ANCIENT AMERICAS CIVILIZATIONS

MAYANS AZTECs INCANS

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE

• EMPIRE, EMPEROR• RULERS AND PRIESTS• CITY-STATES—LOCAL RULERS• AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES• CONTROL OF RESOURCES• AGRICULTURE• TRADE, EXCHANGE OF IDEAS• WEALTH

Mayan Civilizations

Mayan GovernmentCity states

• Mayans reached their peak from 300-900 A.D. • The Mayans had built more than 100 city-

states. Each with its own king and its own government.

• Availability of resources led to trade between villages in the Yucatan peninsula.

• Trade led to wealth, sharing of resources and exchange of ideas.

Mayan GovernmentCity-States

• Largest city was Tikal with up to 100,000 people and eight pyramids

• City-states had a ceremonial center, tall pyramids, large open plazas, and palaces

• The ruler and priests lived in the center. Upper and middle class houses surrounded the center. The peasants lived in huts on the outer edge of the city.

• City-state is made up of the ceremonial center and small villages that surround it.

AGRICULTURE

Mayan EconomyAgriculture• They used the slash and burn method. They cut

down trees, dried, and then burned them. Ashes fertilized the soil.

• They cut out terraces in hilly terrain in order to have a flat planting surface.

Trade with other city-states led to wealth, sharing of resources and exchange of ideas.

Aztec Civilization

• Civilization began on island in Lake Texcoco.• According to legend, they went to a wet,

swampy island in Lake Texcoco. • They saw an eagle sitting on a prickly pear

cactus with a snake hanging from its beak. • The Aztec believed this was where the sun god

told them to settle.• The Aztec called the new city Tenochtitlan.

Aztec Government

• Empire was ruled by an emperor who was believed to have descended from the gods.

• Council of priests, nobles & warriors named the emperor from a ruling family.

• City-states were ruled by local leaders• City-States paid tribute to the emperor.• Aztecs conquered neighboring city-states to

gain control of resources.

Aztec Economy

• Agriculture (farming), then,• Specialization of labor—artisans, craftsmen• Trade grows • Tributes paid to emperor by conquered

peoples.• Wealth of empire grows

Incan Civilization

• Began in Cuzco, high in the Andes Mountains in South America.

• Empire extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands.

Incan Government

• Empire led by emperor descended from the gods

• Strong central government needed to maintain large empire

• Local leaders were appointed by the emperor• Lands were conquered and the empire

expanded

Incan Economy• Agriculture—people grew and created what

they needed—any left over was collected by the government and stored.

• Labor tax--Everyone was required to work for the government

• No trade– the government collected everything produced except for what families needed.

• Command economy—no money, no credit– only small amounts of local bartering.

Graphic organizerMayan Aztec Inca civilization

MAYA Aztec Inca

Political/GovernmentStructure

City-statesruler/kingCeremonial centerSurrounding villages

Economy/Economic structure