Download ComparingAztec Maya IncaNotes

Name _____________
Date ________ Pd ___
World History
AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS—MAYA, INCA, AZTEC
I. Civilizations of America
 While ____________________ civilizations were developing in the Mediterranean & Asia…advanced societies
were developing in ____________________ in the ______________________
 During the _________________, prehistoric nomads migrated across the _________________________ between
Asia & America
 During the Neolithic Revolution, these nomads settled into _____________ villages; Some of which became
advanced civilizations.
 The first American civilization were people known as the _____________ in an area known as
_____________________
o The Olmecs are often called the “________________________________” because they influenced other
Mesoamerican societies
o The Olmecs developed a strong _______________ network in Mesoamerica that brought them great
_______________________
o The Olmecs used their wealth to build large stone _________________ & __________________ to
honor their leaders & gods
o Olmec trade allowed them to ________________ their __________________ to other
Mesoamericans .
o For __________________________ reasons, the Olmec civilization ____________________ by 400 B.C. but
their cities & symbols influenced later cultures, especially the _________________
II. Mayan Empire
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The Maya lived in present-day southern __________,
Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, & ____________
One of the most ____________ civilizations in the world
before the arrival of Europeans; Reached its highest
development from about _______________________
Mayans were polytheists who built large _____________
to honor gods—___________ than Egyptian & Kush
pyramids but were much more detailed &
_____________; contained ________ (like the Romans!)
Accomplishments of the Mayans:
 Developed system of mathematics &
______________________
 Created accurate calendar with _________ days that
could accurately predict _____________ & finding
the day of the week many thousands of years in the
past or _____________
 Had exact knowledge of ______________________
& cycle of Venus
 Developed ___________________-style writing to record astronomical observations, calendar calculations, &
__________________ information
Mayan Empire Video Questions:
1. What was happening in Europe while the Mayan civilization was rising in Mesoamerica?
2. What was the principle crop of the Mayans?
3. What happen to all (but 4) Mayan books?
4. How would the Mayans religiously use their captured rivals?
5. While the Toltec Empire (they conquered the Mayans) was collapsing, what era was Europe
experiencing?
III. Inca Empire
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The Inca built one of the largest & _______________ empires in the world
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It began in the mid-_________ & was located on the western coast of _____________________
Incan Empire extended more than ________________ & included present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru,
Bolivia, & Argentina—huge territory covered ___________, mountains, & ______________
Used ________________ mountain-sides & _________________ streams for farming
Most famous city was ________________________
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Accomplishments of the Inca:
 Had no ___________, but created record system
called ________ (knots tied to colored _______)
 Built suspension ______________
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Built 10,000 miles of __________
Excellent goldsmiths
1st civilization to harvest ______________
Inca Empire Video Questions:
1. Amazingly, what material was not used by the Inca to build their walls and temples?
2. What kind of crops did the Inca produce?
3. Since they had never seen horses or sheep, what kind of animal did the Inca depend on?
4. How did Incan women pay their labor tax?
IV. Aztec Empire
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The Aztec Empire began lasted from ________________ (conquered by Spanish __________________)
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The capital, ________________, was located on the present-day site of __________________
The Aztecs were founded by the _______________, (came from west Mexico)
_____________ predicted the Mexicans would found a great civilization where they an ____________ perched on
a ______________ growing out of a rock
Aztec civilization was created on _________________—strategic with abundant food supplies &
________________ for transportation
When ____________ by Spanish conquistadors, Tenochtitlán was possibly the _______________ city in the
world____________ was the basis of the Aztec economy, but land was not _________ enough to produce enough
_____________ for the population; Aztecs created chinampas (_____________), by putting mud on huge mats
made of woven reeds & placed them in ________—farmed on soil on these “_________”
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Aztec were excellent _____________ who expanded their empire by conquering their _______________
Aztecs were the “people of the sun” who honored _________ gods, especially sun god; used human
____________ to keep the gods happy—victim’s ___________ was removed & priest ____________ as sign of
respect.
Aztec Empire Video Questions:
1. What image can be found today on the Mexican flag?
2. Were the Aztec polytheistic or monotheistic people?
3. The Aztec year consisted on ______ months, each lasting _______ days.
4. Where did most Aztec sacrificial victims come from?
5. Who was responsible for conquering and destroying the Aztec Empire?