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Name:______Date:______Social Studies Room 300 HW#19
Maya Civilization information found on pages 368 and 369.
-This civilization thrived around 250 – 900 A.D.
-This civilization had many great cities.
-Two of the more popular/well known cities were Tikal, in present day Guatemala and Copan in present day Honduras.
-These cities contained large, ornate temples and pyramids.
-The cities were religious, economic and political centers.
-The Mayas made two accurate calendars. One was used for holidays and one was used for the changing of the seasons.
-Mayans developed writing by using glyphs (signs and symbols) called hieroglyphics.
-Mayans were one of the few civilizations, which used zero as a math concept, to mean “none of something.”
-The great Mayan mystery: What happened to the Mayan civilization? About 900 A.D. Mayan cities went on a decline. Was it crop failure? Famine? Disease? Or was it drought? No one knows for sure. Some people believe it may have been rebellion against the control of the priests.
Aztec Civilization information found on pages 370 and 372.
-Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico in the 1100s.
-They settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, in 1325.
-They rebuilt swampy Lake Texcoco into the great city of Tenochtitlan (the nawch tee TLAHN).
-By 1400, Aztecs were fierce warriors who conquered surrounding tribes.
-Conquered people were forced to pay tribute by way of taxes.
-Taxes could be food, cotton, gold or slaves.
-Conquered people could also be used for human sacrifices to the Aztec gods.
-Most Aztecs were farmers.
-Aztecs created the incredible chinampas, which were “artificial floating gardens.” (see page 371)
-The great Aztec cities had huge temples, wide streets, canals and floating gardens.
-The cities even had museums and zoos.
-The Aztecs also had an accurate calendar. Name:______Date:______Social Studies Room 300 HW#19
-Aztec Astronomers were able to predict eclipse and planet movement.
-Aztecs used hieroglyphics.
-Aztec doctors made over 1,000 medicines from plants.
-Aztec armies made it safe for travel on roads which was important for trade.
-Aztec used barter and no money.
-Because of trade, they were able to acquire crops from distant lands.
-Trade also included crafts, weapons, tools, and luxury items like jaguar skins, cacao beans and fine jewelry.
-The Aztec civilization came to an end in mid 1500s when Cortez came for a visit. (we will learn more of this later.)