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MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA
The Classical Civilizations: Mesoamerica MAYANS~ AZTECS  The Mayans and Aztec civilizations each originated from Latin America. Some Mayans lived in southern Mexico.Other Mayans lived in Central America in the countries of Belize, Guatemala, and ancient Honduras.The Aztecs were from either north or northwest Mexico. BEFORE AFTER

**Political** MAYANS

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**The Mayans adopted a hierarchical system of government with rule by nobles and kings. This civilization developed into highly structured kingdoms during the Classic period, A.D. 200-900. Their society consisted of many independent states, each consisted of a rural farming community and large urban sites built around ceremonial centers. ** ======

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** In both the priesthood and the ruling class, nepotism was the basis under which new members were chosen. ** ======

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**Nepotism **-Favoritism shown or patronage granted to relatives  ======

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**Primogeniture ** was the form under which new kings were chosen as the old king passed down his position to his son. After the birth of a heir, the kings performed a blood sacrifice by drawing blood from his own body as an offering to his ancestors. A human sacrifice was then offered at the time a new king took rule. ======

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**<span style="color: #2dd7a4; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Priests ran governments, ruled cities, led ceremonies and performed many ot <span style="color: #25cb7d; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">her jobs. ** ======

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Priests in small villages were the godfathers and assisted in births <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Only priests/rulers/kings were allowed to be in the temples <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> The priests lived in huge palaces
 * ~ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">• Priests led ceremonies like ch'acak to please the gods.

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===**<span style="color: #34849d; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Despite constant warfare and eventual shifts in regional power, most kingdoms never disappeared from the political landscape until the collapse of the whole system **===

<span style="color: #1515a2; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">One of the most famous Maya rulers was Lord Pacal. He became a king at the age of 6 and legally took the throne at 12. Pacal was a priest/ruler/king for about 50 years before he died. When his tomb was discovered he was wearing a jade death mask.

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= AZTECS = <span style="color: #5050d3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The emperor was selected by a council of nobles, chief priests, and top war officers. The emperor was selected from the royal lineage and was usually the brother or son of the previous emperor.

<span style="color: #db2929; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;">**__This was not a democracy.__** The emperor was an absolute ruler. He was supported in this role by a close link with the god Huitzilopochti. As a rule he was a representative of this god. ====<span style="color: #5050d3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">**<span style="background-color: #e0e01f; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Huitzilopochti **- <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Aztec sun and war god, one of the two principal deities of Aztec religion, often represented in art as either a hummingbird or an eagle. ==== <span style="color: #5050d3; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When a new emperor was selected, he was taken by the chief priests to the Great Temple. There he meditated, fasted, and prayed. Then the priests would escort him to his palace for a banquet attended by kings from other lands outside the **Aztec land**. After his coronation, he was treated as a semi-divine being. When he traveled, a group of nobles would carry him on a litter of feathers. Cloths would be strewn on the ground as he walked so that his feet wouldn’t touch the earth.

<span style="color: #b93131; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The **Aztec government** was unlike other systems of government during the time. <span style="color: #b93131; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> It was more of a system of tribute: <span style="color: #b93131; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> -Conquered cities paid respect to the Aztec empire→ conquered cities tended to show an increase in their own economic welfare. <span style="color: #b93131; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> -Conquered cities paid money to the Aztec empire→Aztec government became rich and powerful <span style="color: #b93131; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ( Initially, only upper classes suffered financially under the Aztec government)

**<span style="color: #7ed380; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nearly all people within the conquered cities became resentful of the Aztec government and of Aztec leaders because of the large amounts of money they were forced to pay **

<span style="background-color: #7dd8ae; color: #f00000; display: block; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #5de9a9; color: #ad1010; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Aztec Government System

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The nobility and priesthood had a lot of power in Aztec society. But although the nobility provided leadership, they weren't automatically put in government positions. In the cities, each calpulli would have a leader, and those leaders would form another council. It was the **city councils** that held a lot of power in the ancient Aztec government. By the early-mid 1400s, three powerful city-states had formed the famous **Triple Alliance** in central Mexico. These cities were **Tenochtitlán**,**Texcoco**, and **Tlacopan**. These cities dominated central Mexico, and it was Tenochtitlán that came to dominate the empire. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Each council would have a kind of "executive council" within it. 4 members would be chosen who would lead, and out of <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">those there would be one //tlatcani// <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> - the leader of the city. These leaders would not only control the city proper but the surrounding area.

<span style="color: #7e42cd; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In the leading city of Tenochtitlán, the city leaders led the empire**.** The city council has been compared to the Roman senate. The leader was known as the **Huey Tlatcani**, or //Great Speaker//. This was the emperor, who was worshiped as a god. His rule was supported not only by the city council, but also the priests, judges, governors, and a host of other officials. **Moctezuma II** is the famous Huey Tlatcani who ruled when Hernan Cortes arrived in the New World.

=Economical= = MAYANS =
 * Agriculturally based
 * Maize, cotton and squash were the main crops produced.
 * They would spin and dye the cotton then sell it as articles of clothing
 * They domesticated the dog for help with farm work and the turkey for producing food.
 * Cacao beans and copper bells were exchanged through trade.
 * As their empire expanded, the Maya developed the slash and burn method of farming in order to produce food faster.
 * It involved cutting down trees and bushes and then setting them on fire to clear the area faster.
 * They would then poke holes in the ground for the seeds.
 * They would build large reservoirs to water the crops that did not get enough water naturally.
 * They created paths in jungle and swampland to be used for trade between other tribes or in between Mayan cities.
 * Barter system of trade.
 * Practiced long distance trade with various North American tribes.
 * Merchants traveled within the empire and to other tribes, exchanging goods.
 * They would then bring these goods back to a central market place in a Mayan city and sell the new goods to the commoners.
 * Tribute system was used.
 * Farmers would give up most of their harvest and the ruling elite would redistribute it among the rest of the people.
 * There were few public work projects. They included building temples, sporting arenas and palaces.
 * Used primitive forms of irrigation, not as advanced as the Aztecs.

=** AZTECS **=
 * Feeding the large populations of the empire was difficult
 * Conquered lands were often forced to pay a tribute to the government in the form of food.
 * Developed an agricultural system by building chinampas (small islands made of mud and earth that would float in a lake).
 * Four corn crops a year were possible with the chinampas, a huge harvest that supported much of the population.
 * Farming and agricultural work done by peasants, who were forced to give away most of their harvest as a tribute.
 * The state would redistribute the tributes among the people.
 * If the people accept the Aztec rule, their tribute was less. If they don’t then they have to give up much more. [[image:farming_aztec.jpg align="right"]]
 * The nobility received more than the commoners did.
 * Some of these tribute items were given to the merchants who trade them for other goods in distant lands.
 * Each community had periodic markets where various goods were exchanged.
 * Much trade was done under the barter system
 * The daily market at Tlatelolco operated daily and was controlled by a special merchant class called the “pochteca”
 * These merchants specialized in long-distance trade and luxury goods.
 * They brought back various items such as gems or animal skins as well as military intelligence about the lands they visited.
 * Although they were able to make huge profits, they were often seen as greedy and selfish people.
 * Inspectors regulated the markets and made sure they were keeping up with the standards.
 * The Aztecs did not however, have a market economy.
 * Commoners did the agricultural work as well as public work projects.
 * These included constructing temples, palaces, roads and irrigation systems.
 * Large number of slaves. Most were household servants
 * Many people became slaves through criminal activity or we sold by family members because of financial distress.
 * Artisans worked with gold, silver cotton textiles or other luxury items.
 * Most artisans sold their items to the elite an enjoyed many rewards for doing so.

= = =CULTURAL=

MAYANS
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> The Mayan culture extended to parts of what is now Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, and most of Guatemala and Belize. During the Classical Period which lasted from the third to the ninth century, Maya civilization built awe-inspiring temples, pyramids and cities. Many of the remnants in Tikal reveal the culture of this ancient civilization.

<span style="color: #4141d8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Weaving is one of the outstanding Maya craft, an ancient art that has survived uninterrupted for centuries and is now becoming famous all over the world. The Maya also made baskets, pottery and wood carved animals, saints and brightly-painted toys and chests. Chichicastenango hosts the traditional handicrafts market every Thursday and Sunday and a more typical Mayan market ca <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="color: #4141d8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">n be experienced every Saturday in Solola on the way to Lake Atitlan.

<span style="color: #25cb7d; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> The Maya had a sophisticated system of writing. It was developed in order to record their transition of power through the generations. This writing was composed of inscriptions on stone and wood, and was usually used on the inside or outside of their architecture. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"> <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"> The art of the Maya reflected their lifestyle and culture. Their art was composed of delineation and painting upon paper, building plaster, wood, stone, clay, stucco molds and terra cotta figurines. The advanced process of working with metal was also developed by the Maya, but was of scarce usage.They also produced fine pottery, which was only to the pottery of Peru. Art was encouraged by men and women of power who strove to create the history of the Mayan people. These art works justified their society and their interactions with surrounding groups.

** INCAS **
<span style="color: #db2929; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> The Inca culture permeates Peru to the present day, and it is impossible to visit Peru and not notice how attached the country is to its Inca roots.The Sacred Valley, with the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, is a place rich with Inca ruins, and the Sun Temple of Machu Picchu displays their reverence for the sun. The sun was the basis for the Inca religion, and among the top Peru festivals, Inti Raymi, is dedicated to the sun god, Inti. According to some, the Tucume Inca pyramids comprise the most interesting excavation site in the Americas, though that designation is surely up for debate.

<span style="color: #0da1c5; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Aztec religion was closely tied into the calendrical system they adopted based on the cosmos. The Aztec god was a form of energy in one way or another. Each part of the Aztec world was represented in one fashion or another by some deity, which in turn either blessed or punished the peoples. These deities were then represented in the calendars of the Aztec, namely the Day-Count and the Solar Year. The Day-Count calendar was based on 20 day signs, (i.e. dog, water, deer, grass, etc..) and 13 day numbers.

<span style="color: #ad1010; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Aztec art played an important role in ancient Aztec culture. In fact, their art was created primarily as an expression of religion and warfare. Many examples of this aspect of Aztec culture can be found in the form of paintings on the walls of temples and those created on special paper made of bark. Colorful Aztec masks were also made by craftsman as a tribute to various gods to be used in rituals and ceremonies.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Th <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">e Importance of Music and Dance in the Aztec Culture As with art, Aztec music and dance were both performed to please the gods. It was not done for entertainment or to show off knowledge or skill. In fact, the Aztec culture and religion tied music and dance into its daily life and ceremonies. Certain musical instruments used in the Aztec culture were considered to be holy and mistakes made while playing the instruments were thought to be offensive to the gods. The music was generally used to accompany Aztec dance, which was considered to be a prayer-like ritual. It also expressed political, social, and cultural issues.

<span style="color: #1d869f; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> The Importance of Tattoos in Aztec Culture <span style="color: #1d869f; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Tattoos also played an important role in the Aztec culture. As with art and music, Aztec tattoos were used in rituals, particularly those dedicated to Uitzilopochtle. As a part of these rituals, a priest would use a pointed stone to draw symbols on the stomach, chest, and wrist of children. In the Aztec culture, these symbols were intended to show the children’s devotion to the god. Each Aztec tattoo design was specifically chosen for its symbolism or relation to a god.

=SOCIETY=

MAYANS
The Mayans had a very distinct social structure

At the top of the Mayan social pyramid were the priests. This is because religion was the center of Mayan society. The people believed that the priests were able to communicate with the many gods and goddesses that the Maya believed in which is why they were so powerful. The priests governed along side the leaders of each city-state of the Maya empire. The priests basically decided everything from when to plant crops and who would marry who to who they sacrificed in religious ceremonies.

• Next in the social pyramid were the leaders of each city-state. Each city-state was ruled by a noble family that ruled that specific city-state forever. They passed down the crown from father to son. The people that were the family of the leaders (but not the leader himself) were referred to as the nobles.

• Then came the craftsmen. They made cloth, musical instruments, statues, and art that was mostly made for the gods.

• After the craftsmen were the warriors. The Mayans were at war a lot of the time. Their role as warrior was very respected because the Mayans considered war as a part of daily life and they were considered to have a very good army.

• Next were the slaves who were mostly captured from tribes that the Mayans were at war with. Slaves worked in the homes of the nobles were they cared for children, took care of the house, or worked in the fields.

• Farmers were last in the Mayan social pyramid. Mayan farmers worked very hard because their civilization did not have metal tools. Fathers and sons worked the fields with their hands sometimes using a stone ax. Women and daughters cooked, cleaned, and took care of children.

AZTECS The Aztec social structure was seperated into three major parts. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">· <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15.8pt;"> These parts were the nobles, commoners, and slaves. Because the seperations were so general, very strict rules were implemented to keep a distinct separation. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">· The highest class were the nobles, also called the pipiltin. At first becoming part of the nobility was not hereditary but as time went on, only family members would be nobles. The noble class consisted of the leader of the nobles that was chosen within the group (tlatoani), priests, people born into nobility, and government and army leaders. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> · The second class were the commoners, or the macehualtin. 20% percent of this class had jobs related to agriculture and the other 80% were warriors, artisans, and traders. The lowest group of this class were the tenant farmers and they were not allowed to own property. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> · The lowest class were the slaves. Aztecs became slaves when they were prisoners of war, in debt, or guilty of a crime. When the owner died, slaves that did really good work were set free while other slaves were sold to another family.

RELATED LINKS <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre;"> __http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=81018&title=The_Mayans_and_Bless_Me_Ultima__ <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12.1px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre;">__http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=96312&title=The_Aztecs__

<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;">@http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/maya/maya-society.jpg

<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">@http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/9106-ancient-americans-mayan-religion-and-society-video.htm