Tribes
Lived in the lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico (America) about 3,500 years ago. Carved huge stone heads. Studied the stars and developed a calendar.
The Olmec
Lived in the Four Corners region, where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona meet. Also irrigated the desert in order to farm. Created a network of roads to link dozens of towns. Built large buildings with walls of stone and adobe (sundried brick) that the Spanish called pueblos.
The Anasazi
The process of spreading ideas from one culture to another
diffusion
In the 1300s settled around Lake Texcoco in central Mexico. Built their capital, Tenochtitlan in the middle of the ake and used causeways to link it to the mainland. Heavy taxes and the sacrifice of huge numbers of prisoners of war sparked many revolts.
The Aztec
Built mounds for burials and religious ceremonies.
A ceremonial dinner to show off a family's wealth. Could last for many days and involved giving gifts to everyone.
potlatch
Located far to the south of the Aztec. Its capital was Cuzco Had more than 10 million people and stretched for almost 2,500 milesMaintained a system of roads that covered more than 10,000 miles. Runners carried with them a quipu, a cord or string with knots that could represent various numbers of things.
Inca
The entire way of life of a people, including their homes, clothing, economy, arts, and government.
Culture
Lived in present day New York state. Lived in Long Houses. Women had political power.
Formed a five-nation leauge in the 1500's.
The Iriquois
Lived in the rain forests of what are today Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and southern Mexico. Developed city-states from Central America to southern Mexcio. Created a 365 day calendar. Around 900 CE abandoned their cities.
The Maya
A region in which people share a similar way of life
A culture region
A system of rule by lords who ruled their lands but owed loyalty and military service to a monarch
feudalism
Lived in present-day southern Arizona. 2,000 years ago dug networks of irrigations ditches for farming.
The Hohokam
A community of people who share common customs , language, and rituals. Members saw themselves as a distinct people who shared a common origin. Their leaders often made decisions for the group.
A tribe