MESOAMERICA: Mayan & Aztec Empires WORLD HISTORY NOTES

DATE: _____________

Climate of Mesoamerica Warm ______________ ______________ Rainfall Rich _____________ soils

o Good for growing crops like _____________________________.

Early Mesoamerican Civilizations _______________

o (1200 BC to 300 AD) _______________

o (1500 BC to 750 AD) _______________

o (900 to 1200 AD)

The Mayan Civilization Developed around ______________BC

o At its height, Maya civilization consisted of some ____________________ spread among ______________.

Supporting Large Cities __________ and ______________ helped

support larger populations, and early Maya villages grew into cities.

Mayan Farming Practices _________________________________- a

method of farming involves burning the vegetation to clear land for planting.

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Mayan Cities & Government Classic Age

o (250 to 900 AD) Mayans built:

o ________________ o ________________ o ________________

Who did they build them for?o ________________ o ________________

Mayan Society & Religion Society

o Kings ruled with absolute power

It was believed they _________________________________.

o ______________________ Upper Class

o ______________________ ______________________

Middle Classo ______________________

Lower Class

Religious Ceremonieso Offering of blood to the gods.

(______________________).o _______________________

Only allowed to use your elbows, knees, and hips to get a rubber ball through a hoop.

Losing team sacrificed.

o __________________________

Religion: Major Gods Hun Hunahpu – _____________________.

o Father of the hero twinso Most important deity for the Mayao He brought about the creation for the present world age.

Chac – _____________________________________.o Both adored and feared by the Mayao He was portrayed as both a benefactor and a violent warrior.

Gukumatz – _________________________________.o Taught the Maya the arts of civilization, including codes of law, agriculture, fishing, and

medicine.

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Ixchel – __________________________________________________________.o Goddess of creativity, weavers and childbirth, goddess of medicine and reason, and a

bringer of the storms.

Mayan Achievements Architecture

o _________________ o _________________

Astronomy Math

o _________________ Writing ____________________

Mayan Calendar The Maya had ____________________:

o ___________________________________________ o ___________________________________________

It was more _________ that the European calendar.

Decline of Mayan Civilization Factors to decline:

o ___________________________________________ Overuse of resources

o Drought Not able to feed everyone

o ___________________________________________ _____________________________________

o Abuse of Power by Kings

_______________________________________________________________________

The Aztecs Located in modern day ___________, and Tenochtitlan was the capital city and

is located in what is now present day __________________.

Rise of the Aztec Empire

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According to legend, the war god told one of the tribes’ leaders that they should look for a place where they saw an ____________________________________. It was there that they should settle and build a new capital.

o They built Tenochtitlan after the prediction came true, and it was on a swampy island in __________________________________ .

Population consisted of farmers & warriors.

o __________________________________. After the alliance was formed the

empire gained control over many region.

Ruled ______________ other city-states.

___________________ under Aztec rule.

Aztec Empire Conquered people paid ____________.

o _______________________________ The Aztec Empire gained wealth:

o ____________ o Tribute

Tenochtitlan Size

o __________________________ Approximately 3200

acres Population

o __________________________

__________________________ o Walled Cityo Pyramido Templeso Palaceso Ball courto _”______________________”_

____________________ o Canalso Markets

Aztec Society Social Classes

o Though people were born into a certain class it was possible to move up the ranks within a life time.

Also apart of the middle class

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_________________________

Aztec Religion Main deity in the Aztec religion was Huitzilopochtli and was known as both the

_______________ and _________________.o _______________________ was practiced heavily in the Aztec religion.

Believed that these sacrifices gave ____________________ which in turn would insure the survival of the Aztec civilization.

War captives were used in the sacrifices

o In times of peace the Aztec would have to resort to _________________________.

In the year 1487 the Aztecs reported killing ___________________________ at the great pyramid of Tenochitlan.

o After a town was conquered the inhabitants where no longer eligible of sacrifice and became Aztec citizens.

Aztec Art The Aztecs also made other religious and non-religious

artifacts such as _______________________.o These artifacts were sold in markets by visiting merchants.

Aztec Achievements Written Record

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o _____________- symbols that represented both objects and sounds. Kept track of _________________________________.

Astronomy Calendar like the Mayans, but they also tracked the movements of some

_________________________.

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