Maya Development
What is the most important crop for the Mayas.
Maize/Corn
List the classes in the Maya Social Pyramid.
Ruler, Nobles & Priests, Merchants & Artisans, Peasants, Enslaved People.
What were glyphs used for?
To communicate
What did conquered people give to the Aztecs?
Tribute goods
Where did the Aztecs build their capital city (Tenochtitlan)?
On an island in Lake Texcoco.
What region did the Mayas settle in?
Mesoamerica
What is the Halach Uinic?
The Aztec Ruler.
What was the daily Maya calendar used for?
Mayas use this calendar to calculate the solar year (365 days).
What were the Aztecs hired as before they became the mighty Aztec Empire?
Mercenaries
Describe the conditions of the Valley of Mexico.
It was high and fertile. Surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and lakes.
What modern country is home to the Maya civilization (historically and present)?
Guatemala
Who helps in building pyramids and temples?
Peasants
What is the 260 day calendar called and used for?
It is called the "Sacred Round." They used it to determine when to hold ceremonies or rituals to honor their Gods.
What caused the Aztecs to end the alliance with the Culhuas?
The Aztecs sacrificed the daughter of the Culhua King. They flayed her and wore her skin to a festival.
What were chinampas and how did they help the Aztecs?
Chinampas were floating gardens used for farming. It helped them grow more food.
Who were the Maya influenced by?
The Maya culture was influenced by the Olmecs.
What did Maya priest do besides rituals?
They offered sacrifices and foretold the future.
Which agricultural technique helped the Maya farm in the mountains?
Terraces
The Aztecs formed the Triple Alliance. They were able escape from their control and build the Aztec Empire.
What is a causeway and why were they important to Tenochtitlan?
A road made from earth materials that is built on water. Causeways helped connect Tenochtitlan to the mainland.
What did the Mayas heavily rely on to survive?
Farming was their main source for food.
Why is it important for Nobles and Priests to know how to read and write?
Nobles served as scribes (people who take notes) and priests read from sacred books.
What is a unique mathematic discovery that the Maya's made?
The concept of zero.
What were the people conquered by the Aztecs allowed to keep? (Opposite of conformity)
Their customs/traditions and languages.
What is the Great Temple and who does it honor?
The Great Temple is a stone pyramid with a double stairway. It is built to honor two Gods, Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc.