Aztec
What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?
Tenochtitlan
What mountain range was the center of the Inca Empire?
Andes Mountains
Were the Maya organized into one unified empire or many independent city-states?
Many independent city-states
What are the four main factors in our political power formula?
1. Religion
2. Military
3. Tribute
4. Monumental Architecture
What animal did the Inca commonly use to carry goods?
Llamas
What system required conquered peoples to provide goods or resources to the Aztec Empire?
Tribute system
What system required subjects to provide labor to the state?
Mita System
What was an important source of political authority for Maya rulers?
Religion/religious legitimacy
How did military conquest help states build power?
It allowed states to expand their territory and bring more people and resources under their control.
What is the largest library in the Americas?
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
What was one major way the Aztecs expanded their empire?
Military Conquest
What was one major way the Inca connected their enormous empire?
An extensive road system
What is the name of this structure (demonstrated wealth and power of Maya rulers) *Show picture
Maya Pyramid
How could religion legitimize a ruler's authority?
Rulers could claim divine or sacred connections, making their political authority appear legitimate.
What food did Europeans initially think was poisonous when it was introduced from the Americas?
Tomatoes
What agricultural technique used artificial islands helped the Aztecs produce food around Lake Texcoco?
Chinampas
What agricultural technique allowed the Inca to farm effectively in mountainous terrain?
Name ONE important Maya city
Tikal, Chichén Itzá, Palenque, or Copán
Why was controlling labor important to states such as the Inca?
Organized labor allowed the state to build infrastructure, produce resources, and maintain its empire.
Which animal native to the Americas was once proposed as the national bird of the United States instead of the bald eagle?
Why did the Aztecs use tribute from conquered peoples?
To obtain resources that supported the empire, including the capital, military, and ruling elite.
How did the Inca maintain control over such a large and diverse empire? (provide at least 2 reasons)
Through roads, administrative centers, labor taxation, military power, and centralized rule.
How did Maya rulers use religion to strengthen their political authority?
They presented themselves as having special connections to the gods and used religious ceremonies and monumental structures to legitimize their rule.
How did monumental architecture help rulers demonstrate and maintain political power in the Americas?
Monumental buildings such as temples, pyramids, and large ceremonial structures demonstrated the wealth and authority of rulers and showed their ability to organize and control large amounts of labor and resources.
Which tropical fruit from the Americas became such a symbol of wealth and hospitality in Europe that people once rented them for parties instead of eating them?
The pineapple