The Art of Mesoamerica The Mayan Aztec and

Mesoamerica = Mexico and Central America

Politics -Mayans were NOT an Empire and Not united politically -Mayan Civilization was made

Religion -Polytheistic -Practiced Human Sacrifice

Architecture -Towering Temples and elaborate palaces --Priests performed rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices on top

Corbel Arch- Overlapping of stones Monolitha carving from a single large stone

What else did they do? • Developed a system of Hieroglyphics • Developed a

Development of the Calendar The Maya calendar uses three different dating Systems but only

Where did the Mayans Go? -Around 900 AD the Mayans declined and disappeared, -Archeologists

When did they live? • 1280 -1519 AD • Nomadic people who received a

Religion -Polytheistic…. Huitzilopochtli main God -They also practiced human Sacrifice. -To give the Sun

Government • Aztecs created an empire through conquest • Conquered people and local rulers

Military Life • A vital part of everyday life for the Aztecs warfare. All

Art • Aztecs had many types of art and artists like stoneworkers, who carved

What happened to the Aztecs? • Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortez conquered Tenochtitlan

Religion • ‘Sapa Inca’, the Emperor had supreme power over the land was the

Art • There were many Inca craftsmen in the Andes. They were expert architects

Machu Picchu • 1400’s • Created with stone blocks weighing 50 tons • No

Where did they go? Fransisco Pizaro brought about the fall of the Empire Video

Slides: 40

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The Art of Mesoamerica The Mayan, Aztec, and Incan Civilizations

Mesoamerica = Mexico and Central America

When did the Mayans live? 300 -900 AD

Politics -Mayans were NOT an Empire and Not united politically -Mayan Civilization was made up by divided City States which had its own ruler

Religion -Polytheistic -Practiced Human Sacrifice

Architecture -Towering Temples and elaborate palaces --Priests performed rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices on top of the temples while the people watched from the plaza below -Built temples, platforms, observatories, and ball fields

Corbel Arch- Overlapping of stones Monolitha carving from a single large stone

Chichen Itza Click to view video

Xunantunich

View from the top 130 ft

What else did they do? • Developed a system of Hieroglyphics • Developed a number system including zero

Development of the Calendar The Maya calendar uses three different dating Systems but only one had a direct relationship To the days of the year.

Where did the Mayans Go? -Around 900 AD the Mayans declined and disappeared, -Archeologists are still confused today There are still descendants in Guatemala and southern Mexico

Where did the Aztecs live?

When did they live? • 1280 -1519 AD • Nomadic people who received a sign from one of their Gods (Huitzilopochtli) and settled on a swampy island

The Legend of Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan Then and Now

Religion -Polytheistic…. Huitzilopochtli main God -They also practiced human Sacrifice. -To give the Sun God strength rise each day a human sacrifice Was needed -It is said that during the Construction of the great pyramid 84, 400 prisoner sacrifices took place over 4 days!

Government • Aztecs created an empire through conquest • Conquered people and local rulers had to pay tribute to the Aztecs • Had an Emperor • His job was to lead into war • Established themselves as the fiercest tribe in the Valley of Mexico

Military Life • A vital part of everyday life for the Aztecs warfare. All able body men were trained to be warriors. In readiness for adult life boys learned about fighting and weapons at school. To fight in battle was considered a duty and an honor. Warriors helped teach in the calmecacs. The warriors took the students to the wars and taught him how to take a prisoner captive. A boy became a man after he captured his first prisoner.

Art • Aztecs had many types of art and artists like stoneworkers, who carved statues; scribes, who painted pictograms; potters, who would make pots for various things; and feather-workers, who would create beautiful head dresses among other things. • Stone-workers were trained from an early age and the skills they learned were passed on from worker to worker. To carve a statue they would use simple tools made out of wood, rock and bone.

Sculpture used mostly for ceremonies.

What happened to the Aztecs? • Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortez conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztec in 1521 Video Clip

The Incas

Where did they live? 1476 -1534 AD

Religion • ‘Sapa Inca’, the Emperor had supreme power over the land was the religious leader as well • He claimed he was the son of the sun • Polytheistic Inti the sun god was their main deity

Art • There were many Inca craftsmen in the Andes. They were expert architects who constructed stone walls. The artisans also made silver alpacas that show their great skills. The Inca craftsmen achieved a high degree of respect and honor because of their skills in arts and crafts. They sculpted pottery which featured geometric designs painted in black, red, brown, yellow, and white. • Metalworkers make ornaments, tools, and weapons out silver, copper, gold, and bronze. They excelled at working metals like silver, copper, and gold. Female statues are found with Inca offerings to the gods. Because llamas were very protected in the Andean region, lots of stylized llama figures were made by metalworkers.