Lesson 5: Pre-Columbian Era

Olmec Civilization

The first great Mesoamerican Civilization. They thrive on the southern golf coast of Mexico, states of Veracruz and Tabasco in present day

Mesoamerican Civilizations

-Mayans and Aztecs

Veracruz & Tabasco

southern golf of mexico in the past. And it is where the Olmec Civilization was thrive

Maya & the Aztec

the one who greatly influenced the culture aspect of Olmec Civilization.

"Olmec"

means "rubber people" in the language of the Aztec (Nahuatl)

Nahuatl

language of the Aztecs

it is the language of the Aztec

Nahuatl

"rubber people"

it is an ancient practice, spanning from ancient Olmecs to Aztec, of extracting latex from "Castilla Elastica"

Castilla Elastica

a rubber tree in that area

Ipomoea Alba

it is the juice of a local vine, later mixed in latex to create rubber

latex

it is what they extract in Castilla Elastica

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, La Venta, Tres Zapotes, & Laguna de los Cerros

it is where the Olmecs build their permanent-city temple complexes

vast clay pyramid

it is the architectural structure found in La Venta ruins which is "decorated with elaborate carvings"

collossal heads

are common in the places which are made from basalt which symbolizes thrones.

thrones

it is what the colossal heads symbolizes

Mask & figurines

are some monuments and other major pieces of Olmec art

Cacao, rubber, & salt

it is what Olmec cultivated

Elaborate Water & Drainage system

it is what is observed on them & and what Olmecs used in their time while cultivating.

Chocolate Drinks

Olmecs manufactured this

Human sacrifice & Cannibalism

it is what the evidence suggests about the practice of Olmecs in their culture.

Calendar in Mexico

it may have originated from Olmecs

Astronomy

it is what the Olmecs studied because of their obsession with the timing of religious ritual.

Animal Gods

it is featured in Olmec Culture

Obsidian, ceramics, jade, serpentine, mica, rubber, pottery, feather & polished mirrors of limenite and magnetite

it is what Olmecs traded

400 B.C.

It was when La Venta went into decline and the Olmec Civilization vanished along with it.

Maya Civilization

It is regarded as one of the most important Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Culture.

Ancient Mayans

are a diverse group of indigenous people

Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras

it is where Ancient Mayans lived in parts of present-day…

Mayans

are people of Maya Civilization

Mayas remarkable scientific achievements

in the field of various sciences such as astronomy, engineering, medicine & mathematics

Mayan science & technology development

great progress in agriculture and big brake in technology

Architectural & Engineering Skills

it is what manifested in the grandeur of their tall pyramids of limestone.

Movements of the stars and planets across the sky

it is what the Mayan track in their astronomy studies

Eclipses

are celestial events that Mayan managed to accurately predict

Venus

for Mayans, this is the most important astronomical object

The Mayans

The one who the accurate calendar

Ritual Calendar

it is used in Mesoamerica

800 glyphs or symbols

that's how much the written character of Mayans language composes off

3-4 different ways

it is how many ways you can write the mayan language

elaborate temples and great cities

it is what mayans are skilled on building off without the use of metal

Rubber products

it is also believed that mayans produce this

Aztec Civilization

it was established in the city of Tenochtitlan, a present-day Mexico City

Aztecs

people of Aztec Civilization, they are also best known as violent people who expanded their empire through ruthless wars.

Tenochtitlan

it is the present-day Mexico City

making human sacrifices

the reputation of Aztecs

making human sacrifices in elaborate ritual

it involved removal of beating heart,

removal of beating heart

it is what Aztecs do to appease their gods

Nahuatl

language of the Aztecs, organized system of government and language

Aztec Technology

advanced housing, made aqueducts for fresh water, advanced arts. This advancement is still looked upon adoringly to this day.

Aztec accomplishments

development of mathematics, the canoe, highly specialised aztec calendar, & remarkably helpful forms of medicines.

Obsidian & Chert

it is materials in which Aztec tools made of

Aztec tools

made of obsidian & chert

Experimentation of making tools in copper

it was established by Aztecs when they were overcome by Spanish contenders

Axe blades, bows, and arrow (Aztec)

made in either stone and copper

Drill made from reed or bones

it shows how advanced the Aztec technology

Wheel

Aztec technology is familiar with this, but it was only used in toys

canoes

a type of boat which is used by Aztec in transporting their goods and themselves.

mathematician

the Aztec were very advanced scientific thinkers and ____

Aztec astronomy

important component of their calendar, which reflected heavily on their gods

Ointments, drinks, & salves

it is the advancement of Aztec when it comes to their medicinal technology

Badianus Manuscript

Illustrated collection of Aztec medical plant knowledge

Aztec artists 1552

they were the one who created the Badianus manuscripts

Inca Civilization

Flourished in the Andean region of South America. It was the largest Empire by this Pre-Columbian.

Machu Picchu

one of the most popular famous archaeological sites

Incan emperor

it was built as a retreat place

Tawantinsuyu

The Inca name for their empire; the name means "the four parts together"

Quechua

language of the Inca

City of Cuzco

what is Peru, right now. It is said where the emperor started everything

25000 miles

to support this earth

Maize (corn) and dried Ilama, coca leaves & alcohol,

It is what Incans are rich for

Coca Leaves

used to lessen the hunger & pain in work, but mostly used as anaesthetic for religious and Medicines

Mummification

was an important part of Incas funerary rites

November

it is described by Incas as "month of carrying the dead"

Cumpi

finest grade of cloth

Inca Stone-working

was also considered to be very fine

lunisolar

it is what the incas calendar was essential for

astronomy

it is what the incas calendar is strongly tied for

one lunar & one solar

two calendars were maintained by parallel

12 Lunar Months

falls 11 days short of a full 365-day solar year.

Equinoxes, Solstices

are observed on these lunar calendars

Quipu

An arrangement of knotted strings on a cord, used by the Inca to record numerical information.

Thatkiy or thatki

the most basic unit of distance

Olmec Colossal Heads

La Venta made from basalt is the common monument built by the Olmecs

Vigesimal System

Base 20 number (essential) system used and developed by Mayans.

Shell, Dot, Bat

three important symbols in the vigesimal system which represent numbers

Dot

is for one unit

Bar

worth of 5 units

shell

symbolizes zero

"Vigesimal System"

this numbering system was used to create their calendar