MESO-AMERICAN

CIVILIZATIONS
Olmecs, Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas
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 GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLE
• The first great American civilizations developed in
Mesoamerica, also called as Middle America
• Region includes Mexico and Central America
• The people that inhabited this region had migrated
from other parts of North America
• The people farmed and grew corn, beans, squash,
sweet potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes
• Farmers also domesticated animals 2
MAP OF MESO-AMERICA

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 THE OLMECS
• The Olmec Empire, which existed from 1400-500 BC
was the first major Mesoamerican civilization
• Developed in the tropical rain forests of Mexico's gulf
coast
• They invented a calendar and system of writing made
up of carved inscriptions
• Strongly devoted to religion and priests were highly
respected 4
THE OLMEC EMPIRE

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 THE MAYAS
• Flourished from AD 300-900
• Complex agricultural society
• Farming and Trade - most of the people were farmers.
Men farmed while the women turned the crops into
food. Farmers paid taxes in foodstuffs to support the
city state.
• Religion was very significant and priests were well
respected. Priests were the only who could conduct 6
 MAYAN SOCIAL
• Ruling Chief
• Nobles (MilitarySTRUCTURE
and Government Officials)
• Merchants and Artisans
• Farmers

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 MAYAN CONTRIBUTIONS
• Architecture - Built large pyramids and palaces
• Agriculture - Grew enough food to support large
populations
• Science - Developed a hieroglyphic style of writing, an
accurate calendar, numbering system, and understood
the concept of zero

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 MAYAN DECLINE
• Around 900 AD, the Mayans abandoned their cities for
unknown reasons. Historians speculate that possible
causes of the decline may have been warfare,
overpopulation, famine, or natural disaster.

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MAP OF THE MAYAN EMPIRE

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MAYAN RUINS

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 THE AZTECS
• In the late 1200's, a nomadic group settled into Mexico
and established their capital in Tenochtitlan
• The Aztecs were fierce warriors using military
conquests an alliances to build a huge empire
• The Aztec Empire became very wealthy from
collecting taxes from conquered people
• By the 1500's, the Aztec Empire covered most of
Mexico and included approximately 30 million people 1
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 AZTECS SOCIAL
• Aztecs were ruled by a single Emperor who was
STRUCTURE
chosen by a council of priests and nobles
• Nobility
• Warriors
• Traders - also acted as military scouts
• Farmers
• Slaves
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 AZTEC RELIGION
• Priests were highly respected individuals
• Chief god was the Sun God
• To please their gods, the Aztecs offered thousands of
human sacrifices

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 AZTEC CONTRIBUTIONS
• Developed an accurate calendar and established
schools
• Doctors learned to set broken bones and dentists
learned to treat dental cavities
• Architecture - the capital was built on the site of
present day Mexico City. The city began as two small
islands on Lake Texaco. Engineers filled in parts of the
lake and built bridges to connect the city to the 1
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HUMAN SACRIFICE AND THE
CAPITAL

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 THE INCAS
• In the 1400's, the Incas Emerged from the Andes
Mountains and conquered a large area that extended
over 2500 miles down the Pacific Coast
• The Incas were ruled by an Emperor who held
absolute power and also acted as chief religious
leader and the son of the Sun God
• Capital was located at Cuzco
• The government controlled the lives of the people 1
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 INCAN ROADS
• The Incans built a large and elaborate
system of roads
• Runners used these roads to carry
news to far off provinces and the
capital
• Often compared to the Roman
system of roads
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 RELIGION
• Worshipped many gods related to the forces of nature
• Sun God was the most important
• Priests were very powerful members of society

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 INCAN CONTRIBUTIONS
• Engineering - a system of roads that extended over
12,000 miles an include bridges and tunnels
• Temple of the Sun - built in the capital, it was so strong
it could withstand the power of major earthquakes
• Agriculture - terrace farming used in mountainous
regions
• Communication - Incan government officials kept
records by means of a knotted, colored string system 2
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TEMPLE OF THE SUN AND
QUIPUS

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THANK
YOU! 2
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