GEOGRAPHY
Borders Mesoamerica to the south.
What is the Pacific Ocean?
Beans, corn, and squash.
What are the 3 Sisters?
Most powerful person in Aztec society.
Who was the emperor?
Determined where Mayan people lived and how they dressed.
What is social class?
A type of land that was low and level. Also, fairly flat and fertile.
What were the lowlands?
When farmers move on to new locations.
What is when soil becomes less productive?
Also known as maize.
What is corn?
Four main social classes of the Maya.
What are:
1. King
2. Priests
3. Merchants and craftspeople
4. Farmers
The place where Aztec gods were born.
Where was Teotihuacan?
A method of clearing fields for planting.
What is slash-and-burn?
A large open area where 3 smaller valleys met. Fertile, mild climate, abundant rainfall.
What is the Oaxaca Valley?
Provided additional fertile land for farming.
What are terraces?
Considered a mother culture.
Who were the Olmec?
To nourish the gods.
Why did the Maya make human sacrifices?
A folded book made of tree bark paper.
What is a codex?
Now known as Mexico City.
What is Tenichtitlan?
Built by the Aztecs to increase the amount of fertile land.
What are chinampas?
Lowest social class of the Aztecs.
Who were serfs and slaves?
Its location helped the Zapotec defend themselves.
What is Monte Alban?
A member of a high class in society who inherits his or her status.
What is a noble?
Challenges of living in the highlands.
What are earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?
Where cacao, palm, and avocados were grown.
Where are the lowlands?
Social group that makes up the majority of the Mayan population.
Who were farmers?
To control the weather and increase harvests.
Why did the Maya look to their gods?
A Spanish conqueror who sought gold and other riches in the Americas.
What is a conquistador or conquistadors?