1. FAMOUS CIVILIZATIONS
PRE- COLUMBIAN AMERICA

2. MAYANS and AZTECS in Mexico

3. WHERE WAS THE MAYAN EMPIRE
LOCATED?
• Mayan civilization
lasted 3,000 years from
2000BC to 1500AD.
• Theirs was the most
powerful civilization
from 300 to 900AD.
• Mayans were located in
México, Guatemala, and
Honduras (red).

4. How were Mayan cities organized?
• Mayan cities were
organized into
city-states.
• The capital city
was Mayapán.
• Palenque, Tikal,
and Chichén Itzá
were very
important city-
states.

5. What was Mayan society like?
• Mayan society had four
social classes:
1. NOBLES and PRIESTS
2. WORKERS: WARRIORS,
CRAFTSMEN, and
TRADERS
3. FARMERS
4. SLAVES

6. THE MAYANS
• What do you see
in the picture?
• Who is being
sacrificed?
• Who are the
warriors?
• Who is the
leader (El Jefe
Chan Muan)?
• Who are the
nobles?

7. What was Mayan government like?
• The Mayans were
governed by a supreme
ruler who lived in
Mayapán.

8. What did Mayans contribute?
• They built pyramids.
• They discovered the
idea of zero.
• They used astronomy to
discover a 365 day
calendar.
• They had an advanced
writing system.
• Farmers grew corn,
cacao, squash and
tomatoes.

9. Where was the Aztec empire located?
• Aztecs lived in the
Central Valley of Mexico
during the 12th Century
(red).

10. How were Aztec cities organized?
• There was an alliance
between the capital,
Tenochtitlán, and the
cities of Texcoco and
Tlacopán.

11. What was Aztec society like?
• They were a warrior
society organized into
tribes, with four social
groups:
• 1. Priests
• 2. Nobles
• 3. Freemen
• 4. Slaves

12. What was Aztec government like?
• The Aztecs were warriors ruled by a king who lived
in Tenochtitlán. They were hated and feared.
• They conquered nearby cities, and made them pay
money (tribute) for protection. Enemies were
sacrificed.

13. What did Aztecs contribute?
• They built
pyramids.
• They build
cities with
floating
gardens on
the lakes.
• Farmers
grew corn,
squash, and
tomatoes.

14. THE INCAS IN SOUTH AMERICA

15. Where was the Inca empire
located?
• The Incas had the
largest empire in Pre-
Columbian America
from 1200 to 1535 AD.
• It covered Peru, Bolivia,
Equator, Argentina and
Chile.

16. How were Inca cities organized?
• Inca cities were mostly built on the steep slopes of
the Andes Mountains.
• The most important cities were Cuzco and Machu
Picchu.

17. What was Inca society like?
There were different social
groups:
• 1. PRIESTS
• 2. NOBLES
• 3. SERFS/FARMERS
• 4. SLAVES

18. What was Inca government like?
• The Inca emperor,
¨the inca,¨ was
considered to be the
son of the Sun.
• There were advisors
to the king (much
like the Roman
senate).
• Cuzco was the
capital of the
empire.

19. What did the Inca contribute?
• A road network of more
than 40,000km
• A postal system for
messages
• Terraced agriculture for
mountain farming -
especially potatoes.
• Beautiful art including
metals and ceramics.
• Domesticated llamas
and alpacas

20. THE INCAS AND THE POTATO
• The Incas dried and
mashed potatoes into a
substance called chuñu.
• Chuñu could be stored
in a room for up to 10
years.
• Spanish conquistadors
introduced the potato
to Spain in 1500.