MESOAMERICAMESOAMERICAEQ: 1) What is Mesoamerica?EQ: 1) What is Mesoamerica?

2) What are some contributions from 2) What are some contributions from Mesoamerica & how do they impact us? Mesoamerica & how do they impact us?

3) How does the development of 3) How does the development of Mesoamerica compare to the Mesoamerica compare to the development of other civilizations?development of other civilizations?

What is Mesoamerica?What is Mesoamerica?

Aka Middle AmericaAka Middle America

Central America & Central America & MexicoMexico

THE OLMECSTHE OLMECS

1400-500BCE1400-500BCE 11stst major American major American

civilizationcivilization Settled along the gulf Settled along the gulf

coast of Mexicocoast of Mexico Devoted to religion, Devoted to religion,

priests were honoredpriests were honored

THE MAYAS (300-900CE)THE MAYAS (300-900CE)

300-900CE300-900CE

MAYAS-Farming & TradeMAYAS-Farming & Trade

Advanced agricultural societyAdvanced agricultural society Most Mayans were farmersMost Mayans were farmers Men cultivated, women made foodMen cultivated, women made food

$$$ from profitable trade system$$$ from profitable trade system Traded across Central AmericaTraded across Central America Honey, cocoaHoney, cocoa

MAYAS-ReligionMAYAS-Religion

Priests held very high social positionsPriests held very high social positions

Elaborate rituals held to ensure good Elaborate rituals held to ensure good harvests & war victoriesharvests & war victories

Only the Only the priestspriests could conduct these could conduct these ritualsrituals

MAYAS-Social StructureMAYAS-Social Structure

Distinct social hierarchyDistinct social hierarchy Each city-state had a ruling chiefEach city-state had a ruling chief 1) Chief1) Chief 2) Nobles2) Nobles

City officials & military leadersCity officials & military leaders 3) Farmers3) Farmers Ruling class mostly male, but women Ruling class mostly male, but women

could obtain some powercould obtain some power

MAYAS-ContributionsMAYAS-Contributions AgricultureAgriculture

Grew more than enough foodGrew more than enough food

Raised fields in the rainforest Raised fields in the rainforest

ArchitectureArchitecture Giant pyramid temples & palacesGiant pyramid temples & palaces

Paintings & carvings about historyPaintings & carvings about history

MAYAS-ContributionsMAYAS-Contributions Education: Advanced Learning & ScienceEducation: Advanced Learning & Science

Hieroglyphic writing, books made of barkHieroglyphic writing, books made of bark

Priests created accurate 365 day calendarPriests created accurate 365 day calendar

Number system and concept of 0 before Number system and concept of 0 before EuropeansEuropeans

Archaeological DigArchaeological Dig

TemplesTemples

Inside temple-no Inside temple-no windowswindows

DECLINE OF THE MAYASDECLINE OF THE MAYAS Around 900CE, the Mayas abandoned Around 900CE, the Mayas abandoned

their cities…their cities…

Why? Why? Experts still not certain...Experts still not certain... Warfare?Warfare? Overpopulation leading to lack of food?Overpopulation leading to lack of food? Lower classes revolt?Lower classes revolt?

Language still spoken in Guatemala & Language still spoken in Guatemala & southern Mexicosouthern Mexico