3A

1. During approximately 10,000 BC, hunter-gather type societies still existed, where we now call present-day Bogotá. Bogota, which traded with one another and with cultures living in the Magdalena River Valley. Beginning in the first millennium BC, groups of American Indians developed the political system of "Cacicazgos" with a pyramidal structure of power headed by Cacigues. Within Colombia, the two cultures with the most complex Cacicazgo systems were the Tayronas in the Caribbean River, and the Muiscas in the highlands around Bogotá. Both of these of which were of the Chibcha language family. The Muisca people are considered to have had one of the most developed political systems in South America, after the Incas.

I chose to look at the Maya people. I have always wanted to learn more about them, but never had the opportunity or reason to. In order to learn more about these great people, I used the link for the YouTube video. The video was extremely informative, giving the viewer very detailed information about that Maya people.

The maya people, were people of art. Their temples soared hundreds of feet into the air, reaching the heavens. The Maya were able to develop a unique system called hieroglyphic writing. Works of at and sculptures allowed others to understand the Maya's unique sense of style. The Maya's took their unique style to Mexico City where they have built this great city.

The Maya's took the name for the great city they created in Mexico City, from it's only source of water, a well. The Spanish mentioned that live victims were thrown into the sacred cell as a sacrifice to their rain god, who lived in the depths of the well.

The Maya also built a circular building, believed to be an observatory. By carefully watching the starts the Maya's were also able to develop a 365 day calendar and could even predict solar eclipses. El Castillo was built by the Spanish people. the 79 foot pyramid has 365 steps, the same amount of days in a solar year. It guards a testament to the Maya's skill at math and astronomy. Twice a year during the day of the Spring and Autumn equinox, a shadow falls on El Castillo, in the shape of a serpent, until it lines up with the head of El Castillo.

I obtained all of my information from the YouTube link. I believe the cite to be creditable because all the information has proper video to go with it, and were facts that I have all heard before.