Mesoamerican Geography & Agriculture
Fill in the blank: Machu Picchu's structures included temples, royal residences, and ________________.
aqueducts
What structures were found in Olmec cities?
temples, pyramids, and ball courts
What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?
Tenochtitlán
What farming technique did the Inca use due to lack of flat land?
terrace farming
What mathematical concept did the Maya develop?
the concept of zero
True of False: Each Mayan city was an independent city-state ruled by a king.
True
Why is the Olmec civilization considered important?
it is the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica
What was built on the lake to help feed the Aztec population?
chinampas (artificial fields)
What was Pachacuti’s significance to the Inca Empire?
he expanded the empire rapidly
What writing system did the Maya use?
glyphs
What farming technique was commonly used in Mesoamerica?
slash-and-burn agriculture
What determined where people lived and how they dressed in Mayan society?
social class
What type of religion did the Aztecs practice?
polytheistic
What animals did the Inca raise for their meat and wool?
llamas and alpacas
What impressive network did the Inca construct for transportation?
roads
What was a key factor in linking Mesoamerican cities together?
trade
Name three major Mayan cities.
El Mirador, Tikal, and Chichén Itzá
What factors helped the Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire?
superior weapons, diseases like smallpox, and alliances with enemies of the Aztecs
What are the three metals used by Pre-Inca artisans?
gold, silver, and copper
Where was Machu Picchu built?
high on a mountain in Peru
What are the three geographic factor that influenced the development of Mesoamerican civilizations?
fertile floodplains in the lowlands, flat, fertile land in the highlands, and rainy climate of the lowland
What happened to the captain of the losing team in the Mayan ball game?
they were sacrificed to the gods
What was the name of the grand pyramid in Tenochtitlán?
Templo Mayor
What was the capital of the Inca Empire?
Cusco
What were the Inca’s rope bridges used for
crossing rivers and deep canyons