THE AZTEC INCA AND MAYA WHO WERE THE

THE AZTEC, INCA, AND MAYA

WHO WERE THE MAYA? • One of the first to understand concept of zero • 365 day calendar based on sun’s movement • 260 day calendar of sacred days • System of writing using hieroglyphs

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? • Mainly located in Central America • Tikal was largest city • Abandoned around 904 AD • Many theories but no one really knows

WHO WERE THE AZTEC? • Controlled Mexico for around 300 years • Island city capital of Tenochtitlan • Marsh land made it difficult to farm • Crops raised on floating gardens called chinampas

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? • After landing in 1519, Cortes found an abundance of gold and silver • Conquered by Cortes by 1521

WHO WERE THE INCA? • Lived in the Andes • Terrace farming and irrigation • Stone road system • Verbal message system • No written language or wheel

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? • Strong and large empire • Francisco Pizarro arrives around 1533 • Spanish army attacks, killing many soldiers and captures Incan emperor hostage • Spanish execute the emperor, thus breaking the will of the Inca • Spanish defeat them

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO: • 1. How did the floating islands stay together? What kind of protection did they offer? • 2. What is the big difference between plants grown in water and plants grown in the earth? • 3. According to the Maya, what had to happen in order for the sun to rise? • 4. How was the Mayan calendar DIFFERENT from ours? • 5. What happened to the losers of the ball game?

CREATE A TRIPLE VENN DIAGRAM • Comparing the civilizations of the Inca, the Aztec and the Maya. • Use your notes, the video, and pages 217, 223 and 230 from your textbook to aid you.