Ancient American Civilizations: Olmec and Maya

• The ancient civilizations of the Americas include the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca, Ancient Puebloan, and Rapa Nui.
• The Olmec civilization was located in Mexico, on the south shore of the Gulf and existed from 1300-400 BCE
• The Olmec social structure consisted of priests, rulers, and labourers.
• The Olmecs practiced polytheism and had bird, jaguar, and corn gods linked to rain and farming.
• The Olmecs were known for carving giant heads of rulers and were the first to carve images of their gods and rulers.
• La Venta and San Lorenzo were significant Olmec sites.

The Maya

• The Maya civilization was located in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras and flourished from 300 BCE to 1000 CE.
• The Mayan social structure consisted of city rulers, priests, labourers, and slaves.
• Pacal The Great was a famous Mayan ruler.
• The Maya practiced polytheism and worshipped rain, sun, jaguar, and corn gods.
• Kukulkan was their main god, and Chaac was the rain god.
• Individual city-states characterized the Mayan civilization and included Tikal, Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal.
• Mayan cities featured temples, plazas, and ball courts.
• Over-resourceing, draught/flood and overpopulation led to decline
• Glyphs were found on fig tree bark

The Aztec

• The Aztec civilization was located in Mexico and existed from 1300-1550 CE.
• The Aztec social structure included a supreme ruler, priests, labourers, and slaves.
• Tenoch and Montezuma were notable Aztec rulers.
• The Aztecs were polytheistic, worshipping rain, sun, and jaguar gods, with Quetzalcoatl as their main god.
• The Aztecs practiced massive human sacrifice.
• Tenochtitlan was built on a lake and featured canal streets and bridges to the mainland.
• Food was grown on chinampas.
• Conquered by Cortes

The Inca

• The Inca civilization was located in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina and flourished from 1300-1550 CE.
• The Inca social structure included the Sapa Inka ("Son of Sun God"), friends/relatives, vendors, and prisoners of war.
• Atahualpa and Pachacuti were famous Sapa Inkas.
• The Incas practiced polytheism and worshipped the main Sun God (Inti), a moon goddess, and a thunder god.
• The Inca sites include Sacsayhuaman, Machu Picchu, and Moray and Conquered by Pizarro

Ancient Puebloan

• The Ancient Puebloan civilization was located in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, including Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, from 450-1400 CE.
• The Ancient Puebloans had no real hierarchy.
• The Ancient Puebloans believed in the Great Spirit and emerged from a lake, taught agriculture and hunting
• The Ancient Puebloans are also known as Anasazi.
• Kivas (vents, ladders, sipapu, fireplaces) were typical structures.
• They moved into cliff dwellings such as Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde.
• They left because of drought and Navajo invaders, with the Hopi and Zuni people as descendants.

Rapa Nui

• The Rapa Nui civilization was located in the Pacific Ocean, directly west of Ecuador, from 700-1100 CE.
• The Rapa Nui social structure consisted of a Birdman Tribe and other tribes.
• The Rapa Nui civilization centered was based around the Birdman Competition and Frigate bird eggs
• Moai sculptures (depicting ancestors) are a key feature.
• Tribal conflict, deforestation, rats, and disease contributed to their decline.