March 2022 Flashcards
What makes the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations?
All four are city-based societies dependent on farming
What was the main crop of Mesoamerica and a secondary crop (after the potato) to the Incas?
maize (corn)
What was the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica and which cultures did they influence?
The Olmec; influenced Maya, Toltecs, and Teotihuacanos
Which Mesoamerican cultures had writing?
First the Olmec - basic pictographs
Then the Classic Maya - complete system
Then the Aztecs - back to pictographs
Why didn’t Mesoamerican writing spread to the Inca?
There was no trade or communication between them due to the geography of the Americas
What were the periods of Mayan civilization?
Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic
What were the approximate time periods the three civilizations flourished and which two were concurrent to each other?
Maya: 250- 900 C.E.
Aztecs: 1325 - 1521 C.E.
Inca - 1200ish - 1532 C.E.
Aztec and Inca were concurrent
How was agriculture in the New World different from agriculture form the Old World?
Different crops - and the New World had no draft animals to pull a plow
How were the Maya able to farm in the rainforest?
They practiced slash and burn agriculture
How were the Aztecs able to farm on Lake Texcoco?
They built chinampas (floating gardens)
How were the Incas able to farm in the Andes?
They built terraces and complex irrigation systems
What was common between the religions of the Americas?
They were polytheistic and rulers claimed descendency from gods (duh)
How were their societies divided?
The elite at the top and commoners at the bottom (sometimes slaves)
Why was astronomy so important to the Aztecs and Maya?
For accurate calendars to keep the gods happy, crops growing, and priests in power
Unlike Egypt, what was the function of pyramids in the Americas?
Egypt used them as tombs, but in the Americas it was used it as temples
What did “play ball” mean to the Maya and Aztecs?
Both sport and religious ritual (not good for the losers)
What about its geography made Maya civilization unique?
cities developed and highland and lowland rainforest areas
How did their geography affect Maya politically?
They remained independent city-states who fought each other over resources
What about its geography in the Valley of Mexico made Aztec civilization unique?
Its capital city, Tenochtitlan, was on in island in a lake
What legendary destiny brought the Aztecs to the island?
Seeing an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth
What did the Aztecs have to do to make sure the Sun would rise everyday?
Human sacrifices - cutting out a lot of hearts
What strategy for the empire did the Aztecs have?
Constantly going to war, collecting tribute, control by fear but not micro-managing
How did the Inca hold their huge empire together?
Extensive roads, complex bureaucracy, foot messengers, and llamas as pack animals
Who was the Sapa Inca and from where did he rule?
The “Son of the Sun” (Inti); Cuzco (the capital)
What strategy for the empire did the Inca have?
Constantly going to war, imposing their rules and culture down to the local level (ayllu)
Who was Machu Picchu?
Pachacuti’s royal palace complex that was abandoned and unknown to the Spanish
What was incredible about Inca engineering?
They created earthquake-proof stone walls and amazing rope bridges
What did the Inca have that replaced the need for writing?
quipus
Why was the ability to read Mayan glyphs lost?
Spanish priests burned codices and actively persecuted those who could read Maya
What led to the end of the Classic Maya?
Unknown; probably a combination of over-farming, environmental factors, and war
What led to the end of the Aztecs and the Inca?
the Spanish conquistadors
