Early Civilizations (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

By the 13th century, the Western Hemisphere had three major civilizations:

1. Aztecs

2. Incas

3. Mayans

Early Aztec People and their culture

• Aztecs were located throughout much of Mexico

• They were a civilization that once ruled over hundreds of small states and millions of people

• They were feared by their neighbors because:

  • Aztec priests killed human prisoners of war

  • they required tribute from groups they conquered

• The Aztecs fell to Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century

Government

• Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec civilization – located near present-day Mexico City

• The Aztec people formed city-states which were united and led by one emperor

Agriculture

• The early Aztecs used chinampas, or “floating gardens” for growing crops which had many advantages:

  • Needed limited amount of space in crowded urban areas

  • Provided a rich ecosystem

  • Allowed for easy crop rotation

• The mild climate and ample water allowed for plentiful harvests to feed its large population

• A major food staple was corn

• Other crops included beans, avocadoes, squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, pineapples, and cotton.

Religion

• Aztecs were Polytheistic

  • Created great pyramids to worship their gods

  • Human sacrifices were part of worship

  • Believed the world had already been destroyed four times

  • Thought human sacrifices to gods prevented more destruction

• Huitzilopochtli was the chief Aztec god

  • A father figure who guided the people

  • God of war and the sun

  • Often represented in art as an eagle or a hummingbird

Contributions to human development

• Aztecs developed a 365-day solar calendar

• Built well-organized cities

Early Incan People and their contributions

• Early Incas arrived in the Andes Mountains of Peru around 1100 BCE

• Cusco was the capital and location of the government

• High altitude and rainfall in the mountains made crop production difficult

• The Incas strengthened their civilisation through wars and conquests 

• They mined for gold and produced attractive pieces of jewelry and art

• The Incan empire was the largest in the world – stretching from Colombia to Chile along the western coast of South America

Government

• The Incan government was tied to their religion as well as their need for survival

• Their monarchy embodied the son of the sun god

• Incas stressed the value of work and punished laziness

Agriculture

• Early Incas adopted farming techniques that were conducive to the geography of the region, the methods included:

  • using terraces – carved out sections along mountainsides

  • building canals to bring water to their crops

  • crop rotation to increase harvest yields

  • using llama dung, fish heads and seabird guano as fertilizers

  • weather forecasting technique to predict annual rainfall

• The main crops included potatoes, quinoa, and corn

Religion

• Religion was a dominant aspect of the Incan culture and gave meaning to their existence

• They were Polytheistic and believed gods controlled the weather

• The capital city was the center of the universe

Contributions to human development

• Suspension bridges

  • Vast road system connecting their territory which improved both travel and communication

Early Mayan People before they disappeared

• The Early Mayans appeared in Central America approximately 2,400 years ago

• Mayan cities became deserted around approximately 900 CE

• Scholars think Mayans left cities because of overpopulation, changes in trade routes, drought, and other factors.

Government

• City-states had no central government; each was ruled by a single family

• The Mayans had strict laws with no appeals but victims could pardon convicted people to reduce their punishment

• Population centers were places of learning and worship

Agriculture

• Farming was important to the Mayans to be able to feed the large population

  • Poor soil and lack of surface water made farming a challenge

• Different methods of farming were used to fit the geographic conditions

  • Step farming in the highlands

  • Earthen mounds were used in swampy areas

  • Slash and burn techniques were used in the forest regions

• Surplus food was stored for those in need

• Crops included corn, chilies, beans, squash, sweet potatoes

• People also ate fish, turkey, duck, deer, and monkey

Religion

• The Early Mayan people were Polytheistic

• Religion was the center of Mayan life

• Humans and animals were sacrificed

• Religious ceremonies included chocolate

Contributions to human development

• The Early Mayan people contributed to science, technology and mathematics

  • They conceived the mathematical concept of zero

  • They developed a written language using hieroglyphs

  • They were skilled astronomers and predicted eclipses

The importance of corn to early civilizations

• As civilizations began to settle in the Americas, corn (maize) became an important crop

• Corn is high in fiber, essential minerals, and a variety of vitamins

• It can be eaten in a variety of ways:

  • Made into flour for bread

  • Eaten on the cob

  • Used to make food items such as hominy, dumplings, and tamales

• Corn is easy to store

• It has a long “shelf-life” and can be used for:

  • feeding livestock, such as horses, cattle, pigs, and chickens

  • making storage baskets and lids

  • creating toys, fans, and bedding

  • fueling fires

  • trading and acting as currency