History
How did the arrival of the Europeans impact the native inhabitants of Latin American?
Disease, conquest, forced labor, destruction of cultures, and political takeover
How did the Incan empire expand?
Military conquest and alliances
How did the Aztecs strengthen their economy?
Tribute from conquered people, a large market system, trade routes, craftsman. Cacao beans as currency.
What belief shaped who had power and authority in the Maya civilization?
Rulers believed to be divine - descended from or chosen by the gods. Kings severed as the people between humans and the gods, giving them absolute religious and political authority.
How were the Mayan kings similar to Egypt pharaohs?
Both are divine rules - believed to be gods or god-chosen. Both built large architecture, both were buried with great ceremony and wealth, and both had absolute power combining their religious and political authority.
What accomplishments in math did Mayans create?
The concept of zero and positional number systems (led to advanced math/astronomy/calendars)
How did the Maya adapt to the environment to create farmland?
Slash-and-burn, terraced hillsides and drained wetlands using field systems (chinampa-like)
Why would the city of Tenochtitlan fall so soon after the arrival of the Spanish?
Smallpox, Cortes allied with enemies of Aztecs, emperor Montezuma II captured and the Spanish had superior weapons.
How was the structure of the Mayan government different from the structure of the Incan government?
Maya had decentralized city-states ruled by their own kings (similar to Ancient Greece). Inca had highly centralized empire under one ruler.
How was the Mayan social structure similar to other civilizations we have studied?
Like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India, the Maya had a hierarchical social pyramid: kings/priests on top, then nobles and warriors, then merchants/craftsman, then farmers, and enslaved people at the bottom.
What did the Incan system of roads and bridges accomplish?
Connected the empire, allowed rapid movement of armies/goods, increased communication and strengthened central government control.
How did China and the Incans create similar methods for farming?
Terraced farming
How did the Conquistadors impact the export of gold and silver from the New World to Spain?
They looted existing treasures and set up mining using forced indigenous and enslaved African labor.
How were the Mayan city-states similar to Greek city-states?
Mayans had jungle/swampland etc that separated each individual city-state similar to Greece with the mountains. The Mayan city-states had disagreements/conflict just like in Greece as well.
What connection was there between Aztec ceremonial sacrifice and agriculture?
The Aztecs believed human sacrifice was needed to feed the sun god so the sun would rise and crops would grow. They linked the agricultural cycles directly to appeasing gods through blood sacrifice.
How did the arrival of the Spanish affect the Inca civilization?
Pizarro, leading the Spanish, conquered the Inca and captured/executed emperor Atahualpa. They also exploited the civil war, introduced disease and dismantled the government and religion
How did the Aztecs adapt to their environment?
Chinampas (in lake Texcoco) and causeways
What is the difference between an permanent slave and an indentured servant?
A permanent slave is owned for life without freedom - children inherit this from their parents. An indentured servant works for a set number of years to pay off a debt and then is technically free.
How did the Inca control their vast empire?
Why were the Aztecs so unpopular with their neighbors?
The Aztecs demanded heavy tribute from conquered people. This created resentment - which is why so many neighboring groups worked with Cortes to help defeat the Aztec Empire.
What type of architecture from the Mayans was similar to Mesopotamians/Sumerians?
Steeped pyramids are similar to Mesopotamia (both large, terraced temples for religious ceremonies.
How did the Tenochtitlan's geography allow the Aztecs to protect their territory?
Built on an island with natural water as a defense. Enemies would have to cross the causeways which the Aztecs could cut off.
How was the Incan government affected by the system of roads that were built?
Road system made governing over a huge geographic area possible, armies could be deployed quickly, and admin could travel to enforce laws.
Why was Tenochtitlan built on the swampy shore of Lake Texcoco?
According to Aztec legend, their god told them to build where they saw an eagle eating a snake on a cactus. This sign appeared on the island. The location also offered defense, water, fish and the ability to build chinampas.