Questions and Answers
Which civilizations are referred to as the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans?
What key achievement is associated with the Aztecs?
An intricate administrative, educational, and medical system
The Mayans are known for their human sacrifices.
False
What was the population peak of Cahokia around 1200 A.D.?
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The mound builders were considered primitive savages.
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Who established a colony among the Pueblo Indians in 1598?
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What event almost destroyed the colony established by Don Juan de Oñate?
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The _________ system was designed to exploit Native Americans as a source of free labor.
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What was the primary motivation for conquistadors coming to the Americas?
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Study Notes
Aztecs/Incas/Mayans
- The Aztecs settled in central and southern Mexico, developing advanced administrative and medical systems, alongside a harsh religion requiring human sacrifice.
- The Mayans, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, are renowned for their written language, numerical system, precise calendar, and sophisticated agriculture.
- The Incas, originating from Peru, created a vast empire of 6 million and an extensive network of paved roads for unifying various tribes.
- Spanish greed led to the destruction of these civilizations in the quest for gold.
Cahokia - Mound Builders
- Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, peaking at around 40,000 inhabitants circa 1200 A.D.
- The mound builders moved millions of cubic feet of earth using woven baskets to create impressive mounds, including the notable Monk Mounds.
- By the 1400s, the native population vanished; the site was later named after the Cahokian Indians of Illinois.
- The construction of mounds indicates a sophisticated civilization, advanced in labor organization, agriculture, and trade, challenging stereotypes of Native Americans as "primitive savages."
Pueblo Indians a.k.a. Pueblos
- Pueblos lived in adobe apartment-like structures; Spanish colonizer Don Juan de Oñate established a colony in 1598 seeking wealth, implementing the encomienda system.
- Oñate's oppressive treatment of natives led to instability and his removal in 1606, culminating in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
- Despite the conversion of some to Catholicism, many Pueblos maintained their tribal identity and rituals, which the Spanish attempted to suppress.
- Uprising led by Indian leader Pope resulted in substantial European casualties and the capture of Santa Fe, temporarily driving out Spanish forces until their return in 1696.
Encomienda System
- Originating from Spanish practices against the Moors, the encomienda system was enforced by conquistador Don Juan de Oñate in 1598 among Pueblo Indians in New Mexico.
- The system exploited Native Americans as free labor, forcing them to pay tribute to the Spanish and essentially enslaving them.
- Harsh practices undermined tribal culture and stability, contributing to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Pueblos reclaimed lands and resisted for sixteen years.
Conquistadors
- Conquistadors were Spanish explorers driven by the promise of gold and silver, inspired by Columbus' discoveries.
- They claimed territories across South and Central Americas, significantly impacting indigenous populations and cultures.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations with this APUSH terminology quiz. Explore their administrative systems, religious practices, and historical significance in early American history.
