Early American Civilizations

EARLY AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS

Regions of Latin America

The Caribbean Central America

South America

Mountains and Peaks

Sierra Madres Mts.

Andes Mts.

Amazon Rainforest

Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations

The Maya  The Mayan civilization flourished in present-

day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.  The people built large cities, each having at least one stone pyramid.  Tikal was the largest Mayan city and had five pyramids.  The Mayan civilization was a theocracy(ruled by religious leaders).

Lands of the Mayans

The Yucatan Peninsula

The Maya • Atop the pyramids were religious and

governmental centers. • The Maya became skilled astronomers and developed a writing system called hieroglyphics.

Chichen-Itza - Pyramid

Tikal: Temple of the Masks

Chichen-Itza - Ball Court

Mayan Cultivation of Maize

Chac, God of Rain -->

Mayan Underground Granaries: Chultunes

Overview of Tikal (Guatemala)

Temple of the Masks

Tikal - Wall Mask of the Rain God

Mayan Drinking Cup for Chocolate

Pakal: The Maya Astronaut

The Maya  No one knows what caused the decline of the

Maya around A.D. 900 but descendants of the Maya still live in parts of Mexico and Central America.

Do Now  Please answer the following question:  List three facts about the Mayan empire

The Aztec  Founded in 1325, Tenochtitlan was the home of the Aztec and their capital city.  This city was on an island.

 They filled in Lake Texcoco, to build the capital.

Lands of the Aztecs

The Aztec  They were a warrior people and conquered

nearly all their rivals.  They were a military empire.  Location- Mexico

Aztec View of Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas

Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden: 15ft. to 30ft. wide

Tenochtitlan Chinampas

Aztec Sun Stone -Calendar

The Aztecs Were Fierce Warriors

Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God

Heart Sacrifice on an Aztec Temple Pyramid

Sacrificial Statue, Tenochtitlan

Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan

Aztec Gold

Aztec Religion  They believed in pleasing the gods.  They sacrificed thousands of prisoners in

religious ceremonies.

Do Now

 List three facts about the Aztecs

The Inca  Started in the western highlands of South

America around 1200 A.D.  Colombia to Argentina/Chile.  Cuzco was the capital city.

The Inca  Was the largest of the early American

civilizations.  Empire was more than 3,000 miles long  Population was more than 9 million people.

Inca Achievements  Built 10,000 miles of paved roads.  Rope bridges over rivers and canyons.  Record-keeping system to track time

between distances.  ****Terracing the land-built platforms so that they could plant crops on slopes of mountains/hills

Lands of the Incas

Cuzco: Ancient Capital of the Inca (11,000 ft. above sea level)

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Incan Suspension Bridges

Incan Terrace Farming

Incan Digging Sticks

Maize in Incan Pottery & Gold Work

Over 100 Different Types of Potatoes Cultivated by the Incans

Produce from a Typical Incan Market

Incan Mummies

Inca Gold & Silver

Religion  Worshiped the sun as a god.

Project  You will pick one of the following:

Aztec, Mayas, Incas  Then please complete the following:  Create a powerpoint that “sells” your culture to other nations as being the BEST -Include- your achievements, leaders, how good is your military, beliefs in gods etc. (use pictures) Show why YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

Opening  Put the following answers in your    

NOTEBOOK!!!!! 1) Name the biggest city the Mayan had? 2) What countries were the Mayan located in? 3) How many pyramids did each city MUST have? 4) What is a theocracy?

Classwork  Please complete the following:  Reading Guide pages 149-155  Textbook page 447 Geography Skillbuilder

page 449 #1 and Skillbuilder page458 #1 and Skillbuilder page 461 Geogrpahy Skillbuilder page 463 #1 and Skillbuilder

Pictures  On your sheet of paper you must draw two

pictures. One on each side.  The pictures MUST be about what you have learned about the Maya and Aztec.  WHAT TO DRAW: -You can draw their location(what countries), the dates of their civ., their beliefs(pyramids), their cities, etc Use your creativity!!!!!!!