ch. 2 vocab Flashcards
Civilizations
an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of government, social structure, religion, technology, and agriculture practices have been reached
Mesoamerica
a cultural region centered around southern Mexico in which a number of early America civilizations developed
Polytheistic
the belief in or worship of more than one God
City-state
a self-governing region consisting of a city and its surrounding territory
Astronomy
closely watching the stars to keep track of yearly patterns such as seasons
Calendars
a tool the shows important dates
Hieroglyphics
a symbol
Empire
a group of countries or regions controlled by one ruler
Plateaus
high flat areas of land
Mummified
to preserve a body by embalming it and wrapping it in cloth
Emperor
a ruler of a empire
Sapa Inca
The only Inca
Allyus
an organized family into units of 10-20 people
Terraces
a flat raised area carved into slope
Terraces farming
farming on mountains carved into terraces
Irrigation canals
a human made channel across land that moves water from its source to where it’s needed for growing crops
Litters
a vehicle consisting of a chair or bed carried on two poles by people or animals
Aqueduct
a channel or canal made for moving water across land
Tenochtitlan
a great city built by the Aztecs
Montezuma II
was the 9th and the last true empire of the ancient Aztec civilization
Chinampas
floating gardens
Adobe
a type of clay
Causeways
a raised roadway across a swamp or body of water
Epidemic
a widespread outbreak of a contagious disease
Multicropping
planting one crop and harvesting it and then immediately planting another
Intercropping
planting multiple types of crops together
Palisade
a fence, commonly made of wooden poles standing one end, that surrounds a settlement to protect it from attack
Moat
a wide, water-filled ditch to surround a settlement or building to protect it from attack
Bluff
a high cliff, often overlooking a river
Earthen mounds
a flat-topped large rectangular sometimes circular mound
Hierarchy
a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked according to status or authority
Tribute
an offering or payment to a leader or ruler
