Maya
Aztec
Inca
Vocabulary
History Mix
100

Where was the Maya civilization located?

In and around the Yucatan Peninsula.

100

What were the Aztec best known for?

Being fierce warriors.

100

Which civilization developed a large empire in the Andes Mountains?

The Inca.

100

What is an empire?

A group of countries or territories controlled by one ruler.

100

Which civilization lived in and around the Yucatan Peninsula?

The Maya.

200

What game did the Maya play that was called pok ta pok?

A ball game.

200

Who was the Aztec ruler when Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519?

Moctezuma II.

200

What animal played an important role in the life and culture of the Inca?

The llama.

200

What does nomadic mean?

Moving from place to place in search of food.

200

Who led the Spanish invasion of the Inca Empire?

Francisco Pizarro.

300

What were some of the tallest and most important buildings in Maya cities?

Pyramids and temples.

300

According to the Aztec legend, what did the Aztec find that helped them know where to build their capital?

An eagle sitting on a cactus.

300

What was the Sapa Inca?

The sole ruler of the Inca Empire.

300

What is a city-state?

A city that is an independent political state with its own ruling government.

300

Which civilization was known for building suspension bridges and the Royal Road?

The Inca.

400

What writing system did the Maya use that included pictures and symbols?

Hieroglyphs.

400

What type of story is the Aztec story about the eagle and cactus?

A legend.

400

Why did the Inca build terraces?

To create farmland on steep mountain slopes.

400

What is a hieroglyph?

A picture or symbol representing an object, syllable, or sound.

400

What are the three civilizations we have studied in this unit?

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca.

500

Name one possible reason Maya cities were eventually abandoned.

Possible answers include drought, famine, warfare, overpopulation, environmental problems, deforestation, soil exhaustion, lack of water, political conflict, or decline in trade.

500

What modern-day country was the center of the Aztec civilization?

Mexico.

500

Name two achievements of the Inca.

suspension bridges, terraces, the Royal Road, and their accurate solar calendar.

500

What is a temple?

A building with religious use or meaning.

500

Which civilization lived mainly in central Mexico, and which civilization lived in the Andes Mountains?

The Aztec lived mainly in central Mexico, and the Inca lived in the Andes Mountains.