Download THE AMERICAS Introduction: While complex were emerging in Asia

THE AMERICAS
Introduction:
While complex _______________________ were emerging in Asia, Africa,
and Europe, equally striking developments had occurred in the _______________.
The “encounter” of Europeans with the ______________ of the Americas, brought
the major _______________________ of the world together for the first time and
had a profound ___________________ on all peoples.
1. The earliest humans in the Americas are believed to have migrated here.
Describe the routes that were taken from Asia to South America.
2. What two basic elements separated various groups of peoples in the
Americas?
3. Native Americans experienced their own Neolithic Revolution. What were
the main agricultural crops grown in the Americas?
4. Where did the first civilizations emerge in the Americas?
5. Why are they called “Pre-Columbian”?
6. How were these early civilizations supported?
THE MAYANS (1500 B.C. – 1546 A.D.):
7. What were the earliest civilizations in Meso-America?
8. The Maya created a complex civilization over 3,000 years ago in presentday Guatemala. What were three characteristics of Mayan civilization?
9. Explain the social hierarchy of the Maya and characteristics of each social
group.
10. In addition to being great builders of huge cities with large palaces, temples,
and pyramids, describe at least three other technological achievements of the
Mayans.
11. Briefly describe some of the reasons for the decline of Mayan civilization.
AZTECS (1200 A.D. – 1521 A.D.):
12. The Aztec civilization was created by an alliance of several local groups of
peoples located in the high valley of Mexico. What is the name of the city
that became the capital of Aztec civilization?
13. Their city was built on an island in the middle of a swampy lake. How did
they farm there?
14. Why did they engage in frequent warfare?
15. The Aztecs were great astronomers. What was one way they used their
observations of the sky?
16. Explain the social hierarchy of the Aztec and characteristics of each social
group.
17. The Aztec culture was based on their religion. They worshipped many gods,
but the most important was the Sun God. What were four aspects of their
culture that were based on religion and astronomy?
The Aztecs were conquered by European conquistadors. We will discuss more
about this next week.
THE INCAS (1200 A.D. – 1535 A.D.)
18. Where was the Inca civilization located?
19. What two things were the bases of Incan civilization?
20. The Incas had many achievements. Describe four of them.
21. What two key technologies were the Inca lacking?
22. All of the Pre-Columbian civilizations had some things in common. They
had highly developed cultures and societies. What were two artistic
achievements of these cultures that were seen in their religions?
23. Gender roles were established at birth. How were boys’ masculine roles
established by their fathers?
24.What did girls receive to establish their roles as women?
25.What were the roles of women in Meso-American society?
26.What do you think the roles of men were in these civilizations?
27. Complete this comparison chart of these American Civilizations.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES OF MESO-AMERICA & SOUTH AMERICA
MAYANS
AZTECS
INCAS