Inside This Unit: The Full Breakdown
Indigenous Americas (1000 BCE–1980 CE) covers Mesoamerican (Maya, Aztec), Andean (Inka), and North American art and architecture.
Why it matters
It centers ritual, power, and cosmology, and showcases distinct technologies like Inka ashlar masonry and Maya glyphs.
Key concepts
- Maya and Aztec temple-pyramids served ritual and rulership.
- Inka ashlar masonry fits cut stone without mortar.
- Maya glyphs recorded history; mounds organized North American ceremony.
Cosmos, Power, and Technique
Mesoamerican temple-pyramids (e.g., Templo Mayor) align to cosmology and ritual; the Inka built mortarless, earthquake-resistant stone cities like Machu Picchu; textiles and featherwork were prestige media. Read orientation, scale, and imagery for cosmological and political meaning.
AP exam tip
Connect materials/techniques (ashlar masonry, glyphs, textiles) to a culture’s values and environment.
Connections to other units
- Unit 1: Monumental construction parallels prehistoric megaliths.
- Unit 9: Pacific arts also encode genealogy and status.
