Lesson 1
When did the last ice age occur?
The last ice age occured between 100,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Why do you think the Maya used different stones in construction?
They used whatever they could find.
Why do you think the mound was built?
A place to bury their dead, hold religious ceremonies, or store items.
What is the key similarity between the Aztec and Maya civilization.
Both studied the heavens to create complex calendars.
How did the Aztec benefit from digging canals?
The canals helped the Aztecs farm.
How did a surplus of food lead to the first civilizations?
Extra food allowed populations to grow.
What did the Anasazi and Hohokam do to adapt to their environments?
The Hohokam dug networks of irrigation ditches so that they could farm to dessert land. Anasazi also irrigated the dessert in order to farm.
Why did tribes who lived in the Southwest region irrigate the land?
They needed the river's water to grow crops, such as corn, pumpkins, and beans.
How did farming affect communities in the Americas?
Farming produced more food, which meant a greater number of people could live together in permanent settlements.
What features of Olmec society indicate it was a civilization?
They built large stone temples, they had central government and religion. They had different social classes.
How did the last ice age have helped hunters reach North America?
The cold temperatures caused glaciers to form, exposing a land bridge that hunters might have crossed.
How did the physical environment affect American Indian religious practices?
Ceremonies honored aspects of nature needed for survival, such as rain, fish, and corn.
What were the buildings in Anasazi culture made from, and what did the Spanish call it?
They were made from adobe, and the Spanish called them pueblos.
Why did priests have great power in Maya social structure?
The Mayans believed that only priests could preform the ceremonies that assured good harvest and victories in battles.
Why did the Aztecs construct construct causeways?
They needed to link the capital of Tenochtitlan to the mainland.
Why did the Sioux live in tents made of buffalo hide?
These tents were easy to carry when they were on the move.
How did Aztecs' religious beliefs weaken their empire?
The Aztecs sacrificed thousands of people each year to appease their god. They had to wage way to capture more prisoners, which created enemies and weakened the empire.
What major impact did the development of farming have on the settlers of the Americas?
Once farmers could grow a surplus of food, cities, marketplaces, and trade routes began to develop.
What role did women play in Iroquois culture?
Women could help choose clan and tribal leaders, and women could help remove those leaders from power if they didn't work well.
How did harsh climates and warmer climates affect American Indian cultures differently?
People struggled to find enough food and shelter in harsh climates, so they traveled in small hunting bands. In warmer climates, people lived in larger groups and stayed in one place for longer periods.