Early Civilizations
This civilization is often called the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica because many later cultures built on its ideas.
What is the Olmec civilization?
The Maya used this method of clearing land by cutting down trees and burning them to fertilize soil.
What is slash-and-burn farming?
These beans were so valuable in Maya society that they were used as money and to make a special drink for nobles.
What is cacao?
The Aztecs migrated into central Mexico and eventually built a powerful empire with this city at the center.
What is Tenochtitlan?
When crops failed, many Mesoamerican people believed it meant this.
What is the gods were angry?
Massive stone heads carved from basalt by the Olmecs are believed to represent these powerful figures.
What are rulers?
These man-made floating gardens allowed people to farm on lakes.
What are chinampas?
The Mayan calendar that caused worldwide excitement in 2012 because people thought it predicted the end of the world.
What is the Mayan Long Count Calendar?
Before building their empire, the Aztecs often worked as these paid soldiers for other groups.
What are mercenaries?
The Aztecs performed human sacrifices mainly to honor Huitzilopochtli,god of two things.
What is the sun and war god?
This civilization developed one of the most advanced hieroglyphic writing systems in the Americas.
Who were the Maya?
These three crops—corn, beans, and squash—were grown together because they helped each other grow.
What are the Three Sisters?
In Mesoamerican societies, what you wore often depended on this factor.
What is social class?
The Aztecs built their capital city on this type of location in Lake Texcoco.
What is a small island in the middle of a lake?
The famous Aztec prophecy described an eagle holding a snake while sitting on this plant.
What is a cactus?
In many Mesoamerican societies, these advisors—often from royal families—helped guide and support the king.
What is the council (or priesthood)?
This crop, also called corn, became one of the most important foods grown in the Americas.
What is maize?
The Maya used this type of writing system made up of symbols representing words and sounds.
What are hieroglyphs?
This modern country’s flag includes the symbol of an eagle holding a snake on a cactus.
What is Mexico?
The top of the social pyramid and head of government.
Who is the king?
In the social hierarchy, this group made up the lowest level and produced most of the food for society.
Who were farmers/slaves?
These foods were originally native to the Americas before contact with Europe: tomatoes, potatoes, and this flowering seed crop.
What are sunflowers?
This ceremonial sport used a rubber ball and sometimes ended with players being sacrificed to the gods.
What is the Mayan ball game?
This powerful tribe allied with the Spanish and sent over 100,000 warriors to help defeat the Aztecs.
Who were the Tlaxcalans?
Many conquered tribes eventually turned against the Aztecs because they demanded these two things.
What are high taxes (tribute) and human sacrifices?