Tribes of Mexico Central and South America Unit
Tribes of Mexico, Central, and South America Unit 4, SSWH 8 a & b
Olmec, 900 B. C. • Southern Mexico, Gulf Coast • Religion: center of society – worshiped the jaguar • Goods were traded both north & south • Decline ? : maybe invaders or possibly moving away from the civilization
Maya, A. D. 250 • Southern Mexico – Yucatan Peninsula • Maya culture flourished – influenced by the Olmecs • Developed independent citystates with a god-king, became trading & religious centers.
• Farming = wealth & developed social classes • Religion shaped Maya life, believed in many gods • Used math & astronomy, developed a calendar
• Created a written language – glyphs • Decline ? : possibly invaders
Aztecs, A. D. 1200 • Southern Mexico • Poor nomadic people, based their growing power on military conquest • Nobles ruled society as military leaders, priests, & government officials
• Emperors treated as gods, absolute power • Religion: temples in the center of the cities, performed ceremonies, rituals, & sacrifices • POWs (Prisoners of War) were used as human sacrifices, this encouraged Aztecs to conquer others
• Decline: Conquered provinces rebelled & Spanish invaders will finish off the Aztecs – Hernando Cortes (leader of Spanish)
Inca, A. D. 1200 -1500 • West coast of South America • King descended from the sun god & only nobles could be chosen to be king • Had a powerful military & used force only when needed
• Governed people fairly: opened schools, religious freedom, built roads controlled economy & society • Required all conquered people to pay tribute with labor • Developed no writing system, but a calendar • Decline: Incan king’s sons fought over power after father’s death
- Slides: 10