Mesoamerica

mr. janes 9th grade history AIS WEST

1. WARM UPWARM UP

LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE….LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE….

WRITE A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT WRITE A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT
WITNESS AS A SPANISH CONQUISTADOR VISITING THESE WITNESS AS A SPANISH CONQUISTADOR VISITING THESE
STRANGE TRIBES OF MEN. THIS IS A DIARY ENTRY YOU WILL STRANGE TRIBES OF MEN. THIS IS A DIARY ENTRY YOU WILL
EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A BOOKEVENTUALLY TURN INTO A BOOK

(IDEAS..WRITE ABOUT THE THINGS YOU SEE, ARE THEY (IDEAS..WRITE ABOUT THE THINGS YOU SEE, ARE THEY
CIVILIZIED, BARBARIC, ENAMERED WITH GOLD, MORE CIVILIZIED, BARBARIC, ENAMERED WITH GOLD, MORE
ADVANCED OR LESS ADVANCED THAN YOUR CIVILIZATION)ADVANCED OR LESS ADVANCED THAN YOUR CIVILIZATION)

YOUR WRITING WILL BE NO LESS THAN 6 SENTENCESYOUR WRITING WILL BE NO LESS THAN 6 SENTENCES ..

3. Maya, Aztec, and IncaMaya, Aztec, and Inca
CivilizationsCivilizations

4. OBJECTIVE:OBJECTIVE:

DISCUSS THE THREE MESO-DISCUSS THE THREE MESO-
AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS KNOWN AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS KNOWN
AS…AS…

THE MAYANTHE MAYAN

THE AZTECSTHE AZTECS

THE INCATHE INCA

5. YOU WILL…YOU WILL…

DETERMIN THE REASONS FOR THE DETERMIN THE REASONS FOR THE
EVENTUAL FALL OF EACH OF THESE EVENTUAL FALL OF EACH OF THESE
GREAT CIVILIZATIONS AND THEIR GREAT CIVILIZATIONS AND THEIR
IMPACT ON HISTORY.IMPACT ON HISTORY.

ANALYZE THE EFFECTS OF THE ANALYZE THE EFFECTS OF THE
COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE CREATED BY COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE CREATED BY
THE COLONIZATION OF THE “NEW THE COLONIZATION OF THE “NEW
WORLD”WORLD”

6. BURNING QUESTIONSBURNING QUESTIONS

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE MIGRATED INTO THE WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE MIGRATED INTO THE
“NEW WORLD”?“NEW WORLD”?

WHERE WERE EACH OF THESE MESO-AMERICAN WHERE WERE EACH OF THESE MESO-AMERICAN
TRIBES LOCATED IN TERMS OF MODERN TRIBES LOCATED IN TERMS OF MODERN
BOUNDRIES?BOUNDRIES?

EXPLAIN SOME POSSIBLE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO EXPLAIN SOME POSSIBLE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO
THE FALL OF THE MAYAN CULTURE.THE FALL OF THE MAYAN CULTURE.

ARE MAYANS STILL LOCATED IN THE SAME AREA ARE MAYANS STILL LOCATED IN THE SAME AREA
TODAY AS THEIR ANCESTORS? WHY?TODAY AS THEIR ANCESTORS? WHY?

7. MesoamericaMesoamerica
Mesoamerica = Mexico & Central AmericaMesoamerica = Mexico & Central America

8. MesoamericaMesoamerica

Some of the greatest civilizations in the Some of the greatest civilizations in the
Americas developed in Americas developed in MesoamericaMesoamerica

The The Maya Maya and and Aztec Aztec lived in the lived in the
Mesoamerican regionMesoamerican region

9. How did people first get to the How did people first get to the
Americas?Americas?

Theory #1 = Theory #1 = Bering land bridgeBering land bridge
Humans migrated into North America Humans migrated into North America
from Asia by crossing over a land bridge from Asia by crossing over a land bridge
between Alaska and Siberia…between Alaska and Siberia…

11. How did people first get to the How did people first get to the
Americas?Americas?

Theory #2 = Theory #2 = Coastal migrationCoastal migration
Humans migrated to the Americas by Humans migrated to the Americas by
crossing the seas, most likely the Pacific crossing the seas, most likely the Pacific
Ocean, and settling along the western coasts Ocean, and settling along the western coasts
of the Americas…of the Americas…

12. Where did the ancient Where did the ancient MayaMaya live? live?

The The MayaMaya settled on the Yucatan settled on the Yucatan
Peninsula Peninsula in central America.in central America.

13. Maya Political StructureMaya Political Structure

The Maya were NOT AN EMPIRE and The Maya were NOT AN EMPIRE and
NOT UNITED politically…NOT UNITED politically…

Maya civilization was made up of Maya civilization was made up of city-city-
statesstates

Each city-state had its own rulerEach city-state had its own ruler

15. Maya ArchitectureMaya Architecture

built towering temples and palacesbuilt towering temples and palaces

Atop the temples, priests performed religious Atop the temples, priests performed religious
ceremonies and sacrifices while people watched ceremonies and sacrifices while people watched
from the plazas belowfrom the plazas below

Ceremonial platforms, temples, pyramids, Ceremonial platforms, temples, pyramids,
observatories, ball courts all built by the Mayaobservatories, ball courts all built by the Maya

16. Maya ReligionMaya Religion

The Maya were polytheisticThe Maya were polytheistic

The Maya practiced human sacrificeThe Maya practiced human sacrifice

19. Advances in learningAdvances in learning

The Maya created a writing system of The Maya created a writing system of
hieroglyphicshieroglyphics

20. Advances in learningAdvances in learning

The Maya created a set of numeralsThe Maya created a set of numerals

Also developed a 365-day calendarAlso developed a 365-day calendar

21. What happened to the Maya?What happened to the Maya?

The Maya abandoned many of their cities The Maya abandoned many of their cities
around 900 A.D.around 900 A.D.

Archaeologists DO NOT KNOW WHY Archaeologists DO NOT KNOW WHY
Maya civilization declinedMaya civilization declined

Theory: Around 900A.D. there was a Theory: Around 900A.D. there was a
severe drought. Many died due to severe drought. Many died due to
starvation others migrated away.starvation others migrated away.

22. Maya todayMaya today
……more than 2 million Maya people live in more than 2 million Maya people live in
Guatemala and southern Mexico today.Guatemala and southern Mexico today.

23. Maya Video ClipMaya Video Clip
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=12203http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=12203
This National Geographic video shows the Mayan Pyramids. It is part of the series Lost Temples and it tries to give an answer to the question "Why did the Maya abandon their magnificent city of This National Geographic video shows the Mayan Pyramids. It is part of the series Lost Temples and it tries to give an answer to the question "Why did the Maya abandon their magnificent city of
ChichenChichen Itza?" There is reference to Maya culture. Itza?" There is reference to Maya culture.

24. AztecsAztecs

25. Where did the Aztecs live?Where did the Aztecs live?

The Aztecs lived in The Aztecs lived in what is known as what is known as the the
Valley of MexicoValley of Mexico in central Mexico in central Mexico..

26. TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan was the capital city of the was the capital city of the
Aztec Empire.Aztec Empire.

27. Legend of TenochtitlanLegend of Tenochtitlan
The gods told the Aztecs to search for an The gods told the Aztecs to search for an
eagle holding a snake in its beak perched eagle holding a snake in its beak perched
atop a cactus. This is where they were to atop a cactus. This is where they were to
build their capital city. The Aztecs saw build their capital city. The Aztecs saw
this sign on a swampy island in lake this sign on a swampy island in lake
Texcoco.Texcoco.

28. Legend of TenochtitlanLegend of Tenochtitlan

29. How did the Aztecs build a city in the How did the Aztecs build a city in the
center of a lake?center of a lake?

Tenochtitlan was built on an islandTenochtitlan was built on an island

It was connected to the mainland by It was connected to the mainland by
causewayscauseways leading north, south, and leading north, south, and
west of the city. west of the city.

The city was interlaced with a series of The city was interlaced with a series of
canals, so that all sections of the city could canals, so that all sections of the city could
be visited either on foot or by canoe. be visited either on foot or by canoe.

30. TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Today, Tenochtitlan is Today, Tenochtitlan is
Mexico CityMexico City

31. GovernmentGovernment

The Aztecs created an empire through The Aztecs created an empire through
conquestconquest

Conquered people and local rulers had to Conquered people and local rulers had to
pay pay tributetribute to the Aztecs to the Aztecs

The Aztecs had an emperorThe Aztecs had an emperor

The Aztec EmperorThe Aztec Emperor’s main job was to lead ’s main job was to lead
in warin war

32. Religion & MythologyReligion & Mythology

Aztecs were polytheisticAztecs were polytheistic

Huitzilopochtli wasHuitzilopochtli was
the main Aztec god.the main Aztec god.
(weets se lo poch tlee)(weets se lo poch tlee)

The Aztecs built massive temples and The Aztecs built massive temples and
pyramids dedicated to their godspyramids dedicated to their gods

33. The Plumbed SerpentThe Plumbed Serpent

34. Religion & MythologyReligion & Mythology
Pyramid of the SunPyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the moonPyramid of the moon

35. Human SacrificeHuman Sacrifice

Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs.Human sacrifice was a common practice of the Aztecs.

For the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan For the reconsecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan
in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400 in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400
prisoners over the course of four days.prisoners over the course of four days.

To give the sun strength to riseTo give the sun strength to rise
each day, human sacrifices wereeach day, human sacrifices were
offered.offered.

36. What happened to the Aztecs?What happened to the Aztecs?

Spanish conquistadors led by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan CortesHernan Cortes
conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs
in 1521.in 1521.

37. Aztec Video ClipsAztec Video Clips
““Engineering An Empire”Engineering An Empire”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=6255VideoID=6255
““What the Ancients Did For Us”What the Ancients Did For Us”
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=10964VideoID=10964

38. IncaInca

39. Where did the Inca live?Where did the Inca live?

The Inca controlled an empire in the The Inca controlled an empire in the Andes Andes
MountainMountain region of South America. region of South America.

40. GovernmentGovernment

The The Sapa IncaSapa Inca (emperor) had absolute power. (emperor) had absolute power.

The emperor claimed to be the The emperor claimed to be the son of the sunson of the sun..

The emperor was also the empireThe emperor was also the empire’s religious ’s religious
leader.leader.

The empire was divided into four regions with The empire was divided into four regions with
the capital at the capital at CuzcoCuzco..

41. Uniting the EmpireUniting the Empire

The Inca built a massive road network The Inca built a massive road network
through mountains and across rivers and through mountains and across rivers and
gorges.gorges.

42. StoneworkStonework

The Inca constructed stone temples without The Inca constructed stone temples without
using mortars yet the stones fit together so well using mortars yet the stones fit together so well
that a knife would not fit between the stones.that a knife would not fit between the stones.

43. ReligionReligion

The Inca were polytheistic.The Inca were polytheistic.

The primary god was The primary god was IntiInti, the sun god., the sun god.

44. ReligionReligion

Inca believed in Inca believed in reincarnationreincarnation..

The Inca practiced The Inca practiced cranial deformationcranial deformation..
-They achieved this by wrapping tight cloth -They achieved this by wrapping tight cloth
straps around the heads of newborns to alter the straps around the heads of newborns to alter the
shape of their soft skulls into a cone-like shape.shape of their soft skulls into a cone-like shape.

45. Medical AdvancesMedical Advances

The Inca performed successful skull The Inca performed successful skull
surgery.surgery.

The Inca also used medicines to make The Inca also used medicines to make
patients unconscious during surgerypatients unconscious during surgery

46. OrganizationOrganization

Each family in a community was assigned Each family in a community was assigned
a specific job.a specific job.

Government officials arranged marriages.Government officials arranged marriages.

The government organized mandatory The government organized mandatory
public service building projects.public service building projects.

47. What happened to the Inca?What happened to the Inca?

Civil war in the empire broke out...Civil war in the empire broke out...
ANDAND

Smallpox spread, killing much of the Smallpox spread, killing much of the
Inca…Inca…

48. Fall of the IncaFall of the Inca

BUT ultimately, it was Spanish conquistadors led BUT ultimately, it was Spanish conquistadors led
by by Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro that brought about the that brought about the
fall of the Inca Empire.fall of the Inca Empire.

49. Inca Video ClipInca Video Clip
http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?
VideoID=2301VideoID=2301