Changes

==America==

==America==

There were three noteworthy ancient American civilizations: Teotihuacan (Mexico) in A.D. 100-900, Maya (modern-day Guatemala) in A.D. 300-900, and Moche A.D. 200-700.  They all engaged in human sacrifice, and practiced polytheistic religions—sharing a common belief in Quetzelcoatl (KWET-suhl-kuh-WA-tuhl), a god of the wind and air depicted as a feathered serpent.  The Aztec civilization, which came much later, also worshiped this god.  The Teotihuacan, Maya, and Moche civilizations also used a truncated pyramid similar to a ziggurat, entertainment by ball-playing, and reliance on corn as a crop.  They are known as “Pre-Columbian” because they predate the arrival to the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492.  Each of these civilizations is explained (along with proper pronunciations) below:

There were three noteworthy ancient American civilizations:

* Teotihuacan ([[Mexico]]) in A.D. 100-900

* Maya (modern-day [[Guatemala]]) in A.D. 300-900

* Moche A.D. 200-700

 

They all engaged in human sacrifice, and practiced [[polytheistic]] religions—sharing a common belief in [[Quetzelcoatl]] (KWET-suhl-kuh-WA-tuhl), a god of the wind and air depicted as a feathered serpent.  The [[Aztec]] civilization, which came much later, also worshiped this god.  The Teotihuacan, Maya, and Moche civilizations also used a truncated [[pyramid]] similar to a [[ziggurat]], entertainment by ball-playing, and reliance on [[corn]] as a crop.  They are known as “Pre-Columbian” because they predate the arrival to the New World by [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1492.  Each of these civilizations is explained (along with proper pronunciations) below:

The Teotihuacan (pronounced TA-oh-TEE-wuh-KHAN) (A.D. 100-900)

The Teotihuacan (pronounced TA-oh-TEE-wuh-KHAN) (A.D. 100-900)

The Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) (A.D. 300-900)

The Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) (A.D. 300-900)

The Maya civilization in Central America was located on the Yucatan peninsula, which totaled 5-16 million people.  The Mayans have been called the “Greeks of the New World” by many historians.  The Mayans had some knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, ritual ball games for entertainment, and the use of their own pictographic language.  Unlike Europeans at the time, Mayans did understand the concept of zero just as the Indians in South Asia did.

The Maya civilization in [[Central America]] was located on the Yucatan peninsula, which totaled 5-16 million people.  The [[Mayans]] have been called the “Greeks of the New World” by many historians.  The Mayans had some knowledge of [[mathematics]], [[astronomy]], ritual ball games for entertainment, and the use of their own pictographic language.  Unlike Europeans at the time, Mayans did understand the concept of [[zero]] just as the Indians in South Asia did.

The Mayans used a yearly solar calendar that was perhaps more precise than the Roman (Julian) calendar, using 18 months and 20 days per month, which has almost the same number of days as our 365-day calendar.  The Mayans also built temples looking very similar to the ziggurats used in Mesopotamia, puzzling many historians.  The Mayans constructed a spectacular capital at Tikal and a worship center at Chichen Itza featuring the ziggurats.  For food, the Mayans grew maize (corn), squash and beans.  They also traded in stones, salt, honey and shells.  Like American Indians the Mayans had no coins or paper money, but sometimes traded in cacao (chocolate) beans.  Unlike the American Indians, the Mayans used a written language based on symbols or “glyphs”, as in hieroglyphics.   

The Mayans used a yearly solar calendar that was perhaps more precise than the Roman (Julian) calendar, using 18 months and 20 days per month, which has almost the same number of days as our 365-day calendar.  The Mayans also built temples looking very similar to the ziggurats used in Mesopotamia, puzzling many historians.  The Mayans constructed a spectacular capital at Tikal and a worship center at Chichen Itza featuring the ziggurats.  For food, the Mayans grew maize (corn), squash and beans.  They also traded in stones, salt, honey and shells.  Like American Indians the Mayans had no coins or paper money, but sometimes traded in cacao (chocolate) beans.  Unlike the American Indians, the Mayans used a written language based on symbols or “glyphs”, as in hieroglyphics.