Changes

* Moche A.D. 200-700

* 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:

They all engaged in human sacrifice, and all practiced [[polytheistic]] religions.  They shared 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 below, along with their proper pronunciations:

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

=== The Teotihuacan ===

The civilization of the Teotihuacan  (pronounced TA-oh-TEE-wuh-KHAN) (A.D. 100-900)followed the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica, creating a large city totaling perhaps 200,000 people.  They worshiped gods of the sun and moon, as well as goddesses of rain and water.  People lived in barrios (suburbs or ghettos) around the city.  Like many ancient societies, they had an upper class of priests and nobles. 

The Teotihuacan civilization followed the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica, creating a large city totaling perhaps 200,000 people.  They worshiped gods of the sun and moon, as well as goddesses of rain and water.  People lived in barrios (suburbs or ghettos) around the city.  Like many ancient societies, they had an upper class of priests and nobles. 

=== The Maya ===

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

The civilization of the Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) (A.D. 300-900) 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 Mayan religion was polytheistic and Mayans "appeased the gods" by sacrificing children to the gods.  The Mayans believed in creation as explained in their religious text named the "Popol Vuh," and the Mayans hoped that a god named Quetzalcoatl would return to rule in peace.  Wealthy women enjoyed some rights in the society and most women stayed in the home to raise children.

 

The Mayan religion was polytheistic and Mayans “appeased the gods” by sacrificing children to the gods.  The Mayans believed in creation as explained in their religious text named the “Popol Vuh,” and the Mayans hoped that a god named Quetzalcoatl would return to rule in peace.  Wealthy women enjoyed some rights in the society and most women stayed in the home to raise children.

The reason for the decline of the Mayan civilization is unknown.  Mayan cities were abruptly abandoned in the 800s and by the mid-900s the civilization was just a shadow of its former self.  It disintegrated into independent towns, or city-states.  But today 4 million people still speak the Mayan language.   

The reason for the decline of the Mayan civilization is unknown.  Mayan cities were abruptly abandoned in the 800s and by the mid-900s the civilization was just a shadow of its former self.  It disintegrated into independent towns, or city-states.  But today 4 million people still speak the Mayan language.   

The Toltecs (A.D. 900-1200)

=== The Toltecs ===

The Toltecs were a northern Mexican nomadic tribe that ruled about 50 miles north of present-day Mexico City, in a city called Tula.  They were fighters who helped conquer the city of Teotihuacan in the 8th century.  But living by the sword they also were conquered by the sword, as Jesus says, and the Toltecs fell at the hands of northern Chichimec tribes.   

The Toltecs (A.D. 900-1200) were a northern Mexican nomadic tribe that ruled about 50 miles north of present-day Mexico City, in a city called Tula.  They were fighters who helped conquer the city of Teotihuacan in the 8th century.  But living by the sword meant they would also be conquered by the sword, as Jesus said, and the Toltecs fell at the hands of northern Chichimec tribes.   

The Toltecs may have traded with a group that lived in the southwestern portion of the United States, the Anasazi.  Some historians feel that the Toltecs traded obsidian, which is black volcanic glass having a unique shape, for jade with the Anasazians.

The Toltecs may have traded with a group that lived in the southwestern portion of the United States, the Anasazi.  Some historians feel that the Toltecs traded obsidian, which is black volcanic glass having a unique shape, for jade with the Anasazians.

The Toltecs had a religious leader named Topiltzin-Quetzalcoatl.  According to legend, war forced him to flee into the Gulf of Mexico, but he vowed to return one day.  This legend was transmitted to the Aztecs, who rose to power in the Valley of Mexico once the Toltecs declined.

The Toltecs had a religious leader named Topiltzin-Quetzalcoatl.  According to legend, war forced him to flee into the Gulf of Mexico, but he vowed to return one day.  This legend was transmitted to the Aztecs, who rose to power in the Valley of Mexico once the Toltecs declined.

The Aztecs (the Mexica) (A.D. 1200-1521)

=== The Aztecs ===

The Aztecs adopted many of the legends, ball games, calendar and customs of their predecessors, but were more warlike.  In 1325, they built their capital named Tenochtitlan in central Mexico on an island in Lake Texcoco pursuant to a prophecy, and constructed three causeways to connect it to the mainland.  The capital city was magnificent, featuring splendid pyramids and temples.  The Aztecs trade with far-away peoples, and acquired wealth through trade and tributes.  Intellectually, however, the Aztecs did not advance knowledge or civilization.

The Aztecs (the Mexica) (A.D. 1200-1521) adopted many of the legends, ball games, calendar and customs of their predecessors, but were more warlike.  In 1325, they built their capital named Tenochtitlan in central Mexico on an island in Lake Texcoco pursuant to a prophecy, and constructed three causeways to connect it to the mainland.  The capital city was magnificent, featuring splendid pyramids and temples.  The Aztecs trade with far-away peoples, and acquired wealth through trade and tributes.  Intellectually, however, the Aztecs did not advance knowledge or civilization.

For food they used plots of floating land called chinampas, which were made from soil dredged from the bottom of the lake.  They grew mostly corn and some squash and beans.  They traded gems, cacoa (chocolate), and animal skins.  They were more powerful than their neighbors and even formed a “Triple Alliance” with the city-states of Tlacopan and Texcoco to keep peace.  The Aztecs had very little bureaucracy and did not maintain a standing army.  There was no reason to, as soldiers could be summoned as needed.

For food they used plots of floating land called chinampas, which were made from soil dredged from the bottom of the lake.  They grew mostly corn and some squash and beans.  They traded gems, cacoa (chocolate), and animal skins.  They were more powerful than their neighbors and even formed a “Triple Alliance” with the city-states of Tlacopan and Texcoco to keep peace.  The Aztecs had very little bureaucracy and did not maintain a standing army.  There was no reason to, as soldiers could be summoned as needed.