This document provides information about ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations. It discusses the Aztec empire, which was centered in modern-day Mexico City. Key sites discussed include Teotihuacan, Tlateloco, and Tenochtitlan. The Mayan civilization is also summarized, noting important ruins at Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Tulum. Chichen Itza is described in more detail, highlighting structures like El Castillo pyramid, the Temple of Warriors, and the ball court. Cenotes, or underwater sinkholes, used for sacrifices are also mentioned.

1. Mexican Ruins:
Aztecs and Mayan
People
Por: Sra. Fleener
Español II

2. Aztec History
► Mainly lived in central México, around what is
today México City.
► Well known for hunting and gathering
► Started in the north and migrated to the south.
► Precise people but not as precise as the Mayan
people.
► The symbol of the snake on top of the cactus on
México’s flag came from this civilization.
► http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/out-of-egypt-aztec-ru
(Video)

3. Aztec Calendar
► Two calendars in one
► Tonalpohualli (day count) calendar = 260 days
► Xiuhpohualli calendar = 365 days
- 18 months with 20 days
Click here to see what each day means in English. http://
www.ancientscripts.com/aztec.html

4. Teotihuacan
► Near México City
► Means “city of the gods” in Nahuatl
► Pyramids
► Pyrmamid of the Moon and Pyramid of the
Sun
► 50 pesos to enter
► Daily tours 8-6 pm

5. Pictures of Teotihuacan

6. Tlateloco
► Sister city to Tenochtilan
► Huge markets were well known here
► People sold food, clothing, furniture, animal
hides, etc.
► Major drought between 1454-57 which led to a
mass sacrifice of about 37 adults and 6
children.
► Last battle ground of the Aztec and Spanish
war.
► 40,000 Aztec people died.

7. Tlateloco Ruins

8. Tenochitlan
► Near México City
► Built on top of a lake and was a major battle
ground during the Aztec/ Spanish war.
► Temples were dedicated to Aztec gods and
goddesses
► Over 40 buildings can be found here
► Sun Pyramid is the best known building in the
city
► Founded in 1325 and was destroyed in 1521

9. Mayan History
► Loved science especially astronomy
► Most ruins on Yucatan Peninsula and parts
of Guatemala and Belize
► Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tulum most
common ruins
► Famous for ball game called “Ulama”
► Used nearby cenotes for execution

10. Mayan Calendar
► Ancient times they thought there were 360 days in a year.
► Had 18 days per month and there were 20 months.
► Five extra days were left and these came at the end of the calendar
cycle.
► These extra days were considered to be unlucky.
► What about 2012? – “the end of the world” according to the mayan
“long count calendar” which marks the end of a 5100 year era.

11. Tulum Ruins
 Only Mayan ruin near water
 Located about 30 miles south of Playa del
Carmen (Yucatan Peninsula)
 small city inhabited by about 600 people
who lived in platform dwellings along a street
and who supervised the trade traffic.
 Considered to be a walled city, most of the
inhabitants probably lived outside the walls,
leaving the interior for the residences of
governors and priests and ceremonial
structures.

12. Tulum Ruins Cont.
► The main god honored at Tulum is the
"diving god," or "Descending God," seen
on several buildings as an upside-down
figure above doorways.
► The largest and most important building at
Tulum is El Castillo (The Castle). Located
closest to the sea, it probably served as a
landmark for sailors.

13. Tulum Continued
► The Temple of the Frescoes, directly in front
of the Castillo, was used as an observatory for
tracking the movements of the sun. It contains
interesting 13th-century frescoes, though
visitors are no longer permitted to enter.
► On the white-sand beach below El Castillo,
where the Maya once came to land, tourists
can swim and sunbathe. Many combine a visit
to the ruins with a swim in the Caribbean.
► Some of the best coral reefs in the world here

15. Palenque Ruins
► Located in the jungle
► Lived here since 300 BC
► Known for pottery
► Water center for the mayan people
► 35% of this ancient city has been excavated
► Temple of the inscriptions – described King
Pakal’s family tree

16. Palenque Ruins Pictures

17. Chichen Itza
► Largest Mayan city of the Yucatan
Peninsula
► Settled by farmers in the 4th
century
► Also a center of worship
► Ruler was Kukulkan
► “New Zone” – Toltec Influence
► “Old Zone” – Puuc influence
► http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video
(Video)

18. El Castillo (Kukulcan Pyramid)
 El Castillo (Kukulkan pyramid)
 The architecture has a reference to the Mayan
calendar. The four stairways leading up to the central
platform each have 91 steps, making a total of 364;
added to the central platform this equals the 365 days
of the solar year.
 On either side of each stairway are nine terraces,
which makes 18 on each face of the pyramid, equaling
the number of months in the Maya solar calendar. On
the facing of these terraces are 52 panels, representing
the 52-year cycle when both the solar and religious
calendars would become realigned.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza

22. Temple of the Warriors
 The Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of
the Warriors), named for the carvings of
warriors marching along its walls. It's also
called the Group of the Thousand
Columns for the rows of broken pillars that
are there.
 If the sun is in the right spot the shadows of
the pillars form a straight line.
 A figure of Chac-Mool sits at the top of the
temple, surrounded by impressive columns
carved in relief to look like enormous
feathered serpents.

24. Chac Mool Pictures

25. Ball Court at Chichen Itza
 Home to at least nine ball courts, which hosted the
famous Mayan ball game. The largest one, the Juego
de Pelota (Main Ball Court) is northwest of El
Castillo.
 It is the largest and best-preserved ball court in the
Mayan world. Both walls are carved with scenes
showing Maya figures dressed as ball players and
decked out in heavy protective padding. There is also a
headless player kneeling with blood shooting from his
neck, while another player holding the head looks on.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza

28. Cenotes
► Used for sacrificing and ceremonial purposes.
► Major source of water for the residence of Chichen Itza
► Men, women, and children were thrown alive into these
cenotes as a sacrifice to the gods in times of drought.
► Many archeologist have found copper, gold, masks, cups
and even bones
► Most artifacts date back to 13th and 16th century AD

29. El Caracol Observatory
 El Caracol (The "Snail" or Observatory) was
constructed over several centuries
 the additions and modifications reflect the Mayas' careful
observation of planet movements and increasingly exact
measurements.
 Through slits in the tower walls, Mayan astronomers
observed the cardinal directions, the approach of the
spring and autumn equinoxes, as well as the summer
solstice. Primarily used to track the planet Venus.
 The Spanish name, which means "snail," was inspired by
a spiral staircase inside.

30. Caracol Observatory Pictures

32. References
► Google images
http://archaeology.about.com/od/archaeologic7/ig/Chichen-Itza/Sacred-Well--Chichen-
Itza.htm
http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/aztec-pyramid-found-mexico-could-rewrite-history-0
http://www.aztec-history.net/tenochtitlan
http://www.mexicologue.com/aztec-ruins-near-mexico-city.html
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza
http://www.azteccalendar.com/azteccalendar.html
http://www.earthmatrix.com/serie02/cuad02-8.htm
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-03-27-maya-2012_n.htm
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza
www.ancientscripts.com
h
ttp://archaeology.about.com/od/archaeologic7/ig/Chichen-Itza/Caracol--The-Observatory.htm
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/TEO.HTM
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/specials/ancient-mysteries/chichen-itza-
temples.html