Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 1 

Name: Asher Thomas

Date: February 13, 2018

Class: ☆7th Grade - Medieval World History☆

 
Slides and Notes 
Slide Student Notes

Title  ☆MesoAmerica☆
Discuss the differences between the Incan, Mayan,
Goal 
and Aztec civilizations.

The Olmec  
● The Olmec
● From Mexico
Civilization  ● Earliest major civilization
● Pre- Olmec cultures in the area circa 2500 BCE
● Post- Olmec cultures include the Toltecs

Date  ● 1500 BCE to about 400 BCE

Population  ● Highest during 1500 BCE to 400 BCE

Religion   ● Circa 2500 BCE to 400 B.C.

The Mayans  
Date  ● 20-900 CE

● Mexico, Guatemala, Yucatan Peninsula, Belize

Location 
● In jungle

● Hieroglyphic Writing
● Astronomy
● Calendar
Achievements  ● Mathematics
○ Good because of astronomy
● Team Sports
○ Loser gets decapitated

 
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Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 1 

● Step Pyramids
○ 365 steps
○ traditional

The Incas  
Date  ● 1200-1532 CE

● Andes Region
● Peru
Location 
● Ecuador
● Chile

● Machu Picchu
● Highway System
● Temple of the Sun
Achievements 
● Efficient Central Government
○ Not bad punishments but strict
○ Reward for being a snitch

The Aztecs  
Date  ● 1345-1521 CE

● Mexican basin
Location  ● The Aztec Capital (Tenochtitlan) is present day
Mexico City

● Historical Codices
● Twin step pyramid
○ Have temple on top
○ Stairs going up
○ Throw people off for sacrifices
Achievements  ● Monetary System
● Surgical Advances
○ Because of trying to kill people
● Great Temple of Tenochtitlan
● Coyolxauhqui Stone
○ Where people threw bodies onto

Additional Information 

Maya   Extra Researched Fact:

(Click ONE link in 

 
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Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 1 

this category and  The Maya believed deeply in the cyclical nature of life
give one detail  – nothing was ever `born’ and nothing ever `died’ –
more.)  and this belief inspired their view of the gods and the
cosmos.

Extra Researched Fact:

Inca 
(Click ONE link in 
Master stonemasons, the Incas constructed large
this category and 
buildings, walls and fortifications using
give one detail 
finely-worked blocks - either regular or polygonal -
more.) 
which fitted together so precisely no mortar was
needed.

Extra Researched Fact:

Aztec 
The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan on the western shore
(Click ONE link in 
of Lake Texcoco flourished so that the city could boast
this category and 
at least 200,000 inhabitants by the early 16th century
give one detail 
CE, making it the largest city in the Pre-Columbian
more.) 
Americas.

Videos 

Video Summary:
Inca  
(Watch this video,  The Inca was a massive city state that controlled the
answer the  west coast of South America. The Incan civilization
questions/quiz, and  was founded by Manco Cápac, who was both a real
give a short  king and part-deity in Incan mythology. As the Inca
summary to the  expanded their power, they formed into an empire
right using about 3  under the Sapa Inca, whose name was Pachacuti.
sentences.) 

Maya  Video Summary:

(Watch this video, 
answer the  The Mayan civilization was the first great civilization
questions/quiz, and  in the Americas. The Mayans developed the first, and
give a short  only, written language in the Americas. The Mayans
summary to the  land grew so big that each independent Mayan
right using about 3  city-state developed its own identity because there
sentences.)  was no central Maya king or emperor.

 
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Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 1 

Video Summary:
Aztec 
The Aztec Empire was a complex and powerful
(Watch this video, 
military state that controlled central Mexico in the
answer the 
15th and 16th centuries. After years of wandering,
questions/quiz, and 
they settled in Lake Texcoco and founded Tenochtitlán
give a short 
on the spot where they saw an omen of an eagle eating
summary to the 
a snake on a nopal cactus from this they grew huge.
right using about 3 
the symbol for the mighty Tenochtitlán still
sentences.) 
emblazons the national flag.

 
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