These three civilizations were all polytheistic, worshipping many gods related to nature.
What are the Maya, Inca, and Aztec?
This crop was the most important staple for all three civilizations.
What is maize (corn)?
In all three civilizations, this group was at the top of the social hierarchy.
Who are the nobles or priests?
The Aztec Empire was ruled by this single, powerful leader.
The Aztec Empire was ruled by this single, powerful leader.
The Maya civilization was located primarily in this region of Central America.
What is the Yucatán Peninsula?
This civilization practiced human sacrifice on a massive scale to please the sun god Huitzilopochtli.
Who are the Aztecs?
The Aztecs built these floating gardens on Lake Texcoco to grow crops.
What are chinampas?
In the Inca Empire, this ruler was seen as a living god.
Who is the Sapa Inca?
The Inca kept records using this system of knotted strings.
What is a quipu?
The Inca Empire stretched along this mountain range.
What are the Andes Mountains?
This civilization believed their rulers were descendants of the sun god Inti.
Who are the Inca?
The Inca used these stepped fields carved into mountainsides to farm.
What are terraces?
The Aztec social system included these enslaved people who could buy their freedom.
Who are the slaves (tlacotin)?
The Maya were divided into these independent political units.
What are city-states?
The Aztecs built their capital city on an island in this lake.
What is Lake Texcoco?
This civilization built temples and pyramids to honor gods like Itzamna and Chac.
Who are the Maya?
The Maya developed this technique to clear land for farming in the rainforest.
What is slash-and-burn agriculture?
The Maya had this group who specialized in writing, astronomy, and math.
Who are the scribes?
This Incan system divided families into groups for labor and taxation.
What is the ayllu system?
The Maya developed this highly accurate way of measuring time.
What is the Maya calendar?
This civilization performed animal and food sacrifices but avoided large-scale human sacrifices.
Who are the Inca?
The Inca built this extensive structure to move crops and goods throughout their empire.
What are roads (or the Incan road network)?
The Inca used this system of communal labor as part of their social organization.
What is mita?
The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, was located in this modern country.
What is Mexico?
The Inca constructed this famous city high in the Andes, now a major tourist destination.
What is Machu Picchu?