Chapter 11 Reading Guide: The Americas before Invasion
1. Who were the Toltecs and how they took over the Maya.
2. How did the Aztecs rise to power?
3. What were the characteristics of their empire?
4. Describe the religious beliefs of the Toltecs.
5. Describe Tenochtitlan.
6. What was the economy based on?
7. What is a tribute empire and what was its relationship to trade?
8. Describe Aztec social structure.
9. How did the Incas overcome geographic problems to unite their large empire? Describe the Inca
rise to power.
10. How did split inheritance perpetuate the need for conquest?
11. How did Inca trade and tribute differ from other civilizations?
12. How did the Inca rule its people?
13. What cultural achievements did the Inca make?
14. What are the similarities and differences between the Inca and the Aztec?
15. What characteristics did American Indians share? How were they different?