Mesoamerica
What region stretches from central Mexico into southern Central America?
Mesoamerica
What was one major environmental challenge faced by the Maya?
Rain forests
What was the name of the large planned city that existed before the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán?
Teotihuacán
What civilization built a huge empire in the Andes Mountains?
The Inca
What landform allowed the first peoples to travel from Asia into the Americas?
A land bridge
What civilization is known for creating giant stone heads?
The Olmec
What crop was extremely important to Maya society?
Maize
What was one possible cause of the collapse of Teotihuacán?
Periods of drought
What Inca ruler greatly expanded the empire?
Pachacuti
What was one geographic challenge faced by the Maya?
What volcanic glass did the Olmec trade for and use to make sharp tools?
Obsidian
What mathematical concept did the Maya develop or use that was especially important?
The concept of zero
What did Teotihuacán and Tenochtitlán have in common?
They were very large, planned cities.
What system required people to provide labor for public projects?
Forced labor
What did many early American religions have in common?
Many believed in multiple gods connected to the natural world.
What natural feature did the Maya use to collect and store water?
Cenotes
What subjects did Maya calendars help people keep track of?
Planting/harvesting and religious ceremonies
What did religion and political power have in common in Aztec society?
Religion was closely connected to government and political power.
What was one major accomplishment of the Inca Empire?
Road network
How were Caribbean societies different from many Mesoamerican and South American societies?
They were generally smaller and more peaceful.
Name two ways the Olmec or Zapotec influenced later Mesoamerican civilizations.
Examples include religious traditions, writing, calendars, architecture, cities, trade, or other cultural ideas.
Name two achievements of the Maya.
Astronomy, the concept of zero, calendars, mural paintings, or other achievements discussed in the unit.
Name two features of Aztec religion discussed in the unit.
Belief in an afterlife, human sacrifice, and religious codices.
How did Pachacuti help expand the Inca Empire?
He conquered and added new territories, greatly increasing the size of the empire.
Name one geographic feature from each of the four major regions studied in Topic 10.
Answers depend on the regions taught; examples from the unit include rain forests, mountains/Andes, and Caribbean islands.