Vocab
What is a Causeway?
A solid earthen roadway built across water
Who were the Maya?
an ancient civilization that lived in a jungle in current day mexico, guatemala, and Belize
Who were the Aztec?
an ancient civilization that built their capital city on an island in a lake in current day central Mexico.
Who were the Inca?
an ancient civilization that lived in South America in the Andes Mountains
What is a Quipui?
a system of knotted cords used for record-keeping
What does Communal mean?
shared by a community or group
It was used to determine best days for various activities
How did the Aztecs manage to build such a large city on a lake?
They created floating gardens and sank timbers into the water
What is the order of the Inca class structure?
Sapa Inca (emperor), Nobles, Commoners
What was the primary purpose of Incan terraces?
To improve agriculture
What is Slash and Burn Agriculture?
A farming technique that involves cutting away and burning vegetation to clear land for growing crops.
Why might the practice of human sacrifice be considered a reason for the downfall of the Mayans?
It caused conflict with neighboring civilizations
Why did the Aztecs choose to settle on an island in Lake Texcoco?
It was easy to defend and had abundant food sources
How did the Inca manage communication across their vast empire?
Through a system of runners called chasquis
What does the Incan road system suggest about their empire?
They prioritized easy communication and control across their empire
What does Dialect mean?
A regional variety of a language
What was NOT a reason to why the Mayan civilization collapsed?
Invasion by the Europeans
How did the Aztecs transition from mercenaries to empire builders?
They formed an alliance and defeated their former rulers
What role did the ayllu play in Incan society?
It was the foundation of Incan society, similar to a clan
How did the Aztecs adapt and improve upon earlier civilizations' achievements?
They improved on the Mayan calendar and built artificial islands(chinampas) for their city
What is a Social Pyramid?
a social structure in the shape of a pyramid, with layers representing social classes of different rank
What was different about the Mayan political structure?
They operated as separate city-states
What role did warfare play in Aztec society?
It was central to their economy and religion
How did the Inca typically deal with conquered tribes?
They integrated them into the empire but allowed some local customs
What is the Mayan calendar system?
It was based on a 365-day year and a 260-day calendar, they aligned every 52 years