PRE-COLUMBIAN EMPIRES TO COLONIES

THE AMERICAS

While complex civilizations were

emerging in Asia, Africa, and Europe, equally striking developments had occurred in the Americas

The “encounter” of Europeans with the peoples of the Americas brought the major civilizations of the world together for the first time and had a profound impact on all peoples

INTRODUCTION

What were the major

characteristics of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations?

How did the voyages of Christopher Columbus forever change the world?

THE BIG QUESTIONS

The earliest humans in the Americas

are believed to have migrated from Asia across a land bridge that was exposed during the last Ice Age

From Alaska, the earliest Americans spread southwards throughout North and South America

Separate languages and cultures developed

THE FIRST AMERICANS

EARLY MIGRATION

“Native Americans” experienced their own

Neolithic Revolution (grew maize [corn], squash, and beans – the “three sisters”)

Several complex civilizations emerged in Mesoamerica (called pre-Columbian civilizations, because they existed before the arrival of Columbus)

These did not emerge in river valley, but in warm and humid rain forests

Supported by farming corn (a crop unknown to peoples of Africa, Asia, and Europe) and used creative farming techniques adapted to their environments

GROWTH OF CIVILIZATIONS

The earliest civilizations in Meso-America were

the Olmec and Toltecs The Maya created a complex civilization over

3.000 years ago in present-day Guatemala Each city had its own chief ruler (considered

half-man and half-god) Engaged in frequent warfare Practiced human sacrifice (developed a ball

game that became popular throughout the Americas)

THE MAYA (1500 B.C. – 1546 A.D.)

MAYAN CIVILIZATION

King – considered half-man and half-godNobility – a small hereditary class who performed sacred ceremonies and assisted rulers (astronomers/scribes)Craftsmen – made luxuries for noblesPeasant farmers – laborers who grew corn and lived in thatched huts

MAYAN SOCIETY

KING

NOBILITY

CRAFTSMEN

PEASANTS

BUILDERS – built huge cities, large

palaces, temples, and pyramids WRITING SYSTEM – hieroglyphics (picture

symbols) MATH AND SCIENCE – complex number

system, used zero, 365 day calendar ARTISTRY – painted colorful mural, invented popular ball game

MAYAN ACHIEVEMENTS

Around the 9th century, experienced a

great crisis (possibly food shortage, epidemic, or great war)

Mayans migrated northward to Yucatan Peninsula (in present-day Mexico) and built new city-states

Constant warfare from 13th to 16th centuries and pressures from neighboring wandering peoples, led to the final decline

DECLINE OF MAYAN CIVILIZATION

MAYAN POTTERY

MAYAN CALENDAR

HIEROGLYPHS

Created by an alliance of several local

peoples of the high valley in Mexico Created the city of Tenochtitlan

An island in the center of the Valley of Mexico

Grew crops in “floating gardens” in wet marshy land

Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer other people in the region

Made careful observations of the sky and aligned their temples based on the movements of the sun and moon and developed an accurate calendar.

THE AZTECS (1200 – 1521)

Emperor – all-powerfulNobility – held high positions in the government, army, or priesthoodCommoners – farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, warriorsSlaves – prisoners of war (laborers)

AZTEC SOCIETY

EMPEROR

NOBILITY

COMMONERS

SLAVES

Worshipped many gods (most important was Sun

God) Constructed calendars of stone based on

observations of the sky Believed Sun God needed human blood to continue

daily journeys across the sky Practiced human sacrifice on a massive scale (used

prisoners of war and others who volunteered for the honor)

Believed it was necessary to keep universe in motion

AZTEC CULTURE

AZTEC ART

HUMAN SACRIFICE OF THE AZTECS

AZTEC GODQUETZALCOATL

AZTEC CIVILIZATION

Developed along the Pacific coast and in the

Andes Mountains of South America Terraced mountains (grew potatoes and other

root crops) Kept llamas and alpacas for their meat and

wool and to carry goods Incas built upon these achievements, and

around 1400, began extending their rule across the Andes

THE INCA EMPIRE (1200-1535)

Built stone roads (over 10 thousand miles) to

unite the distant corners of their empire Preserved food and kept in storehouses Never developed the wheel or writing Instead of writing, used the quipu (bundles of

knotted and colored ropes) to count and keep records and send messages

Constructed stone buildings (fit together perfectly with no cement)

INCA ACHIEVEMENTS

MACHU PICHU

QUIPU

LLAMAS USED AS PACK ANIMALS

INCA CIVILIZATION

HIGHLY DEVELOPED CULTURE AND SOCIETIES

Artists made stone sculptures to decorate temples and palaces

Made ceramic bowls carved with human and animal forms for religious ceremonies

GENDER ROLES Established at birth Boys were given a machete by their fathers to establish

their masculine role and were taught crafts Girls received a stone instrument for grinding maize and

were taught to cook Women harvested grain, prepared food, cared for animals,

bore children, made flour, and could hold jobs outside the home (artisans, priestesses, merchants)

SUMMARY OF PRE-COLUMBIAN MESO-AMERICA

CREATE A COMPARISON CHART SUMMARIZING THE

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA

LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY

PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATIONS

MAYAS AZTECS INCAS