Post-Classical Mesoamerican and Andean South America 600 to 1450 C.E. The Civilizations: Blood of Kings The oldest civilization in Mesoamerica was the Olmecs (called the rubber people)which acted as “parent” society for those that came after. Agriculture became very important…squash, beans, chile peppers, tomatoes and MAIZE. Began trade of jade and obsidian. Trade with the Anasazi in North America on the Turquoise Road. Mayans: Honduras, El Salvador, Guatamala as far as north as Central Mexico (2400 B.C.E.-900 C.E.) Aztecs: Mexico (1427-1519 C.E.) Incas: Peru and some parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina (1200-1532 C.E.) Mayans: In Search of More Slaves Mayan Life Chichen Itza The Mayans had a sophisticated writing system They had the most accurate calendar based off the stars in the world at the time War was typically not to conquer territory but to aquire slaves to work in agriculture because they had no large animals for work Religion was important in all aspects of life Extent of Mayan Empire Where did the Mayans Go? RAPID POPULATION DROUGHT GROWTH They had a long-term Rapid population growth drought in 840 C.E. outstripped available and it caused the resources population to drop by Results are deforestation 85 % in the Yucatan and erosion Famine and fraticidial Warfare became more warfare frequent as scarce land for cultivation became sharper MAYAN TRADE 2012 Legacy of the Mayans Mayan Calendar The Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 There are many predictions of it as doomsday and many say it will be a new beginning WHO KNOWS??? AZTEC WORLD MEXICA’S EMPIRE The Aztec empire Military campaigns Empire ruled 12 million people and most of Mesoamerica Tribute obligations Empire had no bureaucracy Mexica gods Quetzalcóatl: supporter of arts, crafts, and agriculture Huitzilopochtli: the war god Human sacrifice encouraged by devotion to Huitzilopochtli Large temple at the center of Tenochtitlan Hundreds of thousands sacrificed to this war god MEXICA RELIGION THE INCA WORLD THE INCA The Inca empire Built a huge empire stretching 2000 miles from north to south Ruled the empire with military and administrative elite Inca bureaucrats relied on quipu Mnemonic aid made of an array of small cords to keep track of information Cuzco and Machu Picchu Capital of the Inca: had 300,000 people in the late 15th century Machu Picchu hidden in mountain, jungles: last retreat of Inca Inca roads Two major roads linked the south and north Runners carried messages across empire INCA RELIGION Inca gods: Inti and Viracocha Venerated sun god called Inti Also honored the creator god, Viracocha Sacrifices of animals, agricultural products, not humans SPEC Charts over Mayans, Aztecs and Incas Social Political Economic Cultural Prompt: Compare the Aztec and Inca Empires Paragraph Structure: Thesis: Aztecs Incas [Both] .