3.1 VOCAB
farming method in which trees and other plants on a plot of land are cut down and burned and ash is used for fertilizer
slash-and-burn-agriculture
artificial island built by the aztecs
chinampa
in Spanish colonial America, a person born in Spain
peninsular
Why was agriculture important to the development of civilizations in Mesoamerica?
Agriculture provided food and allowed early Mesoamericans to live in permanent settlements.
What is the name of the city-state the Aztects built?
Tenochtitlan
Who was the first European to name the south sea now called the Pacific Ocean?
Vasco Nunez De Balboa
What did the Maya gods represent and have control over? Who could communicate with them?
Forces of nature. They believe priests and kings could communicate with them.
symbol that stands for a word, idea or sound
hieroglyphic
a wall to hold back water
dike
in Spanish colonial America, an American-born descendant of Spanish settlers
creole
In what way did the Olmec adapt to their environment?
They used slash and burn agriculture to grow crops where they settled.
Why did the Aztecs built chinampas?
They built these islands to have more land for farming.
What was the cause of death of aztec leader, Moctezuma?
A conquistador Hernan Cortes heard of a rich empire, he sailed to Tenochtitlan and battle broke out.
Mayas built their temples on top of pyramids to be closer to their gods in heaven. They would appease their gods through bloodletting and human sacrifice.
building to see the sky
observatory
a canal or pipe that carries fresh water
aqueduct
in Spanish colonial America, a person of African and European descent
mulatto
In what ways were Zapotecs and Maya indebted to the Olmecs?
Olmec beliefs and practices set a pattern for the Zapotec and Maya cultures.
Who were Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc? What was their pimportance in Aztec culture?
They were the two most important gods that they worshiped. The believed that Huitzilopochtli brought success in battle and made the sun rise. Without human blood, they thought the sun would disappear. This is why they would sacrifice humans mostly prisoners of war. Tlaloc was important because he was the ruler of lightning and rain.
What was the negative impact that the Spanish had on American Indians?
They not only conquered their lands but brought suffering and death through diseases which were lethal to these civilizations.
How did the Maya fall?
Their downfall is attributed to warfare, droughts/food shortages.
colorful tropical bird
quetzal
a leader in the Spanish conquests of America, Mexico and Peru in the 16th century
conquistador
in Spanish colonial America, a person of mixed Spanish and American Indian ancestry
mestizo
Complete the sentence. Each city state had its own _____, while ______ helped run the government.
King, Nobles
What was the two social classes that made up the Aztecs?
Nobles and Commoners. Nobles belonged to families descended from the first Aztec king.
What was the social class structure of the Spanish empire?
1. Peninsulares
2. Creoles
3. Mestizos
4. Mulattoes
What are three Maya achievements?
bowl shaped area
basin
right granted by the Spanish government to its American colonists to demand labor or tribute from American Indians
encomienda
exchange of people, plants and animals, and ideas between the Eastern hemisphere and the Western hemisphere
columbian exchange
What was the Maya social class structure like? Describe the highest to lowest.
3 main groups included:
Nobles: King, High officials, and priests
Middle Class: Minor officials, soldiers, scribes, craft workers
Commoners: Those who raised crops, wove cloth, made pottery
Name two achievements of the Aztecs.
They built aqueducts to carry fresh water across lakes. They also had talented jewelers and artisans.
What was the Columbian Exchange? Name two pros and cons of the Columbian Exchange.
How did the Mayas create a calendar? Why was this important?
They would track the movements of the sun, moon and planets. They used these calendars to plan religious festivals and seasonal farming tasks.