Warm-up #17
• Which Incan achievement was the
most impressive to you and why?
• What did you enjoy most about
learning about Early Latin American
cultures?
Unit 1 Study Guide Key
1. Explain the importance of domesticating
maize and how it helped Mesoamerica develop.
• By growing crops like maize, settlements could
support larger populations. More advanced
societies grew, and people began to focus on
activities such as building, trade, art, and
organized religion. Eventually, settlements
developed into towns and cities.
2. What is obsidian? How was it used in
Mesoamerica? Why was it important
economically?
• Obsidian is a sharp, glasslike volcanic rock. It
was used in mesoamerica as a sharp edge for
cutting tools and weapons. It was important
economically as a trade commodity for the
cities located in the highlands.
3. When did the Maya Empire spread
to the Yucatan Peninsula?
• The Maya empire spread to the Yucatan
Peninsula during the Classic Age.
4. What is special about cacao beans?
How did the Maya use them?
• Cacao beans are used to make chocolate.
They Maya used them as the food of rulers
and of the gods, they even used them as
money.
5. Describe the city of Palenque? Why was
the temple built there? Who was their
famous king?
• The city of Palenque was a major power on
the border between the Maya highlands and
lowlands. The temple was built to record the
achievements of their famous king, Pacal.
6. How did the Mayans adapt to growing
crops on hills and in the jungle?
• The Maya adapted by using terraced farming
on hills and slash and burn techniques in the
jungle to grow crops.
7. How did the Aztecs increase
farmable land?
• The Aztecs created floating islands called
chinampas to increase farmable land.
8. What do historians think caused the
collapse of the Mayan Civilization?
• There were four factors that historians think
caused the collapse of the Mayan civilization:
– Increased warfare
– Inability to provide enough food for a growing
population
– Rebellion against the King
– Prolonged drought (climate change)
9. What was the Mayan social structure like?
Name the different classes and some
responsibilities for each.
• The highest position was the King. He ruled
over the city state. Below him were the
Priests, Warriors and Merchants. Together
they controlled the politics, religion and
economy of the Maya. Farmers were below
them, and consisted of the majority of the
population. They grew food, built temples
and palaces and had to join the army during
times of war. Slaves were at the bottom.
They worked as servants for the upper class.
10. How did the Mayans worship and
honor their gods?
• The Mayans worshiped and honored their
gods by provided them with blood offerings.
This was normally through piercing their
tongue or skin, but sometimes involved
human sacrifice.
11. How did the Aztecs worship and
honor their gods?
• The Aztecs also believed in sacrifice to please
the gods. They would cut themselves to give
blood to the gods and provide them with
frequent human sacrifice of captured warriors
from other tribes.
12. Explain how the Mayan calendar
rounds worked? What were they used for?
Who used them?
• The Maya had a 365 day farming calendar and
a 260 day religious calendar. They would use
them in concert to determine the best day to
perform certain tasks such as planting crops or
planning a wedding.
13. Explain how Mayan numbers worked? What
number did they invent before anyone else in
North America?
• Mayan numbers were a base 20 system. Each
dot represented 1 unit, each line represented
5 units. They invented the number zero
before anyone else in North America.
14. Explain how the Mayan language
worked? Why is it unique? Why is it
important?
• The Mayan language was similar to Egyptian
hieroglyphics. It is unique in the sense that
each symbol represents both objects and
sounds. It is important because it is one of
the few written languages in the Americas.
15. How did the Aztecs conquer the
other cities around Lake Texcoco?
• The Aztecs formed a secret alliance with two
other cities on Lake Texcoco. With their allies’
help, they defeated the other towns around
the lake.
16. Explain the role of war, tribute and trade in
the Aztec empire. How did these factors help
the empire grow?
• War was a key factor in the Aztec’s rise to
power. They made people they conquered
pay tribute with goods such as cotton, gold, or
food. They controlled a huge trade network,
which made them very wealthy. This helped
them grow stronger and grow their empire.
17. How did Acampapichtli help build
great temples in Tenochtitlan?
• Acampapichtli was the first Tlatoani of the
Aztecs. He divided the city into four sections
and began construction of the “Great
Pyramid.”
18. What advancements in engineering
were apparent in Tenochtitlan?
• The advancements in engineering that were
apparent in Tenochtitlan included causeways,
aqueducts, and floating gardens (called
chinampas).
19. Explain the Aztec social class structure.
Name a few responsibilities and characteristics
of each class.
• Aztec society was broken down into calpullis,
which were communities of families that shared
land, schools and a temple. At the top of society
was the King and Nobles, they were in charge of
law, trade, tribute and warfare. Priests and
Warriors were next, they had great influence over
the Aztec’s lives. Next were merchants and
artisans, they were responsible for driving the
economy. Farmers and Slaves were at the
bottom and performed manual labor.
20. What is a codex? How do they
inform historians?
• A codex is an ancient book that kept written
historical records on separate pages. They
allow historians to access some of the history
of the Aztecs that was mostly destroyed by
the Spanish.
21. What role did human sacrifice play
in the Aztec religion?
• Human sacrifice provided the gods with the
blood they needed to survive. The Aztecs
would sacrifice captured warriors from their
neighbors.
22. Where did the first Incas live?
• The Incas began as a small tribe in the Andes.
23. What was the capital city of the
Incas?
• Their capital was Cuzco.
24. What was the official language of the
Incas? Why was picking an official
language important?
• The official language of the Incas was
Quechua. It was an important way to unify
their empire.
25. Describe the Inca religion.
• The Inca worshiped a sun god and their
ancestors. They would mummify their dead.
They did make sacrifices to their gods, but
rarely did they sacrifice humans.
Why was the Inca road system
important?
• The roads were used for transportation,
communication, and government
administration. The roads symbolized the
power of the Inca government.
27. What is Machu Picchu? Why was
it important?
• Machu Picchu was an Incan city. It was a royal
retreat for the Inca rulers. Scholars believe
the Incas held festivals there.