EARLY AMERICAN

CIVILIZATION
MAYA, AZTEC, AND INCA
OBJECTIVES:
• Discuss about Civilization in America
• The Olmec
• Analyze the development of the early civilization of
america (Aztec, Maya, and Inca);
• Explain the causes of the down fall of the Maya, Aztec,
and Inca civilization and;
• Civilization of Mesoamerica.
 CIVILIZATION IN AMERICA
• These early American civilizations are called Pre Columbian civilizations.
This is because they developed long before Christopher Columbus’s first
voyage to the Americas in 1492. Three of these pre Columbian
civilizations were the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca.
• Many scientists believe that there are numerous groups of hunting people
who migrated from Asia to North America thousands of years ago. From
Asia, they passed through the land bridge in Bering Strait towards North
America.
• Over the course of time, they gradually move to the North East until these
dispered groups of people eventually settled in North and South America.
• By the 13th century B.C.E., the first civilization in America emerged the
Olmec in present day Mexico. Other groups of people in various parts of
America would soon be influnced by the Olmec way of life.
THE OLMEC (CIRCA 1500 B.C.E.-500 B.C.E.)
• The earliest civilization that emerged in Central America (and
most probably in the entire America) was the Olmec.
• The term “Olmec” means “rubber people” since they were
believed to be the earliest people to have utilized the sap of
rubber trees.
• The Olmec was a contemporary of the Shang Dynasty in China.
• Olmec was an agricultural community. Irrigation system paved
the way for the early people to cultivate the land.
• The Olmec also invented calendars, used a system of writing
similar to the hieroglyphics and created unique works of art.
• In addition, the Olmec carved head like structures in rocks. Most
of these structures weighed around the 18 tons and stood to
about 14 feet.
• The Olmecs also built pyramid--like temples above mounds of
land. These structures served as places of workship for their
gods.
• Central to the Olmec belief was the animal Jaguar which was
considered as the most feared predator in Central and South
America.
• The Olmec civilization, like others Cultures that emerged in
Mesoamerica, weakened and eventually collapsed.
• These ancient people who succeeded the Olmecs established
the great city of Teotihuacan.
TEOTIHUACAN (200 B.C.E. - 750 C.E.)
• One of the greatest and largest cities during this period
was teotihuacan which means “home of gods”.
• By 200 B.C.E. there were only several villages in
Teotihuacan.
• The presence of pyramids, squares, and streets lent an
atmosphere of greatness, luxury and power to the city.
• The most important god of Teotihuacan was Quetzalcoat
or the “Feathered Serpent God”.
• The city may have been weakened by constant threats
from nearly places, drought and environmental
destruction.
MAYAN CIVILIZATION (100 B.C.E - 900 C.E)
• While Teotihuacan was expanding its hegemony, people
know as MAYAS were building their own religious center
at the Yucatan Peninsula where Mexico and Guatemala
presently meet.
• Mayan center were also established at Uaxactun and
Tikal.
• In Mayan society, priest assisted leaders in goverment
affairs. In turn, these leaders also known as halach uinic
or “real man”, strengthened the religous centers by
transforming them into city- estates.
• The importance of agriculture in Mayan way of life is
reflected in the gods being revered by the people.
• Mayan civilization reached its peak after 600 C.E.
However, at the end of the 8th century C.E., several
centers were abandoned by the people and the use of
calendars ended.
• Mayan civilization have been the result of environment
degradation, expanding population and incessant
werfare.
• The Mayan civilization was one of the first civilization that
emerged in Mesoamerica.
AZTEC CIVILIZATION (CIRCA 1325 - 1521)
•The Aztec were Nomadic tribes that originated from the
dry regions of the North. They gradually migrated south-
ward to the Valley of Mexico by 12th century C.E.
•The term “Aztec” means “a person who originated from
Atzlan which was a mythical place in northern Mexico.
•in 1325, the Aztecs established the villages of Tenochtitlan
near the shores of Lake Texcoco where present day
Mexico City is located.
• The term “Tenochtitlan” means “place of prickly pear
cactus”.
• In order to increase farmlands, the Aztecs reclaimed swamps
and created chirampas or artificial islands located at the center
of the lake.
• The most important Aztec god was the sun-god Huitzilopochtli.
He had to be regularly wooed or appeased with offerings so that
the Sun would continually shine and nourish their crops.
• These sacrifices were mostly war captives although there were
some Aztec warriors who willingly gave themselves up for these
rituals.
• The Aztec were skilled engineers and builders who constructed
aqueducts, dams, irrigation system, squares aand markets.
INCA CIVILIZATION (1400 - 1534)
• The term “Inca” means “empire”. This particular empire
was called Tawantinsuyu or Tahuantinsuyu.
• The Incas gradually extended their territory until they
were able to control the 2,000-mile stretch of the Pacific
coastline.
• In 1438, Cusi Inca Yupanqui or Pachakuti was able to
strengthen Incan society by establishing a centralised
state. Undr Topa Yupanqui (1471-14930), the Incan
empire expanded to Ecuador, Northern Argentina, parts
of Bolivia and Chile.
• As mentioned earlier, Incas and Aztec were similar in
several aspects.
• First, these two groups originated from a small tribe but
eventually gained power as a result of conquering
various lands.
• Second, part of their belief included the workship of Sun
as the manifestation of god.
• Third, both the Aztecs and Incas were also skillful
engineers. They were able to bulid streets, bridges and a
few mountain passeges.
• The city of Cuzco was a testament to Inca skills and
ingenuity as evidenced by erected buildings and carved
metals. An outstanding example is the so-called Temple
of the Sun which was almost completely covered by gold
plates.
• By te time Francisco Pizarro and the Spaniards arrived in
1532, the Incan Empire extended from present-day
Colombia in the North to the regions of Chile and
Argentina in the South.
• However, due to costant political bickerings and
uncertainties in newly-controlled areas, the empire began
to weaken.
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
• Mesoamerica is that regions stretching from central Mexico to
Central American.
• The term “ meso” means “middle”.
• Mesoamerica is located between Sinaloa River Valley in
Northern Mexico and Gulf of Fonseca South of El Salvador.
• In the of culture, Mesoamerica is divided into two sections.
• The first, region is situated from the central parts of Mexico west
and north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
• The second, region embracess the Mayan area in the eastern
and southern parts.
• Mesoamerica was also one of the earliest sites where agriculture
developed, similar to those that emerged in West Asia and
China.