MesoamericaMesoamerica

MatchMatch

IncaInca AztecAztec MayaMaya OlmecOlmec ToltecToltec

Believed in a half-human Believed in a half-human half-jaguar godhalf-jaguar god

Believed in human sacrifices Believed in human sacrifices dailydaily

Had a system of writing that Had a system of writing that is a series of knots in a ropeis a series of knots in a rope

Believed in the god Believed in the god QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl

Developed a complex writing Developed a complex writing and number systemand number system

OlmecOlmec

Earliest culture in Earliest culture in MexicoMexico

1200 BC to 400 BC1200 BC to 400 BC Located in south Located in south

central Mexicocentral Mexico

Social ClassesSocial Classes

Elite

Farmers

Olmec SocietyOlmec Society Elite held military, Elite held military,

political, and political, and religious powerreligious power

Worshiped a part Worshiped a part jaguar, part human jaguar, part human godgod

Left behind giant Left behind giant stone headsstone heads

Colossal HeadsColossal Heads

Best recognized Best recognized aspect of Olmec aspect of Olmec civilizationcivilization

May be portraits of May be portraits of rulersrulers

17 Colossal Heads 17 Colossal Heads have been foundhave been found

Think with a PartnerThink with a Partner

How do we honor great political How do we honor great political leaders today?leaders today?

Come up with an political leader Come up with an political leader that:that: Has a statue of themselvesHas a statue of themselves A movie about their lifeA movie about their life Buildings named after a political leaderBuildings named after a political leader

StatuesStatues

George Washington Bill Clinton

MoviesMovies

BuildingsBuildings

Thomas Jefferson Building

Ronald Reagan Building

Think with a PartnerThink with a Partner

Colossal Heads also might be a way Colossal Heads also might be a way they honored athletesthey honored athletes

How do we honor athletes today?How do we honor athletes today? Come up with an athlete that:Come up with an athlete that:

Has a statue of themselvesHas a statue of themselves A video game designed for themA video game designed for them A movie about their lifeA movie about their life

StatuesStatues

Tommie Smith and John Carlos

Hank Aaron

Michael Jordan

Karl Malone and John Stockton

Video GamesVideo Games

MoviesMovies

Possibly InventedPossibly Invented

The number zeroThe number zero The Mesoamerican calendarThe Mesoamerican calendar CompassCompass 11stst culture in the Western culture in the Western

Hemisphere to have a system of Hemisphere to have a system of writingwriting

0

Olmec DeclineOlmec Decline

Unsure of why the civilization Unsure of why the civilization declineddeclined

Possibilities include:Possibilities include: Outside invaders caused the destructionOutside invaders caused the destruction May have destroyed own monuments May have destroyed own monuments

after the death of rulersafter the death of rulers Environmental changesEnvironmental changes

MayaMaya

11stst Mayan settlements started around Mayan settlements started around 1800 BC1800 BC

Arrived in the Arrived in the Valley of Mexico Valley of Mexico around AD 1200around AD 1200

Originally called Originally called MexicaMexica– Poor, nomadic Poor, nomadic

people from people from Northern MexicoNorthern Mexico

Aztec SocietyAztec Society

Government officials, Government officials, priests, and military priests, and military leaders made up the leaders made up the NobilityNobility

Two other main Two other main classesclasses– CommonersCommoners– Enslaved PersonsEnslaved Persons

SLAVES

COMMONERS

Merchants Soldiers

Land Owners

NOBLES

Generals

Gov’t Officials

Priest

EMPEROR

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Larger than any European city at the timeLarger than any European city at the time– Population between 200,000 and 400,000Population between 200,000 and 400,000

Built in the middle of a lakeBuilt in the middle of a lake

Aztec ReligionAztec Religion

Built hundreds of Built hundreds of temples to honor temples to honor thousands of godsthousands of gods

Religion involved Religion involved many ceremoniesmany ceremonies

None more None more important that important that satisfying the Sun satisfying the Sun GodGod

IncaInca

Originally lived in high Originally lived in high plateaus of the Andesplateaus of the Andes

Settled in the Valley Settled in the Valley of Cuzco in AD 1200of Cuzco in AD 1200

Believed Incan rulers Believed Incan rulers descended from the descended from the sun god, Inti.sun god, Inti.

Inca EmpireInca Empire

2,500 miles long and 2,500 miles long and 500 miles wide500 miles wide

Home to 12 million Home to 12 million peoplepeople

““Children of the Sun”Children of the Sun” Mail traveled as fast in Mail traveled as fast in

the Incan Empire as it the Incan Empire as it does todaydoes today

The IncaThe Inca

Leader was the Leader was the Emperor, called the Emperor, called the IncaInca Not an elected positionNot an elected position Born into his positionBorn into his position All-powerfulAll-powerful Everything belonged to Everything belonged to

the Incathe Inca

GovernmentGovernment

Strong central governmentStrong central government Government was responsible for Government was responsible for

taking care of the peopletaking care of the people Built roads and bridgesBuilt roads and bridges In hard time the government might In hard time the government might

even hand out food or blankets to even hand out food or blankets to those in needthose in need

The Common PeopleThe Common People

People’s job to work People’s job to work for the governmentfor the government

Worked very hardWorked very hard Nobody went Nobody went

homeless or hungry homeless or hungry in the Incan Empirein the Incan Empire

Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment

There was almost no crime in the Inca There was almost no crime in the Inca Empire. Inca laws were very harsh. Empire. Inca laws were very harsh. Punishment was swift.Punishment was swift. If you insulted the Inca, cursed the gods, or If you insulted the Inca, cursed the gods, or

committed a murder, you were thrown off a cliff.   committed a murder, you were thrown off a cliff.   If you were caught stealing or cheating, you If you were caught stealing or cheating, you

either had your hands and feet cut off. either had your hands and feet cut off. There were lesser punishments. You could be There were lesser punishments. You could be

stoned. You could be tied to a wall and left to stoned. You could be tied to a wall and left to freeze. freeze.