Term
Definition
Olmec
The first major civilization in along the Gulf Coast in southern Mexico.
Known for their giant head sculptures.
Maya
The second major civilization. Maya civilization had great cities, trade, and
glyph
A carved or engraved symbol that stands for a word.
Empire
Aztec
Inca
Conquistador
Montezuma II
Pacal (Pakal)
warfare, but it disappeared for reasons that are still unknown.
A political system in which people or lands are controlled by one ruler.
The third civilization in Latin America. Developed in what is now Mexico
City. Built a strong military and empire by collecting money, goods, or crops
from the people they conquered.
The fourth civilization in Latin America. Lived in the Andes mountains what
is now Peru. Known for their terrace farming and masonry. (Stonework).
Spanish word for conqueror
Emperor of the Aztecs. The first contact between Aztecs and Europeans took place
during his reign. He was killed when Conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men
fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.
The King during the Mayan Classic Age at 12 years old. He built a temple to
record his achievements.
causeways
Raised roads across wet or wed ground.
Pachacuti
The Incan ruler in the mid 1400s that began to expand the territory.
Atahualpa
The last Incan emperor. He tried to kick out Spanish conquistadors. Is
captured and killed by Francisco Pizarro’s army.
Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incan Empire.
Francisco
Pizarro
Yucatan
Peninsula
Terrace
Farming
Isthmus
Andes
Mountains
Located in southeastern Mexico. It separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of
Mexico.
A type of farming developed first by the Inca people. This method of farming uses
"steps", called that are built into the side of a mountain or hill. On each step,
various crops are planted, and when it rains, instead of washing away all of the
nutrients in the soil, the nutrients are carried down to the next level.
A thin connecting strip of land.
A mountain range located on South America’s west coast and extending the
full length of the continent.