People
his first major civilization, which lived along the Gulf Coast of Mexico about 3,000 years ago, is known as the "Mother Culture".
Who are the Olmec?
The Maya used this primary tool to plan important religious ceremonies and track the agricultural cycle.
What is a calendar?
Aztecs were located in
What is Andays Mountains?
This type of picture or symbol was used in the advanced Maya writing system to represent words or sounds.
What is a glyph?
This tiny, nutrient-packed seed from a flowering plant in the mint family was a staple for Aztec warriors and is still a popular "superfood" today.
What is chia?
This emperor was the ruler of the Aztec Empire when the Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, arrived in 1519.
Who is Moctezuma?
This god is the god that they made human sacrifices to.
What is the sun god?
This swampy island in Lake Texcoco was the chosen site for the capital of the Aztec Empire.
Where is Tenochtitlán?
This "floating garden" technology allowed the Aztecs to farm on the surface of Lake Texcoco.
What are chinampas?
These beans were used both as a delicious drink for the elite and as a form of currency.
What is cacao?
The Aztecs believed this practice was necessary to keep the sun moving and provide the gods with the "precious water" of life.
What is human sacrifice?
This lowland region in southeast Mexico is where the Maya civilization primarily flourished.
What is the Yucatán Peninsula?
The object used to keep records.
What is Quipu?
This staple crop, also known as corn, was foundational to the Maya diet and civilization.
What is Maize?
This Spanish leader arrived in 1519 and led the troops that ultimately conquered the Aztec Empire.
Who is Hernán Cortés?
This screen-fold book made of bark paper was used by the Maya to record their rituals, history, and religious beliefs.
What is a codex?
Building used for looking at the sky.
What is an observatory?
The Maya were among the first in the world to develop this mathematical concept, represented by a shell symbol.
What is Zero?
This Maya farming method involved clearing the rainforest by cutting down trees and burning them to fertilize the soil.
What is slash-and-burn?
In Maya society, these were the people at the top of the social class who held the most power and often served as priests.
Answer: Who are the elite?
This "feathered serpent" was a major deity worshipped by both the Maya and the Aztecs.
Who is Quetzalcoatl?
Located in the center of Mayan cities.
What is a pyramid?
This volcanic glass was a vital resource used by Mesoamericans to create extremely sharp tools and weapons.
What is obsidian?
These three crops—corn, beans, and squash—are often called by this nickname because they were grown together.
What are the Three Sisters?