Civilizations of the Americas: Aztecs, Mayans, Incas

Study Notes

Aztecs

Capital city: Tenochtitlan, known for its grand architecture and advanced society
Transitioned from hunter-gatherers to settled agriculture, symbolized by an eagle on a cactus holding a snake
Utilized chinampas, or floating gardens, for farming
Population peaked at around 200,000, making it the largest empire in America
Practiced polytheism, worshipping many gods including a significant sun god; human sacrifices were common

Mayans

Prominent city-states included Tikal and Chichen Itza, celebrated for their stone pyramids
Polytheistic religion influences governance through a theocracy, where political leaders derive authority from divine sources
Key achievements: the development of a 365-day calendar and the invention of the concept of zero
Engaged in extensive trade networks and practiced enslaved labor
Civilization thrived between approximately 300 and 900 A.D.

Incas

Largest of the early American civilizations, emerging around 1200 A.D.
Spanned 3,000 miles along the western coast of South America
Prized military service: men aged 25-50 drafted into the army for up to five years
Population estimated at 6 million, supported by an expansive road system of 10,000 miles
Innovations included rope bridges and quipus, a system of knots used for record-keeping

Iroquois

A confederation of tribes in North America that significantly influenced colonial governance structures

S.C.O.O.M

Acronym for the member tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy: Senecas, Cayugas, Oneidas, Onondagas, and Mohawks

Caravel

A type of ship featuring triangular sails, designed to enable sailing into the wind more effectively

3 G's

Motivational factors for exploration: God (religious expansion), Glory (national power and prestige), and Gold (economic gain)

The Columbian Exchange

A monumental trade of goods between the New World and the Old World
New World contributions: gold, silver, maize, potatoes, pineapples, tobacco, chocolate, and syphilis
Old World contributions: wheat, sugar, rice, coffee, horses, cows, pigs, and diseases such as influenza, smallpox, scarlet fever, and measles
Resulted in population growth and wealth increase in the Old World and significant ecological changes in the New World

Pueblo Revolt

Also known as Pope's Rebellion; a response to Spanish repression of indigenous cultural practices
Resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Europeans, including 21 priests, and led to the capture of Santa Fe by Native Americans
Spanish returned 12 years later to quell the uprising

England Colonizing

Motivations included the search for a northwest passage and economic changes driven by the enclosure movement
Primogeniture laws dictated that the eldest son inherits family land, shaping land ownership and settlement patterns
Mercantilism: the economic theory that increased gold/silver holdings equate to national power; aims for a favorable balance of trade
Protestant Reformation spurred by Martin Luther's "95 Theses" emphasizing salvation through faith

England

Virginia named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, the "virgin queen"
Virginia Dare recognized as the first American-born child of English parents

Roanoke

Known as the "Lost Colony"; when English settlers returned from Europe, the settlement was mysteriously deserted
The only clue left behind was the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree

Description

Explore the rich histories of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas through this informative quiz. From their architectural achievements to their unique religions and agricultural practices, discover the intricacies of these brilliant civilizations that shaped early American history.