Maya vocabulary 1
a building with a religious use or meaning
a temple
A group of peoples who have inhabited a region that includes the Yucatan Peninsula. The dates that they thrived were 200 - 900 CE
The Maya
This can be found in a Mayan boy's hair before he turns 14.
a white bead
What mathematical contribution did the Maya make.
The concept of zero
a society, or group of people, with similar religious beliefs, beliefs, customs, language, and form of government
civilization
A civilization that thrived in present-day central Mexico from 1325 to 1521 CE
Aztec
How did the Aztecs travel around in Tenochtitlán? Include both what they used and how they travelled.
They used canoes to travel in the canals.
I perform human sacrifices, educate the young boys, advise emperors, and perform marriage ceremonies and other celebrations. I am VERY important
priest
Besides corn what were some of the other crops the Maya farmers grew? Name three.
beans, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and pumpkins
a city that is an independent political state with its own ruling government
a city-state
a year that has 366 days, or one day more than all other years, and occurs every four years
leap year
When a 14 year old girl became an adult what did her mother cut from her waist?
a red string with a seashell
The main development that the Maya created by using only their eyes and the position of stars.
The Calendar
The Aztec warriors captured warriors from the conquered city-states and sometimes used them for this purpose.
Human sacrifice (they believed the sun god would be pleased and that the world needed human blood for the sun to continue rising)
Moving around often in search of food; not settled in one place
nomadic
When Aztec warriors conquered city-states they sent these things back to their capital, Tenochtitlán. (name at least 5)
Gold, silver, jade, turquoise, seashells, fish, turtles, animal skins and pottery
I am an aztec but before I settled down, I moved around alot looking for food. I never really had one place to call home. What word would you use to describe me then?
nomadic
What was the Maya people's main crop
corn
a picture or symbol representing an idea, an object, a syllable, or a sound
hieroglyph
a person who has the training or authority to carry out religious ceremonies or rituals
priest
Which job did Maya women an girls do?
cook and make pottery
an expert in the study of ancient people and the objects from their time period that remain, generally including stones and bones, and pottery
archaeologist
this "obsidian" was a very sharp. They used it as knives and weapons. We use it still today in eye surgery. Where does obsidian come from in nature?
Volcanoes (volcanic glass)
An ancient book with pictograms and pages that opened like an accordion
codex
In order to feed the soldiers and all of the people of this great city on the lake, the Aztec created these islands or "floating gardens".
chinampas
I was the last and most powerful ruler of Tenochtitlan in the early 1500s
Moctezuma II
At about what age did Maya children begin new responsibilities like chores?
age five
the style and construction of a building
architecture
to give or to kill something for a religious purpose
sacrifice
Why did mothers hang objects from the babies' noses?
to encourage crossed eyes because they thought it was beautiful
the study of the stars, planets, and other features of outer space
astronomy
A group of countries or territories under the control of one government or one ruler
empire
A chair attached to two beams and carried on the shoulders of several people
litter
The god of the sun told the Aztec people to look for a sign for where they should build their city. What was the sign?
An eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus
I am the ruler of an empire. Hint - not my name but what title do they call me?
emperor
The dates that the Maya civilization thrived. Be sure to include the ERA
200-900 CE
a historical region that includes what are today the central and southern parts of Mexico and the northern parts of Central America
Mesoamerica
a special event to mark a person’s entry into a certain group or status
initiation ceremony
How did the Maya view marriage in farming families?
As arranged agreements between families, like business deals.
a day in which daytime and nighttime are about the same length, which happens twice every year
equinox
A period of time in which an emperor, king, or queen rule
reign
A raised road built over water to connect islands to a mainland
a causeway
The name of the lake where Tenochtitlán was built.
Lake Texcoco
My job is to draw pictograms and write down EVERYTHING.
scribe
The year that Tenochtitlan was founded
1325 CE