Mesoamerica Flashcards
Maya Empire
Empire of the Mayans
Yucatan
A peninsula in Mexico where the Mayans were located
Tikal
Major Mayan city in northern Guatemala
Independent city state w god King at the head
Cacao
Bean that was used as currency sometimes
Slash-and-burn
Farming method
Farmers burned the existing vegetation and planted new crops in the ashes
Terraces
Farming method
Farmers would plant crops here on hillsides
Glyph
Writing system using pictures/symbols that stand for words or syllables
Mayans used it
Codex
Important historical events recorded in this book
Popul Vuh
Book about the creation of earth and everything
Aztec Empire
Empire in Mexico
Valley of Mexico
Large basin at base of mountains
Large shallow lakes, fertile soil, accessible resources
Teotihuacan
City in the valley of Mexico
Good trading
Evidence shows that they didn’t try to conquer anyone
Obsidian
Most valuable trading item of teotihuacan
Used to make razor-sharp weapons
Quetzalcoatl
Toltec ruler wanted people to worship this god (feathered serpent) and stop human sacrifice
Triple Alliance
Aztecs ally with Texcoco and Tlacopan
Alliance became the leading power in the valley
This empire was divided into provinces and a pop of 5-15 mill
Tenochtitlan
Capital of the Aztec empire
People looked for a sign from their gods (eagle w serpent in mouth on a cactus)
Built new city on the site of the sign
Montezuma II
Aztec empire weakened under him
Population was growing so more need for tribute and sacrifice which caused rebellions
Inca Empire
Empire on pacific coast of South America
Pachacuti
Ruler of Inca empire that expanded the empire a lot
Quechua
Language of the Incans
Cuzco
Capital of Inca Empire
All roads in the empire led to Cuzco
Ayllu
Small community/family group who work together for the common good
Mita
Incan empire requirement that all able-bodied citizens have to work for the state for a certain number of days per year
Quipu
Knotted strings used by the Incas for numerical things
Atahualpa
Incan ruler who was kidnapped and killed by Pizarro
Colony
Spanish wanted to settle new lands so they had colonies
Conquistadors
Explorers/soldiers from Spain who were sent to new world to conquer land and expand the empire
Hernando Cortes
Conquered the Aztecs
Won because of superior weaponry and native groups sided w them bc they didn’t like their harsh practices
Francisco Pizarro
Conquered the Incan empire by killing the ruler which abled him to take it easily
Mestizo
The product of Spanish colonists and natives
Encomienda
Spain granted land to colonists including the right to use natives as labor source
Machu Pichu
Incan city
