Maya, Aztec, Inca

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Maya, Aztec, Inca
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Mayan Map
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Maya

• 250 BC 900 AD
• Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala
• Cities Tikal, Chichen Itza
• Written language-hieroglyphics
• Pyramids
• Farming-raised fields, canals, corn

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Maya

• Astronomy
• Calendar
• Concept of zero
• Predicted spring/fall equinoxes
• Religion-many godssun, rain

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Aztec map
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Aztecs

• 1325-1521 AD
• Mexico
• Capital city Tenochtitlan
• Built on an island
• Causeways
• Canals
• Chinampas
• Temples and pyramids

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Aztecs

• Legend how they found the place to build their
  city
• Eagle, cactus, snake
• Religion-many gods
• Warriors

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Aztec Calendar
-The Aztecs used a Calendar similar to The
Mayans. It had a 365 day a year Calendar.
-In the mythology of the Aztecs, the first age
of mankind ended with the animals devouring
humans. The second age was finished by wind, the
third by fire, and the fourth by water. The
present fifth epoch is called Nahui-Olin (Sun of
Earthquake), which began in 3113 BC and will end
on December 24, 2011. It will be the last
destruction of human existence on Earth.
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Aztec Writing

• The Aztec Language was based on symbols
  representing writing.
• They would combine symbols to create sentences.

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Mythology

• According to an Aztec myth, the white-faced
  Quetzacuatl - their most important god.
• He is the god of intelligence and the god of
  creation.

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Inca Map
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Inca

• 1438-1533 AD
• South America
• 2500 miles of territory
• Coastal area plus Andes Mountains
• Cuzco-capital city
• Machu Piccu-lost city
• Stone work
• Pyramids
• Messengers

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Inca

• Farming-terraces
• No written records-everything by messenger
• Quipu-record keeping
• Gold
• Religion-many gods

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Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by explorer
Hiram Bingham. It sits one and a half miles high
on a mountaintop in Peru once inhibited by the
Inca civilization. Bingham thought it must have
been a special religious city because of the
fine stonework, however archaeologists believe it
was some type of vacation resort for Inca nobles.
Over 3,000 steps connect the levels of the city
and farming terraces. It could only be reached
by a log bridge on a sheer cliff. If enemies
threatened the citizens there, they would simply
draw back the bridge.
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Spanish Conquistadors

• Aztecs conquered by Cortez in 1521
• Inca conquered by Pizzaro in 1533
• Maya-only theories about what happened to them.

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Religion
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Rulers