Changes

=== The Teotihuacan ===

=== The Teotihuacan ===

   

   

'''Known as "City of the gods," Teotihuacan (pronounced TA-oh-TEE-wuh-KHAN) (A.D. 100-900) was perhaps the most powerful and largest city-state in Mesoamerica (central Mexico), having up to 200,000 people at its peak'''.  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 (wealthy men who controlled much of the land).  It is a spectacular archaeological site today.

'''Known as "City of the gods," Teotihuacan''' (pronounced TA-oh-TEE-wuh-KHAN) '''(A.D. 100-900) was perhaps the most powerful and largest city-state in Mesoamerica (central Mexico), having up to 200,000 people at its peak'''.  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 (wealthy men who controlled much of the land).  It is a spectacular archaeological site today.

=== The Maya ===

=== The Maya ===

[[File:Maya_map.jpg|right|200px]]

[[File:Maya_map.jpg|right|200px]]

'''The civilization of the Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) (A.D. 300-900) in [[Central America]] was located on the Yucatan peninsula (bordering the southwest side of the Gulf of Mexico), which had a substantial population of 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 ballgames 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 civilization of the Maya''' (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) (A.D. 300-900) '''in [[Central America]] was located on the Yucatan peninsula (bordering the southwest side of the Gulf of Mexico), which had a substantial population of 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 ballgames 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, with 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, with 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 Spanish called the Incas "big ears" because the wealthy (aristocrats) would wear earrings so heavy that they would stretch their ears.  The king, or "Inca", was considered to be a god who descended from the sun, while his main wife was considered to be from the moon.  Like the Egyptians, mummification was used to preserve the rulers after they died, and major decisions would even be made in the presence of the mummies supposedly to benefit from their wisdom.

The Spanish called the Incas "big ears" because the wealthy (aristocrats) would wear earrings so heavy that they would stretch their ears.  The king, or "Inca", was considered to be a god who descended from the sun, while his main wife was considered to be from the moon.  Like the Egyptians, mummification was used to preserve the rulers after they died, and major decisions would even be made in the presence of the mummies supposedly to benefit from their wisdom.

Religion played a key role.  There was a god believed to be the creator, named Viracocha.  Human sacrifice was used but animal sacrifice was more popular.  Sin was recognized and punished in an afterlife.  The main religious city was probably Machu Picchu, located high in the Andes and first discovered in 1912 by archeologist Hiram Bingham.

Religion played a key role.  There was a god believed to be the creator, named Viracocha.  Human sacrifice was used but animal sacrifice was more popular.  Sin was recognized and punished in an afterlife.  The main religious city was probably Machu Picchu, located high in the Andes and first discovered in 1912 by archaeologist Hiram Bingham.

The Incas used irrigation and food was plentiful.  They devised a system to freeze-dry potatoes in order to survive famine.  However, the Incas had very few skilled artisans, in contrast to Mesoamerica.

The Incas used irrigation and food was plentiful.  They devised a system to freeze-dry potatoes in order to survive famine.  However, the Incas had very few skilled artisans, in contrast to Mesoamerica.