Origins
This word means: "native to the land"
Indigenous
The Maya civilization was located on the ________ Peninsula.
The Yucatan Peninsula.
The Aztecs were also known as the _______ People, who migrated from Northern Mexico.
The Mexica People
The Inca were located in the ______ Mountains in what is modern day Peru.
Andes Mountains
All three groups practiced this type of religion
Polytheistic
These two food items are native to the Mesoamerican region. You may have eaten them at snack...
Avocados and Cocoa powder (chocolate)
The Maya were strongly influenced by this indigenous group who came before them.
The Olmec.
The capital city of the Aztec empire and one of the largest cities in all of Mesoamerica.
Tenochtitlan aka Big T
The Inca capital city, filled with many palaces for each new emperor who reigned.
Cuzco
This group of people committed the most human sacrifices of any Mesoamerican peoples.
The Aztecs
Name the bodies of water.
1. Body of water to the WEST of Mesoamerica
2. Body of water NORTH of Mesoamerica
1. Pacific Ocean
2. Gulf of Mexico
The Maya were separated into smaller ______ - ______.
Independent cities that served as cultural centers for the surrounding regions.
City - States
The Aztecs built _____ to channel fresh water into their cities.
Aqueducts
The ultimate authority in Inca society, who the people believed to be part god.
The Emperor
This group was the largest Mesoamerican civilization with over 12 million people, stretching over 2,500 miles
The Inca
Led by the Zapotec people, this was the original most powerful city in all of Mesoamerica.
Monte Alban
Name the farming technique used by the Maya that involved clearing out forests by cutting down trees and burning the remains.
Slash and Burn
The Emperor was the most powerful person in Aztec society.
However, ______ , _______ , and ________ also had lots of power in Aztec society.
1. Priests
2. Wealthy (rich) people
3. Military Generals
The Inca did not use a written language. Instead, they used a system of strings and knots called a ________
Quipu
European explorers eventually landed in Mesoamerica in the 1400's.
They were looking for a trade route to this continent
Asia
Many Mesoamerican groups used this substance (volcanic glass) to make weapons, tools and pottery
Obsidian
Name the other farming technique used that involved cutting small flat fields into hills or mountains that looked like steps.
Terrace Farming
Name of the Aztec "floating islands" used to grow crops
Chinampas
Name the "lost city" of the Inca which was not discovered until the 1900's, long after the Inca were conquered by the Spanish.
Machu Picchu
Explorers from this European country led the exploration and eventually conquering of the Mesoamerican peoples.
Spain
Name the group which is not located in Central America with the other Mesoamerican groups and the continent it is on.
1. Name of group
2. Continent
1. Inca
2. South America
The Maya used "old school emojis" to write on large accordion style papers called a _________.
1. Old school emojis
2. Large accordion style papers
1. Glyphs
2. Codex
The Aztecs used elaborately carved stone solar discs to help them track the path of the sun (calendars).
Sun Stones
The Inca are famous for their creation of ______ which spanned over 15,000 miles
Roads
Name the two primary reasons the Europeans were able to conquer the Mesoamerican peoples with relative ease.
1. European diseases - Mesoamerican people had no immunity to these diseases and many were killed.
2. European advanced weaponry - Mesoamerican bows and arrows were no match for European guns and cannons.
Bonus: What disease is most responsible for killing Mesoamerican people.