AP WORLD HISTORY
Study Guide: Chapter 11 – The Americas on the Eve of Invasion
Postclassic Mesoamerica, 1000 – 1500 CE
1. Who are the Toltecs? What relationship do they have with previous Mesoamerican societies?
What relationship do they have with the Aztecs?
The Toltec Heritage
2. Ignoring the scholarly disputes on the topic, what do we “think” we know about interactions
between Toltecs and other American groups?
The Aztec Rise to Power
3. Who were the Aztecs (where did they come from, what were they like, etc)? How do they
establish themselves as a regional power?
The Aztec Social Contract
4. Describe the political organization of the Aztec Empire? What was the relationship between
politics and the practice of human sacrifice?
Religion and the Ideology of Conquest
5. Despite its apparently bloodthirsty and savage nature, explain why Aztec religion could be
considered just as sophisticated and developed as other major world religions.
Tenochtitlan: The Foundation of Heaven
6. Describe the layout of the city of Tenochtitlan. How did it compare to its counterparts in Europe?
Feeding the Empire: The Economy of the Empire
7. What advancements/innovations are made to agriculture during Aztec rule? What other methods
were used to acquire food?
Widening Social Gulf
8. What were the various social classes found within Aztec society (describe in hierarchical order)?
What was the relationship between social class and corporate groups (ex: calpulli)?
Overcoming Technological Constraints
9. (Create your own question AND answer on the topic of gender roles and rights)
A Tribute Empire
10. Describe the political organization of the Aztec city-state.
11. What aspects of Aztec rule ultimately led to their downfall?
Twantinsuyu: World of the Incas
**Read, but no question
The Inca Rise to Power
**Read, but no question
Conquest and Religion
12. Describe the concept of “split inheritance”. How does it relate to the need for conquest?
13. How does Incan religion compare with that of the Aztecs?
The Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule
14. (Create your own question AND answer on gender issues)
Incan Cultural Achievements
15. What technological/cultural advances are shared by both Indians and civilizations in the East?
What advances are notably absent?
Comparing Incas and Aztecs
16. (Create your own question AND answer)
The Other Indians
17. In what ways do Indian cultures throw a proverbial “wrench in the works” of determining who is
“civilized” and who is not?
How Many Indians?
18. Why is so much attention paid to population figures of pre-Columbian Americas? What do you
think is the bigger issue behind this conflict over the numbers?
Differing Cultural Patterns
19. Find 5 ways in which the peripheral areas (NOT the major centers of civilization) of the Americas
are much more advanced than they are typically given credit for?
American Indian Diversity in World Context
20. Create your own “what-if” hypothesis for the development of an Americas that never experiences
European interaction.