User:Atcovi/Ancient Americas and Africa

Maya Kingdom
The Mayan gov't consisted of city-states under a king. They practiced a polytheistic religion, focusing on astrology. The Maya lived in the modern-day countries of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, in the rainforests on the Yucatan Peninsula. The model city for the Maya is the Chichen Itza. Their economy was based on agriculture and trade. The Maya invented calendars, had writing called glyphs, built large step-pyramids, developed the concept of zero and played a ball game.

Aztec Empire
The Aztec gov't was an empire They practiced a polytheistic religion, focusing on war and human sacrifices The Aztec lived in the modern-day country Mexico, with their capital, Tenochtitlan, built on islands in a lake in the middle of an arid valley Their economy was based on local agriculture and collecting the tribute (tax) from the people they conquered The Aztec invented calendars, built large step-pyramids, and created floating gardens called Chinampas.

Incan Empire
The Incan gov't was an empire They practiced a polytheistic religion, focusing on the sun The Inca lived mostly in the modern-day countries of Peru and Chile, with their empire spanning the Andes Mountains, along the Pacific Coast. Their capital city was Cuzco but the model city is Macchu Picchu. Their economy was based on high altitude agriculture The Inca did not have writing, but they used Quipu (colored strings to communicate), had terraced farming, and built impressive roads and bridges.

Ghana (300 CE -1200 CE)

 * West Africa along Niger River
 * Trans-Saharan Trade (Gold for Salt)
 * Islamic influence
 * FALL: Ghana splits, and people scatter all around

Mali (1200 CE - 1500 CE)

 * West Africa along Niger River
 * Mansa Musa (1312-1332) - created army, routes, introduced Islam and created Timbuktu.
 * FALL: Songhai Empire

Songhai (1500 CE - 1600 CE)

 * West Africa along Niger River
 * Askia Muhammad - Strengthens Timbuktu. Divided the land into provinces.
 * FALL: Europeans

Kush (2000 BCE-250 BCE)

 * Southern part of Nile River
 * Limited use of the Nile River for trade- gold, ivory, timber.
 * Cities developed around caravan crossings.
 * Skilled in iron making production, like the Hittites
 * FALL: Invaded by Axum

Axum (200 BCE- 700 CE)

 * Along Red Sea, east of the Nile in the Ethiopian Highlands
 * Exported ivory, iron and Christianity
 * FALL: Muslim and Arab raids on ports

Zimbabwe (1000 CE - 1500 CE)

 * Between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers [Capital: Great Zimbabwe]
 * Imports - Indian cloth and Chinese porcelain
 * Exports - Gold, ivory, porcelain, iron
 * Used Lateen Sail to trade across Indian Ocean.
 * FALL: Europeans, wanting gold.