Main Ideas
One civilization that existed in South America prior to the Inca came to power.
The Chavin, Nazca, and Moche
What corn was called by Mesoamerican peoples.
Maize
The first known Mesoamerican peoples, also known as the "rubber people."
The Olmecs
City built by the Inca in the Andes Mountains at 8,000 feet in elevation.
Machu Picchu
The Aztecs worshipped this supreme god who represented the all powerful forces of the heavens.
Ometeotle
The first Mesoamerican civilization that appeared around 1200 BC.
The Olmecs
A sophisticated writing system based on pictures which was developed by the Maya.
Hieroglyphs
This group established itself in the city of Tenochtitlan, which was in present day Mexico City.
The Aztecs
Body of water that runs far below the ancient city of Machu Picchu.
The Urubamba River
According to Aztec legends, they were driven to the swamps and islands of this lake where they built the city of Tenochtitlan.
Lake Texcoco
The length in time that the Maya and the Toltec ruled Mesoamerica.
Nine centuries (900 years)
Goods or money paid by conquered peoples to their conquerors.
Tribute
These peoples had a very advanced calendar system and believed that the world as we know it would end on December 23rd, 2012.
The Maya
The name of the geographic area where Chichen Itza, Tical, and the Usumacinta River are located.
The Yucatan Peninsula
The name used for areas of Mexico and Central America where ancient empires flourished.
Mesoamerica
The first major city in Mesoamerica that thrived until 800 A.D.
Teotihuacan
A volcanic glass used in tools, mirrors, and knives with razor sharp edges that were used in human sacrifices.
Obsidian
A warlike peoples who controlled much of Northern and Central Mexico, built pyramids, and worshipped a god named Quetzalcoatl.
The Toltecs
The oldest major city in the Americas located in the Supe River Valley of Peru.
Caral
Name of the Maya calendar that was based on a belief in cycle of creation and destruction.
The Long Count
Describe the society that the Inca developed.
A well-organized militaristic empire with a highly structured environment.
A system of knotted strings the Inca used instead of a writing system.
The quipu
This culture from Peru prospered from approximately 200 B.C. to 600 A.D. and are known for constructing the Nazca Lines.
The Nazca
A major urban center that developed near the Pacific coast, south of present day Ecuador around 300 A.D.
Moche
Name of the 16th century Spanish bishop who recorded his burning of many Mayan books.
Bishop Diego de Landa