Mesoamerica Flashcards
What is an Isthmus?
A narrow piece of land connecting two larger pieces
What is Maize?
Corn
What are the theories scientists have about the early settlements on America?
- People came over from Russia on the Bering Strait
2. They came across the Atlantic on boat
What was the lifestyle of the first North Americans?
At first they were hunters and gatherers and moved place to place for food
Why did they farm in Mesoamerica? What crops did they grow?
There was fertile soil and mild climate, they also grew squash, beans, potatoes, peppers, and later maize
About the Olmec
1200 to 1400 B.C, may be the oldest culture in Mesoamerica, it was based on farming and trade, built pyramids and monuments
About the Zapotec
It developed a writing system, built a city Monte Albán, cities were abandoned but archeologists aren’t sure why
About the Maya
Began in the rain forests of Mexico, then spread into Central America
About the Chavin
From 900 to 200 B.C, settled on coasts of Peru and Equador, they built temples by pyramids and monuments
Hohokam-Where was it located?
American southwest desert
Hohokam-What did they grow?
Corn, cotton, beans, and squash
Hohokam-Why did the culture disappear?
Lack of rain caused crops to die
Hohokam-Other
Dug irrigation canals (aqueducts)
Anasazi- Where was it located?
American Southwest
Anasazi- What did they grow?
Corn, cotton, beans, and squash
Anasazi-Why did the culture disappear?
Lack of rain caused crops to die
Anasazi-Other
Built stone buildings called pueblos and built cliff dwellings
Mound Builders- Where was it located?
East of the Mississippi River
Mound Builders-What did they grow?
Mostly hunters and gatherers, they grew some corn
Mound Builders-Why did the culture disappear?
Unknown
Mississippians- Where was it located?
Around the Mississippi and southwest
Mississippians- What did they grow?
We know they were farmers
Mississippians- Why did the culture disappear?
Theories: too little food or attacked
Mississippians- Other
Some cities had over 10,000 people
How was the Maya civilization organized?
They lived in city states which had similar government and culture, they traded and fought with each other
How were kings and queens selected?
Maya believed rulers descended from the sun god Kinich Ahau
Describe the class system.
King was at the top with nobles and priests helping him, Farmers, Artisans, and Hunters paid taxes and built structures
How did religion affect life?
They believed gods controlled events on earth, priests conducted ceremonies to please gods, including human sacrifice
When and where did the Maya live?
Around 300 A.D in southern Mexico and Central America
How did the Maya use natural resources in the area?
Swamps=fresh sinkholes=water
Soil=Planted crops
What are sinkholes?
Also known as cenotes, where the soil has collapsed into a depression
What is a Hogan?
Square houses of the Navajo
Maya Achievements- Astronomy
They believed gods revealed plans through the sun, moon, and stars and the priests learned astronomy to predict events on earth
Calendar
Used them to record birthdays, marriages, and military victories, and to make sure they honored gods on the right dates, had 2- one for solar seasons, other for sacred rites
Mathematics
Created a counting system based on the unit 20, first people to use the number 0 in calculations
Hieroglyphics
Archeologists have not decided much and used a codex (folding book) with paper like papyrus
Decline of the Maya
Either Erosion (which went to lack of food to disease) or warfare
