The americas
EQ: what was unique about the civilizations of the first americans?
who were the olmec people? |
The olmec civilization was the first civilization in the America's. They arrived around 6,000 BC. They were some of the first people to farm tabasco in the America's. The olmec civilization ended around 400 BC. The word olmec means rubber people in the Aztec language.The olmec's were often called this because they would take latex off of trees.They used the latex to make the balls for the game they made up which is called ulama. It was kind of like a mix between modern day soccer and football. The Olmecs would often drill holes in their teeth and put in jewels. They would flatten their children's heads with a wooden board. Sometimes they would even sharpen their teeth into points. They saw this as beautiful.
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WHAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT THE MAYA, AZTEC AND INCAS? Maya:The Maya civilization began as early as early as 2000 BCE and had a strong presence in Mesoamerica for over 3000 years until the Spanish came in 1519. The Maya were organized into powerful city-states. Early Mayans pressed boards on the foreheads of their children so they would be flat. They would also dangle objects in front of their eyes so they would be cross-eyed. (This is what they considered beautiful.) Children were named according to the day they were born. They used human hair to sew up wounds. The upper class women filed their teeth to a point. Early Mayans also performed human sacrifices to the gods. They still sacrifice chickens. They also played a ball game. This game was a combination of basketball and soccer. It ended in human sacrifice. This game is stilled played. It is called Ulama. Everyone keeps their head. (They used to cut off heads and play with those.) The last self-governing Mayan state submitted to the Spanish in 1697. People believe the empire declined because of famine, disease, drought, or overpopulation.
AZTEC: The Aztec Empire was located in central Mexico. This empire ruled much of the region from the 1400s until the Spanish came along in 1519. Much of the Aztec society was centered around religion and their gods. They built large pyramids as temples to their gods. They went to war to capture people so they could sacrifice them to their gods. The capital city was Tenochtitlan. This city had a likely population of 200,000 people. This city was divided into districts. It had causeways built so you travel to the mainland. Aqueducts brought brought fresh water to the city. The Empire reached its height under Montezuma. In 1517 the priests began to to see omens of doom. They felt that something bad was about to happen. In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes arrived in Mexico. By 1521, the Spanish conquered the Aztecs. They torn down most of Tenochtitlan and built their own city. Mexico City. The name Aztec is made up by the Europeans. The Aztecs used to call themselves the Mexica. The dead were buried underneath the family home. They would sell their children into slavery. Tenochtitlan was a very clean city. This city was bigger than most European cities. The Aztecs played a game similar to the Mayas. They were the first to introduce chocolate. Cacao seeds were seen as gifts from the gods. 250,000 people died in the battle of Tenochtitlan. European diseases eventually killed the Aztecs. INCA:The Incas created and empire that stretched from present day Columbia through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The Incas ruled about 9,000,000 people in the 15th century. The Incas constructed 9,000 miles of roads and all their majestic buildings without using animals, pulleys, or wheels. The Incas considered deformed skulls beautiful. They would wrap bandages tightly around the child`s head to deform the skull. Incas have some stories to tell. The king of the Incas was traveling in a chair through his kingdom and all those who appeared before him had to be barefoot. Llamas, alpacas, ducks, and guinea pigs were kept as pets. These animals were also eaten too. This dish is called Cuy. Death came mostly by clubs or slingshots. Some Inca warriors suffered from head trauma. The Incas developed the practice of opening skulls to heal wounds. Every sixth skull skull had a hole in it. Most people survived this procedure without major complications. Children of the conquered tribes` leaders were moved to the capital, Cusco, where they were educated in elite Inca boarding schools. The skulls of defeated chiefs were used as cups. Atahualpa had his skull transformed into one of these drinking vessels. The Incas stretched their earlobes so far that they hung down beside their shoulders. The Spanish named them the Orejones or "big ears." The Incas were polytheistic. The most important god was Inti, the Sun God. His wife the Moon Goddess took over his duties at night. The Incas developed a sophisticated postal system. The Incas had no writing system so the news workers had to memorize the message. The Incas had no taxes. The Inca are known for the suspension bridge that is rebuilt every year. Women are not allowed anywhere near the bridge while it is being built because it is considered bad luck. The Incan Empire was conquered by Spanish conquistadors, led by Fransisco Pizarro and his brothers in 1532-1572. The Incas resisted and were defeated by small pox. Small pox killed about 90% of the population. The Incas had no immunity to European diseases. Civil War also helped the Spanish defeat the Inca. |
How did the maya, aztec, and inca civilizations end? FIND THE AWNSERS IN THE PARAGRAPHS ABOVE!!!!!