Ancient Mesoamerican and North American Civilizations: Olmecs, Maya, Aztecs, Incas, and Native Cultures

Olmecs

First major civilization in Middle America (1400-500 BC); lived on the Gulf Coast of Mexico and built ceremonial centers with giant stone heads

Olmec Achievements

Created a calendar and early writing system and influenced later civilizations like the Maya and Aztecs

Maya

Civilization in southern Mexico and Central America (300-900 AD) known for city-states and advanced learning, HEIROGLYPHS

Tikal

A major Mayan city with large pyramid temples

Mayan Government

Each city-state had its own ruler supported by nobles and priests

Mayan Achievements

Hieroglyphic writing, accurate calendars, astronomy, and a math system including zero

Mayan Farming

Corn, beans, and squash were the main crops

Mayan Decline

Cities were abandoned around 900 AD possibly because of warfare, overpopulation, or farming problems

Teotihuacán

Large city in the Valley of Mexico known for the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, 150 BC - 750 AD, GRID LAYOUT

Aztecs

Empire in central Mexico beginning in the 1200s until 1521 that conquered many neighboring peoples

Tenochtitlán

Capital of the Aztec empire built on an island in Lake Texcoco

Chinampas

Floating gardens built by the Aztecs to grow crops

Aztec Government

Ruled by an emperor chosen by nobles and priests

Aztec Society

Social classes included emperor, nobles, warriors, commoners, and slaves

Tribute

Payment demanded from conquered people by the Aztecs

Huitzilopochtli

Main Aztec sun god who required human sacrifices

Incas

Powerful empire in the Andes Mountains of South America during the 1400s-1500s

Cuzco

Capital city of the Incan empire

Sapa Inca

The emperor of the Inca believed to be the son of the sun

Quipu

Knotted colored strings used by the Incas to keep records

Incan Achievements

Built huge road systems, terrace farms, and had advanced medicine

Inti

The main sun god of the Inca religion

Chosen Women

Women trained to serve the sun god and perform religious duties

Hohokam

1-1450, Desert Southwest farmers who built irrigation canals in Arizona

Anasazi

Native American culture that built pueblos and cliff dwellings in the Four Corners region

Pueblo

Large village built by the Anasazi

Kiva

Underground ceremonial room used by the Anasazi

Mound Builders

Native American cultures that built large earth mounds for ceremonies and burials, 3500 BC - until about 1600 AD

Hopewell

Mound Builder culture known for long-distance trade networks

Mississippians

Mound-building civilization that built large cities such as Cahokia

Cahokia

Large Mississippian city in present-day Illinois with huge temple mounds

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