5 Civilizations of the Americas (BC-1570 AD)

5 Civilizations of the Americas (BC-1570 AD)

1. The Maya

   • cleared forests to make corn
   • each city-state had its own ruler
   • social classes
   • writing system and calendar
   • Priests had power

2. The Aztecs

   • 30 mill. people empire
   • conquered most of MX
   • tributes helped with $
     • payment from conquerees
   • single ruler
   • rituals to many gods
   • human sacrifices

3. The Incas

   • quickly conquered an empire
   • emperor with absolute power
   • ran efficient govt
   • kept records on quipus
     • knotted colored strings
   • own religion and language
   • road system

4. The Ancestral Puebloans

   • best known SW society
   • built pueblos of stone and adobe
   • center of village was kiva
     • underground chamber for rituals
   • housing complexes by canyon walls

5. The Mound Builders

   • MS and OH river valleys
   • Hopewell left behind earthen mounds
   • trade rt. from gulf of MX to Great Lakes?
   • replaced by Mississippians
     • grew corn/ other crops