American Civilizations: Maya, Aztec, and Inca

​Civilizations in the Americas: Maya, Inca, and Aztec

By RODNEY KELLEY

Learning Objective and Success Criteria

• TEKS: 6A, 6B, and 26B

• LO (Learning Objective): I am learning about the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations.

• SC (Success Criteria):

  • I can describe the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations.

  • I can compare the developments of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec.

  • I can summarize the major ideas of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec.

The Olmecs (Foundation)

• First civilization in southern Mexico.

• Known for significant culture: pottery, buildings, and agriculture.

• Resources: Clay, wood, rubber, and rivers for movement of goods.

• Achievements: Stone pyramids for ceremonies, and large sculpted heads (up to 44 tons)

Open Ended

How did the Olmec civilization establish a foundation for later civilizations in the Americas?

The Mayans

• Location: Yucatan Peninsula (cities like Tikal, Chichen Itza, Uxmal).

• Society: Hierarchical structure with kings (revered as deities), followed by warriors, priests, merchants, craftspeople, farmers, and enslaved individuals.

Mayan Achievements

• Developed two linked calendars (260-day religious, 365-day solar).

• Solar calendar calculation was highly accurate (365.2420 days).

• Advanced mathematics and astronomy.

Open Ended

What innovations allowed the Mayans to develop a complex calendar system, and how did that system guide their lives?

The Aztecs

• Location: Controlled the Valley of Mexico by the 1500s.

• Political Structure: Ruled an empire of 5 to 15 million people through military conquest.

• Tribute System: Used to collect resources from conquered peoples.

The Aztecs (continued)

• Capital: Tenochtitlán, built on an island in a lake, connected by causeways, with a population of about 400,000.

• Religion: Practiced human sacrifices (often war captives) to the sun god, motivating continued expansion.

Open Ended

How did military power and the tribute system enable the Aztecs to build and maintain their vast empire?

The Incas

• Location: Andes Mountains, centered in Cuzco.

• Political Structure: Highly organized government that controlled daily life. The ruler was believed to descend from the sun god.

Incan Achievements

• Built over 14,000 miles of roads and bridges.

• Developed quipus (colored strings with knots) to record data, as they lacked a written language.

• Established Quechua as the official language.

• State-managed economy, irrigation, and food storage.

Open Ended

In what ways did the highly organized Inca government control the daily lives of its 16 million people?

Decline of the Aztec, Maya, and Inca.

• Mayans: Declined in the late 800s due to warfare and disrupted trade.

• Aztecs: Faced unrest from conquered people (demanding more human sacrifices) and political challenges caused by the arrival of the Spanish.

Open Ended

Compare the factors that contributed to the decline of the Mayan empire with the factors that led to the Aztec's turmoil.

DOL

Go to your Google Classroom and access the DOL titled "DOL - WH - Unit 4 Lesson 1 - American Civilizations". You have until the end of the period to complete the DOL.