SSWH8 Maya, Aztec and Inca Empires

SSWH8 Objectives
- Describe characteristics of societies in Central and South America.
- Explain the rise and fall of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Empires.
- Compare and contrast religion, culture, economics, politics, and technology of these societies.
Learning Target:
- Explain the significance of location in the rise and fall of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Empires.
- Identify important achievements of American cultures.
- Compare and contrast the three societies.

Origins
- Early Americans likely migrated from Asia via Beringia, a land bridge between Asia and North America.
- __________ occurred during the last Ice Age, 1.9 million to 10,000 B.C.

Hunters and Gatherers
- Early Americans primarily hunted _____________ and smaller animals as mammoths became extinct.
- Gathered plants, fruits, and relied on fishing.
Agriculture
- Around 7000 B.C., ____________began in Mexico, domesticated crops like maize by 3400 B.C.
- Advances in farming led to population growth and development of larger communities.

Overview
- Recognized as the first civilization in Mesoamerica (c. 1200 B.C.).
- Developed along the ____________ of Mexico, influenced later cultures like the Maya.
- Noted for colossal _____________ and ceremonial centers.

Cultural legacies include:
- Art and architecture influencing future Mesoamerican societies.
- Development of _______ networks.
- Ritualistic practices and social __________.

Location: ________________ and northern Central America with diverse geography.
City-States
- Flourished during the Classic Period (250-900 A.D.) with cities like Tikal featuring __________and temples.
Social Structure
- Dynasties governed by _________, with a _____________ comprising priests, merchants, artisans, and peasants.

Religious Beliefs
- _____________, belief in many gods governing daily life.
- Human __________performed for god’s favor, especially to the sun god.
Contributions to Knowledge
- Developed two ___________systems (260-day ritual calendar and 365-day solar calendar).
- Produced ____________ for historical documentation and record-keeping.

Causes of Decline
- ______________of cities in the late 800s; potentially linked to social strife, warfare, and environmental issues.
- By 1500s, Mayans existed in ____________, weakened city-states.

Formation
- Migrated around 1200, forming _____________per their legend.
- Established a Triple Alliance in 1428 with nearby city-states, expanding control over _________________.

Social Hierarchy
- Emperor held ___________power, with a ________class managing political and military affairs.
- Commoners included _________, ___________, and _________, while lowest class consisted of enslaved individuals.

Religion
- Extensive pantheon of _____emphasizing rituals, with the sun god needing human ________.
Urban Planning
- Tenochtitlán featured causeways and canals, demonstrating advanced city planning and agricultural techniques using ____________(floating islands).

Military Concerns
- Increased tribute demands by Montezuma II led to _________among conquered peoples, culminating in a prophecy regarding a pale-faced god shortly before Spanish arrival.

Incan Beginnings
- Originated in the _________________, establishing their kingdom by the 1200s.
- Under _____________(1438), they expanded significantly using a blend of diplomacy and military conquest.

Centralized Authority
- _________lands into manageable units for _________; ________became the official language.
- Implemented a complex social structure with requirements for ____(mita) and __________ systems.
- Extensive _________network for _____________and ______.

Incan Beliefs
- Focused on a creator god and the sun god; elaborate ____________with designated priests.
Grand Architecture
- Notable structures included the ___________________, showcasing famous Inca stone masonry.

Internal and External Challenges
- Following the death of Huayna Capac, _______ erupted between Atahualpa and Huascar, __________the empire just before Spanish conquest.