World HistoryMaya, Inca,

AztecUnit 5

6.A 6.B 19A 19B 26A 26B 26C 27B

Pre-Columbian civilizations

Unlike earlier civilizations, these did not stay near rivers as much.

They used the warm, humid rain forests to plant corn (maize). This was native to this area.

American Civilizations Many cities in the regions - Olmecs and

Toltecs Each city had its own ruler, who was

considered half-man, half-god. Each grew staple crops and had fish

supplements. The Olmecs built large stone courts to

play ball games. Their balls were made of rubber which grew abundantly in the area.

Cities from 30,000 to over 100,000 were the norm.

AZTEC

INCA

MAYA

Maya Civilization 2000BC –AD 1100

Maya Polytheistic – they

built large pyramids as temples to the gods who they believed would control the weather.

Their 365 ¼ day calendar was the most accurate at the time.

They cleared forests and built raised fields to allow for adequate drainage.

Maya The Toltecs believed a god

called Topilzin Quetzalcoatl would return, which brought them disaster when the first Europeans arrived.

They believed the Europeans were divine because of their differences in appearance and clothing, instead of seeing them as invaders.

Mayan Calendar

Archeologists found a calendar dating back to around 500BC. It counted ahead to December 21, 2012, which many believed would be the end of the world…

“If there's one thing the Mayans taught us, it's that if you don't finish something it isn't the end of the world”

Aztec Empire 1200-1581

Aztec The Aztecs were a

warring people. Policy was based on

conquest and expansion. The Aztecs were

polytheistic as well. The Sun God, they

believed, needed human blood to continue his daily journey across the sky.

Human sacrifices were very common.

Aztec Aztec society was split into social classes. The emperor being the top, then

progressing down to slaves on the bottom.

Inca Empire1200-1535

Inca The Inca empire became

the most powerful in Latin America up until European conquest.

Their government was an hereditary monarchy.

Inca They grew potatoes

and other root crops

Kept llamas and alpacas for meat and wool

Built stone roads They constructed

stone building high in the Andes.

So what happened to them? As Europeans came

to the “New World” diseases that the natives were not immune to spread.

Europeans were also technologically superior with weaponry and fighting.

These civilizations eventually died out.

Civilization Decline