Geography
What regions made up Mesoamerica and the Andes?
Mesoamerica includes southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Andes region includes Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile.
What were the religious beliefs of most Mesoamerican and Andean cultures?
They practiced polytheism and animism—believing gods controlled nature and that natural elements had spirits.
What were some architectural achievements of the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas?
Maya: pyramids and observatories; Aztecs: temples and aqueducts; Incas: stone buildings and Machu Picchu.
How was the Maya government organized?
Independent city-states ruled by kings; some alliances and frequent wars.
How did early humans first arrive in the Americas?
They crossed a land bridge from Asia to North America via the Bering Strait during the Ice Ages.
What roles did kings and priests play in early American religions?
Kings were often considered divine and priests led rituals and sacrifices to communicate with the gods.
What contributions did the Olmecs make to later civilizations?
Built first pyramids, carved massive stone heads, possibly developed writing and calendars.
How did the Aztec Empire form and expand its territory?
Formed by the Mexica at Tenochtitlan; expanded via the Triple Alliance and warfare.
What physical features made Mesoamerica ideal for agriculture?
Warm climate, volcanic soil, rivers, and tropical rainforests supported agriculture.
What was the significance of the Popol Vuh and codexes?
The Popol Vuh was a sacred Maya text of myths and history; codexes were Aztec books used to record religious and historical information.
Name two scientific or mathematical advancements made by the Maya or Aztecs.
Maya: 365-day calendar, concept of zero. Aztecs: astronomy, geometry.
How did the Inca government structure and control its large population?
Strong central government with provinces, governors, and local leaders managing ayllus.
What were the advantages and challenges of living in the Andes Mountains?
Advantages included rich fishing along the coast and Amazon River access. Challenges were cold temperatures, rocky terrain, and high elevations.
Why did some cultures practice human sacrifice, and how did this differ among the Maya, Aztec, and Inca?
To honor gods and maintain universal balance. Maya gave blood, Aztecs sacrificed prisoners, Incas mainly sacrificed animals.
What was a quipu, and how was it used by the Inca?
A knotted string system used for record keeping—numbers, data, and census information.
What were some causes for the decline of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations?
Maya: drought and warfare; Aztec: Spanish conquest and disease; Inca: civil war and conquest.
Name two civilizations that lived in Mesoamerica and two that lived in the Andes.
Mesoamerica: Olmecs, Maya, Aztecs. Andes: Inca, Moche, Nazca, Chavín.
Name one major god from the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations and describe their roles.
Maya: Chac (rain), Aztec: Huitzilopochtli (sun/war), Inca: Inti (sun god).
Describe two artistic or cultural accomplishments of the Aztecs.
Created jewelry and feathered garments; passed down oral stories and poems.
Describe two agricultural techniques used to grow crops in early American civilizations.
Slash-and-burn (Maya), chinampas (Aztec), and terraces (Inca).