Maya Civilization

I. Classic Period: 250-900 C.E.

Located in southern Mexico, northern Central America

Influenced heavily by older culture, the Olmecs Ball courts – believed that playing this game would

maintain cycles of sun and moon, bring rains Planned ceremonial centers, religious ceremonies Gods and spirits – Jaguar spirit at center

Empire of independent city-states Examples: Tikal, Chichen Itza Each ruled by a god-king Centers of religion, trade Linked by common language, religious beliefs

II. Trade & Agriculture

City states linked by trade routes and alliances

Products: salt, feathers, shells, honey, textilesCacao beans sometimes served as currencyAgriculture formed basis of Maya life

Squash, maize (corn), beans Once thought to only practice slash and burn

agriculture Evidence has shown more sophisticated methods –

beds raised above swamps

III. Social Classes

As civilization grew, more wealth and development of social classes King at top, passed title to eldest

son (hereditary) Was a divine (god-like) figure

Noble class: warriors, priests Middle class: Merchants, artisans Peasant farmers (majority of population) Slaves: criminals, prisoners of war

KING PACAL,603-683 C.E.

IV. Religion

Polytheistic: believed in many godsBelieved each day was a living god, behavior

was predicted by a system of calendarsReligious practices:

Made offerings Pierced or cut their bodies to offer their blood Practiced human sacrifice, usually enemies

Believed that it pleased the gods and kept world in balance

V. Math, Calendar, Astronomy

Religious beliefs led to developments in math, astronomy, and use of calendars

Important to have an accurate calendar to know which god is “carrying time” that day Identify the best times to plant crops, attack enemies,

crown new rulers Based on careful observation of planets, sun, moon Calculated year to 365.2420 days Had concept of zero

VI. Written Language

Most advanced writing system in ancient Americas 800 glyphs, or hieroglyphic symbols

Used for record keeping, history of civilization Recorded important historical events in book known

as a codex Only 3 of these have

survived

Creation story recorded in the Popol Vuh

VII. Decline

Late 800s – many cities suddenly abandonedOther peoples moved into areas being

abandoned, disrupted Maya civilization Theories

Increased warfare between city-states disrupted trade, increased economic hardship

Population growth, over-farming caused food shortages, famine, disease

When the Spanish arrive in the 1500s, Maya divided and weak, easily conquered

Examples of Mayan ruins

Aztec Civilization(Late 1100s – 1500s)

I. Toltec Influence

Toltec peoples laid foundation for AztecToltec ruled over central Mexico beginning

around 900, lasted until about 1150. Gained power as Maya were losing theirs Militaristic, human sacrifice a main

component of religious ceremonies

Worshiped Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent Became legend among different

peoples of Mesoamerica, including Aztec

II. Aztec Rise to Power

Originally poor, nomadic people from deserts of northern Mexico

Built up civilization from ashes of Toltec, around Lake Texcoco City of Tenochtitlan Formed Triple Alliance with other city-states, Texcoco

and Tlacopan – basis of Aztec Empire

By 1500s, empire stretched 80,000 square miles, 5-15 million people 38 provinces loosely controlled through strong

military and tributes (taxes, human sacrifice)

Aztec Empire, 1200s-1500s

III. Social Classes

Emperor

Nobles – military leaders, land owners

Commoners – merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers

Slaves – prisoners of war, criminals

IV. Religious Life

• Religion played a major role in daily life• Hundreds of temples and religious

structures erected throughout civilization• 1,000 gods– Many adopted from other Mesoamerican peoples– Quetzalcoatl – god of learning and books, god of

wind, symbol of death and rebirth• Depicted as both feathered serpent and pale-skinned

man with beard

• Practiced human sacrifice– Thousands a year sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli– Enslaved persons, criminals, prisoners of war

V. Decline

1502 – Montezuma II crowned emperor Demanded even more tribute and sacrifice from

provinces Many provinces rebelled, threw civilization into chaos

Return of Quetzalcoatl Many saw bad omens all around The Spanish invaders represented Quetzalcoatl and

downfall of civilization Easily overthrew Aztec – had better weapons &

disease, Aztecs weak and divided

Inca Empire(1200s – mid 1500s)

I. Beginnings

Built upon foundations of older civilizations Chavin, Moche, Nazca, Chimor

Settled in Valley of Cuzco in Andes Mountains

1200s – small kingdom establishedPachacuti took throne in 1438

Greatly expanded control over neighboring lands

Belief that ruler was descended from sun god Only men from one of 11 noble families could be

selected as leader

I. continued…

Empire called “Land of the Four Quarters” Encompassed 80 provinces, up to 16 million people Used combination of military force and diplomacy to

overtake and control territories Hundreds of different languages, ethnic

backgrounds

II. A Unified Empire

• Utilized extensive road system• One official language – Quechua • Economy strictly controlled by government– Regulated production and distribution of goods

• Centralized bureaucracy oversaw entire empire• Depended on ayllu – extended family group

– Groups divided into 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000– Chief led each group– Chain of command = community->regional-> central

• Demanded tribute– Mita – labor required by all able-bodied citizens

II. Continued…

Recording keeping No written language – utilized oral tradition Used the quipu – a set of knotted strings to record

numerical data Knots and their position on the string indicated

numbers Colors of the strings represented different categories

of information

III. Religion

Focused worship mostly on nature spirits Moon, stars, thunder, sun gods Mamakuna – unmarried women selected for a lifetime

of religious service Yamacuna – men who served as full-time religious

workers Sacrificed llamas and distributed goods as gifts from

gods

IV. Decline

Huayna Capac – Inca leader during early 1500s Died of disease (probably small pox)

when travelling around Ecuador After death – empire split in two, ruled by

two sons Civil war weakened empire

1530s – Spanish arrived to overtake a very weak empire