administrative center but also a religious and cultural hub. The city was laid
out in a sophisticated grid pattern and featured impressive temples and palaces.

● Quipu: The Inca used a unique system of record-keeping called "quipu." Quipus were
intricate arrangements of colored strings and knots that served as a method for
recording numerical and possibly even narrative information. While the exact nature of
their information storage is not fully understood, quipus were a sophisticated tool for
communication.

● Social Organization: The Inca had a well-organized social structure. The emperor (Sapa
Inca) was at the top, followed by the nobility, priests, and commoners. Social mobility
was possible through military service or other means.

● Religious Practices: The Incas had a complex and rich religious belief system. They
worshiped a variety of gods, with Inti, the sun god, holding a central place in their
pantheon. Religious ceremonies and rituals were integral to their society and often tied
to agricultural cycles.
 ● Mit'a System: The Inca Empire did not have a traditional currency. Instead, they used a
labor tax system called "mit'a." People were required to provide labor for public projects,
which contributed to the construction of roads, buildings, and agricultural activities.

WHAT HAPPENS TO INCA?

● Civil War in the empire broke out and smallpox spread, killing much of the Inca

FALL OF INCA
● But ultimately, it was Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro that brought about
the fall of the Inca Empire.