Latin America

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Latin America
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Mesoamerica

• The great empires from present day Mexico and
  south

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Olmec

• The first civilization in the Americas was the
  OLMEC civilization.
• The Olmec do not appear to have had a written
  language but did construct cities with large
  pyramid religious monuments.

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• The Olmec civilization was based upon the
  cultivation of maize.
• About 400 B.C.E. the Olmec civilization
  disappeared.
• The city of TEOTIHUACAN rose as the first great
  American city but it too fell because of wars
  and migrations.
• The MAYA became the next great civilization in
  the Americas.

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• Agricultural products native to the Americas
• Corn/maize
• Squash-pumpkin
• Potatoes
• Cranberries, concord grapes, blueberries
• Chili peppers

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Maya

• The Mayan people developed a large empire on the
  Yucatan Peninsula from about 200 B.C.E. to 900
  C.E.
• Large cities and temples were built and adorned
  with HIEROGLPHS glyphs.
• Many of these cities were eventually abandoned
  and the jungles grew over them.
• In the 20th century the cities were uncovered.
• It is only recently that the language contained
  in the glyphs has been translated.
• Astronomy developed 365 day calendar

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Mayan Hieroglyphs
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Mayan Calendar
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Mayan Empire
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Mayan Pyramid
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Toltec

• After the fall of the Maya the Toltec
  civilization appeared.
• The Toltec established a military based
  civilization that had influence throughout Mexico
  and into the present day US. Did trade bring the
  Toltec into contact with the Mississippian
  cultures?
• The Aztec thought of the Toltec as the ancestors
  of civilization.
• TOPILTZIN
• QUETZALCOATL

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Aztec

• Powerful empire in present day Mexico.
• Built temples and pyramids to the gods of their
  religion.
• Religion believed in a struggle between forces of
  dark and light gods needed the blood of human
  sacrifices in order to insure the dawn of a new
  day.

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How Do You Feed An Empire?

• CHINAMPAS floating beds for agriculture
  20,000 acres allowing 4 corn crops per year.
• Merchant class POCHTECA
• CALPULLI Aztec clans social organization
• An Empire of tribute

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Aztec Pyramid
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Inca - Twantinsuyu

• Legend states that 10 AYLLUS were taken to Cuzco
  by a mythical leader to establish a new
  civilization Twantinsuyu.
• Their leader inca PACHACUTI used alliances
  and conquest to consolidate power from Quito to
  Lake Titicaca.
• potatoes

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Religion and Society

• Cult of the Dead mummies of rulers needed to be
  worshipped.
• SPLIT INHERITANCE political power went to the
  new ruler BUT palaces, lands, and wealth went
  to his male descendants.
• Each new ruler needed conquest to gain his own
  lands for his own later mummy worship.
• TEMPLE OF THE SUN Cuzco
• Huacas holy shrines

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Incan Bureaucracy

• Twantinsuyu was divided into provinces with
  governors
• Local rulers CURACAS were allowed to maintain
  their positions if they were loyal to the Incan
  kings (Gupta???)
• Communication roads and runners
• Tambos way stations one days walk apart
• Mita communal work on state and religious
  projects
• Quipu no writing system but a series of knotted
  strings to record information

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• Incan Empire

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Incan Trail
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Machu Pichu
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