Chapter 3 Early Peoples of Western Hemisphere

Chapter 3 Early Peoples of Western Hemisphere

The Maya

• The Maya were an ancient civilization in what is now southern Mexico & Central America.

• Tikal is one of the oldest Maya cities. In the city of Tikal you'd find two large temples the Mayas built there. Today you can find the temples in what is now Guatemala.

• The Maya were excellent farmers and they were able to grow a surplus of food.

• The Maya grew a variety of food, but corn was their main crop.

The Maya

• The Maya were not only farmers, but artists, scientists and historians.

• Their surplus of food allowed them to specialize in other activities.

• The Maya were one of the first civilization to develop an advanced system of writing.

• The Maya were also excellent mathematicians. Their invention of the idea of the number zero helped them create one of the most accurate ancient calendars.

The End of The Maya Civilization

• Scholars believe that wars helped cause the end of the Maya civilization.

• Some experts believe that food shortages and wars caused Maya civilization to end.

• Although still a mystery the disappearance of the Maya civilization is slowly becoming more clear...

• Descendants of the Maya live in present-day Mexico & Guatemala.

Multiple Choice

1. Which word describes a culture that had developed complex systems of government, education and religion?

• civilization

• empire

• culture

• surplus

Multiple Select

Why was farming the key to the development of civilizations? Select all that apply.

• People didn't have to spend their time hunting for food

• People could specialize in other activities

• People were able to make permanent settlements

• People were able to grow a surplus of food

Multiple Choice

What is a surplus?

• A scientist who looks for and studies evidence from long ago.

• An amount greater than what is needed.

• A long period with very little rain.

• Payment in the form of valuable goods.

Multiple Choice

Which word means when people spend most of their time doing one job?

• artifact

• archaeologist

• tribute

• specialize

The Aztec

• After the Maya civilization, other civilizations were unable to build successful empires. The Aztec, however, were able to do this!

• The Aztec had a strong army, powerful leaders and expert builders which helped to make their empire strong.

• The Aztec empire controlled what is now the southern part of Mexico.

• The Aztec settled on the shores of Lake Texcoco and on a small island in the lake. The Aztec built the city of Tenochtitlán there.

The Aztec

• The Aztec used the resources Lake Texcoco provided them.

• They built reed boats for fishing and traveling.

• They built causeways and bridges to to connect the island to the rest of the valley.

• To grow their food the Aztec built chinampas or "floating gardens."

The Aztec

• War was an important part of Aztec culture.They conquered over 400 cities in central Mexico.

• The Aztec conquered cities for 3 reasons- to obtain tribute, to capture prisoners to enslave, to capture prisoners for human sacrifices.

• The Aztec believed their Sun God got his energy from human blood. So they carried out human sacrifices to please him.

• The Sun is very important to Aztec culture. In fact, within the city of Tenochtitlán temples and buildings were placed in special locations that marked the position of the sun during different times of the year.

Multiple Choice

What is an empire?

• An object left behind by people from long ago.

• A large area of different peoples controlled by one ruler or government.

• A culture that has developed complex systems of government, education, and religion.

• The practice of people owning other people.

Multiple Select

What was the purpose of war for the Aztec? Select all that apply.

• to obtain tribute from people

• to enslave prisoners

• to sacrifice prisoners to Aztec gods

• to expand their empire

Multiple Choice

What is a tribute?

• Payment in the form of valuable goods.

• A long period with very little rain.

• A method by which water is brought into dry areas.

• An object left behind by people from long ago.

Multiple Choice

The practice of people owning other people is?

• drought

• bad

• slavery

• tribute

The Mound Builders

• The Mound Builders were an early civilization that lived in what is now the Southeast region of the United States.

• We know these people as mound builders because of the large mounds they built. No one knows what name they called themselves.

• Mound builders built mounds for two purposes. One was to bury their dead and the other was for religious purposes.

Multiple Select

What purposes did mounds serve in the Mound Builder civilization? Select all that apply.

• They used mound to grow crops.

• They used mounds to bury their dead.

• They used mounds for religious purposes.

• They used mounds to block enemies from entering their villages.

The Anasazi

• The Anasazi people lived in what is not the Southwest region of the United States.

• They faced many geographical challenges because of the desert where they lived.

• However, because of the arid climate, archaeologists have found many buried artifacts from the Anasazi people preserved.

The Anasazi

• The Anasazi first lived in simple underground houses.

• Later the Anasazi developed villages that looked like large apartment houses. Their villages could be found beneath rock cliffs, on the sides on canyons and on the tops of mesas, tall, flat hills.

• The Anasazi built kivas, underground rooms used for religious ceremonies.

The Anasazi

• Despite the dry climate where the Anasazi lived they were able to farm successfully.

• They built irrigation systems which collected rain water and guided it through channels to water their crops.

• Anasazi crops include beans, corn, squash and cotton.

The End of the Anasazi

• Anasazi began to leave their homes in the late 1200s. Archaeologists believe that a long drought forced them to leave their homes.

• Although the Anasazi had developed an irrigation system, with very little rainfall, they could not grow their crops.

• Other archaeologists believe that quarrels with enemies caused them to leave their homes.

Multiple Choice

What is an archaeologist?

• The practice of people owning other people.

• An object left behind by people from long ago.

• A scientist who looks for and studies evidence from long ago.

• A large area of different peoples controlled by one ruler or government.

Multiple Choice

An artifact is?

• A long period with very little rain.

• A large area of different peoples controlled by one ruler or government.

• An object left behind by people from long ago.

• Payment in the form of valuable goods.

Multiple Choice

A method by which water is brought into dry areas is?

• drought

• specialize

• surplus

• irrigation

Multiple Choice

Archaeologists think the Anasazi left their homes because of a drought. What is a drought?

• A method by which water is brought into dry areas.

• The practice of people owning other people.

• A long period with very little rain.

• Payment in the form of valuable goods.