The Paradox of Mesoamerica

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The Paradox of Mesoamerica

• Sophistication and Brutality

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Mayans and Aztecs
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Incans
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The Peopling of the Americas

• Asian nomads cross the Bering Straight
• Spread throughout Americas 12,000 years ago
• Hunter-gatherers eventually civilizations

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The OLMECS

• First Mesoamerican civilization, 1200-400 bce
• Known as the Rubber people
• Agriculture and trade
• Polytheism, pyramids, sacrifice
• Art Colossal Heads

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The MAYANS

• Mexican Central American rainforest
• Collection of city-states ruled by kings
• Major city Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula)
• Height of power 250-900 AD

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The MAYANS

• Social Order
• Upper class Priests, nobles, warriors
• Lower class Peasants
• Paid taxes to king (corn, or maize sacred crop)
• No rights for women
• Economy
• Agriculture (with irrigation projects)
• Trade

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The MAYANS

• Polytheism
• Massive pyramids honor gods and show power
• Temple of the Giant Jaguar (in Tikal)
• Priests study time cycles and predict the future.
  
• If outlook is bad, then sacrifices (animal or
  human) are offered to please the gods.

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The MAYANS

• Achievements
• Hieroglyphic writing
• Complex system of spiritual and solar calendars
• Development of a number system
• Master astronomers
• Roads
• Architecture

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The AZTECS

• Capital Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)
• Emperor rules with absolute power
• Fierce warriors conquer enemies
• Provide slaves and prisoners for sacrifice
• Slaves earned rights to buy freedom
• Wealth from trade and tribute payments (conquered
  towns supply Aztecs with goods)

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The AZTECS

• Agriculture
• Chinampa farms Man-made islands built of reeds
  and mud to provide more farm land
• Achievements
• Causeways (roads)
• Aqueducts to transport water
• Canals and dams

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The AZTECS

• Polytheistic religion
• Chief god is the Sun god
• Priests are very important
• Record knowledge and run schools
• Astronomers and mathematicians
• Perform daily religious ceremonies
• Religion based on warfare
• Massive pyramids honor gods
• Frequent sacrifices to keep life going
• The sun requires blood to live.

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The INCAS

• Located in the Andes Mts of South America
• Capital Cuzco
• Power represented by Machu Picchu
• Ruled by an emperor
• High-altitude agriculture
• Polytheistic religion
• Road system unifies empire

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Sophistication
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Brutality