OlmecRise: 1200 BCE Fall: 800-400 BCE

Olmec - Society

• Hierarchy

• Wealthy = powerful

Olmec - Political

• Rulers = religious leaders w/ divine powers

Olmec - Interactions

• 1st Mesoamerican civilization known to develop agriculture

• Technology

• Stone Tools

• Writing system

Olmec - Culture

• Religion• Animistic --- jaguar spirit

• Polytheistic

Olmec - Culture

• Arts/Architecture

• Stone monuments

• Sculpted heads

• Science

• Number system

• Calendar

Olmec - Economy

• Farmers

• Large trading network

• Mexico City to Honduras

Olmec Fall

• Not for sure!

• Possibly outside invaders

MayaRise: 200 BCE Fall: 900 CE

Maya - Society

• Hierarchy• King

• Nobles – priests and leading warriors

• Merchants & skilled artisans

• Peasants

Maya - Political

• King = Holy Figure

• Hereditary position…dynasties

• Independent city-states

Maya - Interactions

• Slash-and-burn agriculture

• Terrace Farming

Maya – Interactions

• Technology • Writing system

• 800 hieroglyphic symbols

• Paper like substance

Maya - Culture

• Religion• Polytheistic

• Animistic

• Gods of corn, death, rain, war

• Sacrifices & Offerings

Maya - Culture

• Achievements• Giant pyramids, temples, palaces

• Ball courts

• 365.24 day calendar

• Concept of zero

Maya - Economy

• Trade network unites the independent city-states

• Trade craft goods & agricultural surplus

Maya -- Fall

• Again, Not sure!

• Possibly invasion by the Toltecs

• Increased warfare between Mayan City-states

• Population growth and over use of resources

AztecRise : 1200 CE - Fall 1521

Aztec - Society

•Social hierarchy

•Emperor

•Nobles: military leaders, gov’t officials, and priests

•Commoners

•Slaves

Aztec - Political

•Empire of tribute states

•Aztecs took over neighboring areas…allowed local rulers to stay in power as long as they paid tribute

Aztec - Interactions

•Chinampas – floating gardens

•Tripled agricultural output

Aztec - Interactions

•Technology•Stone tools/weapons

•Writing system

Aztec - Culture

•Religion•Polytheistic & Animistic

•Human sacrifice

• Temples

Aztec - Culture

•Achievements •Math/number system

•Calendar

•Mummification

•Road systems

•Pyramids & temples

Aztec - Economy

•Traded agricultural goods

•Huge market in Tenochtitlan (capital of Aztec Empire)

Aztec – Fall

• Defeat by the Spanish and their Native allies in 1521

IncaRise: 1438 Fall: 1533

Inca - Society•Community cooperation•Ayllu – extended family group•Each group was led by its own chief

Inca - Political

•Largest empire ever seen in the America

•Central bureaucratic system

Inca - Interactions

•Terrace farming

Inca - Interactions•Technology•Writing System•Record keeping – quipu• Set of knotted string that was used to record data

Inca - Culture•Religion• Polytheistic•Animistic•Nature Spirits

•Sun God• Llama sacrifice

Inca - Culture

•Achievements • Public works projects•Road & bridges

•Calendar •Machu Pichu

Inca - Economy•Economy regulated by government

•Trade

Inca -- Fall

• By Spanish invasion in 1533