Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

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Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

• Pre-Columbian Society in North and South America

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MesoAmerica

• Maya, then Aztecs dominant civilizations
• Built on the foundation of earlier civilizations
  eg Olmec (the big head people)
• Maize
• Ball games
• Temple pyramids/ritual human sacrifice
• Astronomy/calendar

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Aztecs greenMaya - brown
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Maya

• Height 600CE-900CE
• Culturally united (NOT POLITICALLY)
• City-states
• Polytheistic
• Nobles/Priests elite class
• Innovative agriculture b/c of poor soil
  (chinampas, terraces, irrigation)
• Glyph writing/zero
• Downfall? Overtaxed environment, internal warfare

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Maya Tikal
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Theatre Statetallest building in the Americas
until the Flatiron Bldg. in1903
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Writing Styles
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Aztecs

• Height 1300CE-1500CE
• Invading conquerors from N. Mexico
• Tenochtitlan capital w/Emperor
• Important families controlled outlying areas
• Conquered people had to give tribute
• Complex social hierarchy (nobles, priests, etc.)
• Human sacrifice, often used to control populace
  which had been conquered by this migratory group

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Inca 1400s-1500s

• South America (Andes Mts.)
• Military expansionists
• Governed territory of over 2,500 miles
• Use of our friend, the Llama
• Farmed potatoes on terraces
• God-kings intermediaries b/t heaven and earth

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Social Hierarchy

• Aristocrats lived privileged lives (fine foods,
  embroidered clothes, and large ears spools)
• Spanish called them big ears

Inca ear spools
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Cuzco

• Capital city
• Connected to outlying areas by 16,000 m. of roads
• Royal family ruled outlying areas
• Tribute state - to Cuzco, emperor ensured
  everyone has what they need
• Govt control trade, labor, detailed census,
  centralized econ, etc.

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• Taxes often paid in labor (mita)
• Labor groups
• ayllu extended family organized groups
• NO writing used kipus!