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Social Studies > March 2022 > Flashcards

March 2022 Flashcards

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1
Q

What makes the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations?

A

All four are city-based societies dependent on farming

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2
Q

What was the main crop of Mesoamerica and a secondary crop (after the potato) to the Incas?

A

maize (corn)

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3
Q

What was the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica and which cultures did they influence?

A

The Olmec; influenced Maya, Toltecs, and Teotihuacanos

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4
Q

Which Mesoamerican cultures had writing?

A

First the Olmec - basic pictographs
Then the Classic Maya - complete system
Then the Aztecs - back to pictographs

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5
Q

Why didn’t Mesoamerican writing spread to the Inca?

A

There was no trade or communication between them due to the geography of the Americas

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6
Q

What were the periods of Mayan civilization?

A

Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic

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7
Q

What were the approximate time periods the three civilizations flourished and which two were concurrent to each other?

A

Maya: 250- 900 C.E.
Aztecs: 1325 - 1521 C.E.
Inca - 1200ish - 1532 C.E.
Aztec and Inca were concurrent

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8
Q

How was agriculture in the New World different from agriculture form the Old World?

A

Different crops - and the New World had no draft animals to pull a plow

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9
Q

How were the Maya able to farm in the rainforest?

A

They practiced slash and burn agriculture

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10
Q

How were the Aztecs able to farm on Lake Texcoco?

A

They built chinampas (floating gardens)

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11
Q

How were the Incas able to farm in the Andes?

A

They built terraces and complex irrigation systems

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12
Q

What was common between the religions of the Americas?

A

They were polytheistic and rulers claimed descendency from gods (duh)

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13
Q

How were their societies divided?

A

The elite at the top and commoners at the bottom (sometimes slaves)

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14
Q

Why was astronomy so important to the Aztecs and Maya?

A

For accurate calendars to keep the gods happy, crops growing, and priests in power

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15
Q

Unlike Egypt, what was the function of pyramids in the Americas?

A

Egypt used them as tombs, but in the Americas it was used it as temples

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16
Q

What did “play ball” mean to the Maya and Aztecs?

A

Both sport and religious ritual (not good for the losers)

17
Q

What about its geography made Maya civilization unique?

A

cities developed and highland and lowland rainforest areas

18
Q

How did their geography affect Maya politically?

A

They remained independent city-states who fought each other over resources

19
Q

What about its geography in the Valley of Mexico made Aztec civilization unique?

A

Its capital city, Tenochtitlan, was on in island in a lake

20
Q

What legendary destiny brought the Aztecs to the island?

A

Seeing an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth

21
Q

What did the Aztecs have to do to make sure the Sun would rise everyday?

A

Human sacrifices - cutting out a lot of hearts

22
Q

What strategy for the empire did the Aztecs have?

A

Constantly going to war, collecting tribute, control by fear but not micro-managing

23
Q

How did the Inca hold their huge empire together?

A

Extensive roads, complex bureaucracy, foot messengers, and llamas as pack animals

24
Q

Who was the Sapa Inca and from where did he rule?

A

The “Son of the Sun” (Inti); Cuzco (the capital)

25
Q

What strategy for the empire did the Inca have?

A

Constantly going to war, imposing their rules and culture down to the local level (ayllu)

26
Q

Who was Machu Picchu?

A

Pachacuti’s royal palace complex that was abandoned and unknown to the Spanish

27
Q

What was incredible about Inca engineering?

A

They created earthquake-proof stone walls and amazing rope bridges

28
Q

What did the Inca have that replaced the need for writing?

A

quipus

29
Q

Why was the ability to read Mayan glyphs lost?

A

Spanish priests burned codices and actively persecuted those who could read Maya

30
Q

What led to the end of the Classic Maya?

A

Unknown; probably a combination of over-farming, environmental factors, and war

31
Q

What led to the end of the Aztecs and the Inca?

A

the Spanish conquistadors

Social Studies (11 decks)

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