Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Outline the major achievements of Latin America and European civilization
• Analyses major achievements of Latin American and European Civilizations .
• Evaluate the impact of the Latin American and European Civilizations s on modern society.
• Appreciate how Latin American and European Civilization s shaped the life of mankind.

Brainstorming Questions

• Why the Maya, Aztecs and Inca ‘s civilization destroyed ? by whom?
• What comes to your mind when you hear or read the word Greek?

Key terms

2.3 Ancient Civilizations of Latin America

2.3.1 Maya

Overview

• Time Period: The Maya civilization thrived from approximately 250 to 900 AD, before the arrival of Europeans.
• Geographical Location: Primarily located in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras.

Achievements

• Architecture: The Maya are renowned for their impressive construction, including tall limestone pyramids topped with temples. Notable sites include Tikal and Chichen Itza.
• Art: Their civilization produced exquisite paintings, pottery, and sculptures, reflecting their rich cultural and religious life.
• Science: The Maya made significant strides in astronomy and mathematics, leading to the development of a remarkably accurate calendar system.
• Writing: They created an advanced form of writing, known as hieroglyphics, which was used for recording historical events, rituals, and lineage.

Religion

• The Maya were polytheistic, worshipping a pantheon of gods and goddesses associated with nature, agriculture, and celestial events.

Decline

• The Spanish began to conquer the southern regions of the Maya territory in the 16th century, and by the late 17th century, Spanish domination was established over the entire Maya region.

2.3.2 Inca

Overview

• Time Period: The Inca Empire began expanding around 1438 AD.
• Geographical Location: Encompassed a vast area including present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Its capital was Cusco, located in southern Peru.

Achievements

• Engineering: The Incas were remarkable engineers, known for their sophisticated network of roads that connected various parts of their empire, facilitating trade and communication.
• Craftsmanship: Inca artisans excelled in creating intricate artifacts from gold, silver, and other materials. They were also skilled weavers, producing fine cotton and woolen textiles.

Economy

• The Inca economy was based on agriculture, with advanced farming techniques that included terracing and irrigation.

Decline

• The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire began in 1532, leading to the collapse of one of the richest empires in the Americas.

2.3.3 Aztecs

Overview

• Time Period: The Aztec civilization flourished in the 15th and early 16th centuries.
• Geographical Location: Centered in the Valley of Mexico, with Tenochtitlan as its capital, located on the site of present-day Mexico City.

Achievements

• Urban Development: The Aztecs built an expansive empire comprising numerous cities and towns, with Tenochtitlan being one of the largest and most advanced urban centers of its time.
• Agriculture: Their economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, utilizing innovative techniques such as chinampas (floating gardens) for crop cultivation.

Religion

• The Aztecs were polytheistic, worshipping hundreds of deities linked to various aspects of life, including agriculture, war, and nature.

Writing

• They employed a form of pictographic writing, using symbols and images to record information and stories.

Decline

• The Aztec Empire fell to Spanish forces led by Hernán Cortés in 1521, marking a significant shift in the region’s history.

2.4 Civilizations in Europe

2.4.1 Ancient Greek Civilization

Overview

• Time Period: Ancient Greece emerged around 2500 years ago and is often considered the cradle of Western civilization.
• Geographical Structure: The civilization developed primarily in small, independent city-states known as Polis. Each city-state consisted of a central city or town surrounded by villages and farmland. The most famous city-states were Athens and Sparta.

Cultural Characteristics

• Despite their independence, the Greek city-states shared a common language, religion, and culture. The Greeks referred to themselves as Hellenes and their land as Hellas.

Achievements

• Architecture: The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena in Athens, stands as a prime example of Greek architectural excellence.
• Literature and Drama: The Greeks are credited with the invention of drama and theatre, producing notable playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides.
• Sculpture: Greek artists created life-like statues of gods and heroes, often made from marble and bronze.
• History Writing: Two prominent historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, documented history with remarkable depth. Herodotus focused on various civilizations, including his detailed accounts of the Persian Wars, while Thucydides provided an objective narrative of the Peloponnesian War.
• Medicine: Hippocrates, often called the “Father of Medicine,” set the foundations for modern medicine by identifying symptoms, classifying diseases, and recommending remedies.
• Language and Terms: Many modern concepts such as “Democracy,” “Psychology,” “Olympics,” and “Marathon” have Greek origins.
• Philosophy: Plato and Aristotle are considered the two greatest philosophers of ancient Greece. Bertrand Russell described them as the most influential philosophers across all eras.

2.4.2 Ancient Roman Civilization

Overview

• Time Period: The Roman civilization began around 753 BC in present-day Italy, specifically on the hills near the Tiber River.
• Influence: Ancient Rome significantly shaped Western civilization, particularly in law, engineering, and architecture.

Political Structure

• Kings and Republic: Initially ruled by a series of kings, Rome transitioned to a Republic in 509 BC after the nobility overthrew the monarchy. The government was led by two elected officials, known as Consuls, who served one-year terms.
• Senate: The Senate, comprising lifelong senators, was the most powerful governing body during the Republic. The Republic lasted nearly 500 years until its transformation into the Empire in 27 BC.

Expansion and Conflicts

• Empire Formation: After a period of civil wars, the Roman Empire was established, enduring until the fall of Rome in 476 AD.
• Punic Wars: The Punic Wars (264-146 BC) against Carthage were among Rome’s bloodiest conflicts and played a crucial role in expanding its territory around the Mediterranean Sea and beyond into modern-day France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Legacy

• Cultural Contributions:
  • Latin Language: Latin evolved into the Romance languages spoken today in Europe and Latin America.
  • Literature: Roman authors like Cicero, Caesar, and poets such as Virgil and Horace left a rich literary heritage.
  • Legal Systems: Roman law laid the groundwork for legal systems in Western Europe and Latin America.
  • Julian Calendar: Introduced by Julius Caesar, the Julian calendar served as the basis for the modern Gregorian calendar.

Differences Between Republic and Empire

• The primary distinction was governance: the Republic functioned as a democratic society, while the Empire was ruled by a single leader. The Republic experienced almost constant warfare, whereas the Empire’s first two centuries were marked by relative peace, known as the Pax Romana.