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The pre-Columbian world
The pre-Columbian civilisations were immensely powerful and prosperous. Their splendid buildings expressed the strength of their government and the sophistication of their technology. The Aztecs and the Incas were the wealthiest of these pre-Columbian societies. They also shared many traditions and beliefs and came to dominate the other peoples of their regions.
Go to your Google Drive and Download the document 'Society in the Pre-Columbian era'. Complete the activities in this document whilst you watch the video below as a class and read through this page.
As a class watch the Brainpop clip and complete the Quiz together.
LEARNING FOCUS:
Outline the organisation of society in the Pre-Columbian Americas in this period
Tenochititlan The Capitol City of Aztecs - Pyramids
The Aztec People - Interesting Facts
- In the 12th century AD a Native America tribe called the Mexica moved into the Valley of Mexico. They were in search of fertile land.
- They fought and conquered tribes in the valley.
- These people became known as Aztecs.
- The Aztec empire was based in Central America, centred in modern day Mexico.
- The Aztecs believed they were guided to the valley by their god, Huitilopochtli.
- They settled on a small swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco.
- The Aztecs built a beautiful city on the lake called Tenochtitlan.
- Tenochitlan had a population of 250 000 people.
- Aztec society centred on war and religion.
SOURCE 1
Map of the Aztec empire at the time of the contact with the conquistadors
… And when we saw all those towns and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico [Tenochtitlan], we were astounded. These great towns … and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision … Indeed some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream … It was all so wonderful that I do not know how to describe this first glimpse of things never heard of, seen or dreamed of before.
Bernal Diaz del Castillo, The Conquest of New Spain, Penguin, 1963.
SOURCE 2
A lieutenant under Cortes describes his first view of Tenochtitlan
The Inca People - Interesting Facts:
- The Inca Empire contained approximately 12 million people along the West Coast of South America. The empire included the modern nations of Peru, Ecuador and parts of Colombia, Chile and Argentina.
- Religion was very important to the Incans and shaped their society. They believed their emperor was a god on Earth and a child of the sun. He was called the Sapa Inca, or 'sole lord.'
- Incan society was focused on the snow covered Andes mountains. They only rarely ventured into the tropical rainforests surrounding the Amazon River.
SOURCE 6
Map of the Inca empire at its greatest extent, showing the wealth of resources obtained from the land
The Maya People - Interesting Facts:
- The Ancient Mayans lived in the Yucatán around 2600 B.C. Today, this area is southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras.
- The Mayan civilization relied heavily on when mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and visual arts.
- In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes conquered the Aztecs. At the same time, he learned about the city of Mayapan in the Yucatan peninsula and sent Pedro de Alvarado. Just like Cortes, Alvado subdued one city-state after another.
Interesting Activity- The History of Chocolate
Watch the following TED Ed video and discuss the following as a class:
How has chocolate evolved since the time of the indigenous Americas?
Reflection questions:
- What were the Aztec, Inca and Maya people like?
- How did the Spanish conquistadors take over their empires?
- What are some of the influences of the indigenous Americas in our Modern World today?
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