Chap 7.2 Slides

Question 1

The first civilizations were called ____________, who lived in Southern ________ and northern __________ America

Answer 1

Mesoamerica: Southern Mexico and northern Central America

Question 2

The __________ was the first civilization in Mesoamerica.

They lived in hot climate and around this time ___________

Answer 2

Olmec

• Lived in hot, humid climate
• 1200 BC to AD 300

Question 3

The Olmec built first large towns in Mesoamerica.

What were found in these towns?

Answer 3

–Pyramid, courtyard

–Giant stone heads

–Thronelike monuments

Question 4

What did Olmec towns serve as?

Answer 4

Towns served as ceremonial, political and religious centers

Question 5

What were Olmec towns like?

Answer 5

•Olmec rulers, families lived in towns, lower social classes lived outside the towns

Question 6

The _______ lived in southern Mexico around this period ______

Answer 6

Zapotec

•Southern Mexico 1500 BC to AD 750

Question 7

The Zapotec began as _________, built capital city around ______

Answer 7

•Began as farmers, built capital city around 500 BC

Question 8

The first true city in Mesoamerica was ___________

Answer 8

Monte Albán, first true city in Mesoamerica

Question 9

What structure was in Monte Alban?

Answer 9

• Huge main plaza with pyramids, temples, palaces
• Olmec influence in decorations

Question 10

How big was the city of Monte Alban?

Answer 10

• Population of 25,000 at height
• City declined when leaders lost support of their people

Question 11

The _________ lived in the highlands of central Mexico around _______

Answer 11

Toltec

Highlands of central Mexico

AD 900 to 1200

Question 12

The capital was located at __________.

What was found at this?

Answer 12

•Capital located at Tula

–Major trade center

–Pyramids, temples

Question 13

What kind of society was Tula?

Answer 13

Militaristic society

–Fierce warriors established dominance

–Climate change, social conflict led to decline

Question 14

The ________ was a large civilization.

Developed around _____________

Answer 14

The Maya

•Developed around 1000 BC

Question 15

How big was the Maya civilization?

Answer 15

More than 40 cities of 5,000 to 100,000 each at height

Question 16

Most Maya cities were built between _________, known as the __________.

The most spectacular cities were ______ and __________

Answer 16

• Most cities built between AD 250 and 900, the Classic Age
• Cities Tikal and Copan among the most spectacular in Mesoamerica

Question 17

What structures were found in the Maya cities?

Answer 17

Brightly painted pyramids, temples and palaces found there

Question 18

What were the Maya city-states like?

Answer 18

City-States

• Each had own ruler and government
• No ruler ever united the cities into single empire
• Cities linked even without central government

Question 19

What did the Maya worship?

What did they believe kings communicated with?

To keep the gods happy, what did the Maya do?

Answer 19

The Maya worshipped many gods and believed they influenced daily life.

They also believed their kings communicated with the gods.

To keep the gods happy, the Maya performed rituals.

Question 20

What were the Maya religious offerings like?

Answer 20

• Offering blood by piercing tongue, skin
• Human sacrifice
• Ritual ball game, losing team having hearts sacrificed to gods

Question 21

Who were the upper class in Maya society?

Answer 21

• Priests
• Professional warriors, who got war victims for human sacrifice

Question 22

What were the other classes in Maya society?

Answer 22

• Merchants, craftspeople middle class
• Lower class

–Farmers

–Slaves

Question 23

What were some of the Maya achievements?

Answer 23

Impressive buildings and architecture, including canals

Advances in astronomy, math, writing

Observed movements of sun, moon, planets

Question 24

What was the calendar system of the Maya?

Answer 24

Calendar system

• Created based on astronomical observations
• 365-day farming, 260-day religious calendars

Question 25

What was the Maya number and writing system like? What did it include? Written in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 25

**Number and writing systems** * Number system included **“zero”** * Complex writing system of **glyphs** * Carved writing in stone, also in bark-paper book called a **codex**

Question 26

The Mayan civilization declined around \_\_\_\_\_. What were some of the causes?

Answer 26

Decline of Mayan civilization, **AD 900** •Caused by number of factors –Environmental damage, drought –Warfare –Abuse of power by strong kings •Civilization declined but did not disappear –Remained for several hundred years

Question 27

Another civilization that rose was the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. When did they rise? Where?

Answer 27

**The Aztecs** About the time that Maya reached their height (**1100 AD**), the Aztecs began to rise to power in the **north**, creating the most powerful empire in Mesoamerica.

Question 28

How did the Aztec empire rise? How did it begin? They were subject of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 28

* Began as separate farming tribes * Probably subject of the **Toltecs** * Legend: settle where they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake * Lived Mexico

Question 29

The Aztecs began in Lake \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Why?

Answer 29

**Lake Texcoco** ## Footnote * A swampy island * Site where legend says Aztecs saw eagle and snake * Founded city of **Tenochtitlán** * From here, continued rise to power

Question 30

How did the Aztecs grow in power? How did they rule people?

Answer 30

**Conquering Warriors** ## Footnote * Aztecs gained strength in 1420s with alliance with other groups * Alliance gained control over huge region * Aztecs ruled 400 to 500 other city states, 5 million people * Required conquered people to pay **tribute**

Question 31

How did the Aztecs maintain wealth and strength? What were tributes?

Answer 31

* Tribute paid in many **forms, feathers, food, pottery, blankets** * Tribute was basis of economy * Gained wealth and strength through trade as well * System of roads aided trade of goods like jade, cacao * Merchants also acted as spies for Aztec emperor

Question 32

The capital city of Aztec empire was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Where is this located in present day?

Answer 32

**Tenochtitlán** ## Footnote * Capital city of Aztec empire * Covered 5 square miles * Population of about 200,000 * One of largest cities in world at time * Site of present day Mexico City

Question 33

What structures were in Tenochtitlán? What was the heart of the empire?

Answer 33

* Pyramid with two temples on top * Other temples, government buildings, palaces, a ball court * Political and religious heart of the empire

Question 34

The Aztecs build ___________ in middle of a lake. How did this help the Aztec army?

Answer 34

**Floating Gardens** Swampy island in middle of lake Not much land for farming Aztecs built floating gardens at city’s edge Vendors paid tax to support army

Question 35

How was the Aztec society organized?

Answer 35

Just as the economy of the Aztec Empire was highly organized, so was its society, with the king at the top, followed by priests.

Question 36

What was society and religion like in Aztec? Who were the main people?

Answer 36

* **King was part of royal family, but had to be elected** * Lived in palace * Certain nobles served as government officials * **Just below king were priests** –Interpreted calendars –Performed religious ceremonies

Question 37

What were Religious Ceremonies like?

Answer 37

* Believed gods needed blood * Slaves used for sacrifices * Certain warriors who captured victims also upper class

Question 38

What were the other classes in Aztec society?

Answer 38

Other classes: * Merchants, artisans wealthy, respected * Merchants rich from trading * Artisans important, made goods required for tribute

Question 39

What were the lower classes in Aztec society?

Answer 39

**Lower class** * Most were farmers, very poor * Did not own their own land * Paid so much in tribute, it was difficult to survive

Question 40

How did the lower class improve their status?

Answer 40

Chance for improvement * Farmers could become warriors or study * All attended school until 15 * School led to work in government

Question 41

Which class of people suffered the most in Aztec society?

Answer 41

**Slaves** * Suffered most in Aztec society * Most had been captured in battle, or could not pay debts * Some worked as farmers, laborers; some sacrificed

Question 42

What were the Aztec achievements in art ?

Answer 42

* Aztecs known for achievements in art and science * Artisans made bright feathers into headdresses, shields, costumes * Metalworkers fashioned gold, silver, copper into jewelry, masks * Stoneworkers decorated temples with elaborate statues

Question 43

What were the Aztec achievements in science?

Answer 43

* Kept written records, though not as advanced as Mayan * Composed poetry, riddles, historical accounts * Used astronomy to create religious and solar calendars much like the Maya

Question 44

How long did the Aztec empire last? What brought it to an end?

Answer 44

•Aztec Empire lasted less than 200 years, brought to end by European contact, 1500s