Title: Mesoamerica Review & Democracy Forms In Latin America

Review: Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations

Maya, Aztec, and Inca

In your INB make a chart similar to the one below. As we review the ancient cultures record the facts in

your chart.

Maya Aztec Inca

Central Mexico

Chinampas- floating gardens

Tenochtitlan- capital city-causeways connect it to mainland

Military focused

Human sacrifice- especially to the sun god

Calendar to keep track of worship

Empire

Southern Mexico-Central America

City- Tikal

City-states- NOT an empire

Math, astronomy and religion connected

Raised beds and terrace farming

Written- language of glyphs- records called codex

West coast of South America

Empire

Extensive road system with runner/messengers

No written language

Organized into ayllu- family groups with required work for the government

Used quipu- knotted strings to record data

Domesticated llamas

Mysterious city- Machu Picchu

DemocracyWhat is it? How do you get it? Why does everyone want it?

What is it?

Democracy- is a government by the people and for the people.

Direct Democracy vs. Indirect Democracy

Direct Democracy-a government in which citizens rule directly rather that through representatives.

• What classical civilization had a direct democracy?

Indirect Democracy-a government in which representatives are popularly elected to fulfill the wishes of the people and withhold the traditions and principles of the nation.

• Which modern civilization best represents an indirect democracy?

How do you get it?Common Practices Conditions That Foster Those

Practices

Free Elections -Having more than one political party-Universal suffrage

Citizen Participation -High levels of education & literacy-Economic security-Freedoms of Speech, Press, and assembly

Majority Rule, Minority Rights

-All citizens equal before the law-Shared national identityProtection of such individual rights as freedom of religion-Representatives elected by citizens to carry out their will

Constitutional Government

-Specific traditions and laws on which government is based-Wide spread knowledge about government’s workings-National acceptance of majority decisions-shared belief that no one is above the law

Why Does Everyone Want It?

• Using your knowledge of Global History and the various forms of governments that we have studied, in your INB take three minutes and free write about why a person or group of people would want to live under a Democratic nation.