Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of these sources best helps scholars learn about the cultures of the Mayan, Aztec and Incan people?
Which of these sources best helps scholars learn about the cultures of the Mayan, Aztec and Incan people?
What describes the solar year calculated by the Mayans?
What describes the solar year calculated by the Mayans?
The time it takes Earth to go once around the sun
What is one way the Mayan system of numbers differs from ours?
What is one way the Mayan system of numbers differs from ours?
Based on the number 20 instead of 10
Which picture shows a Mayan stele?
Which picture shows a Mayan stele?
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What traditional Mayan art makes it possible for a Mayan to identify a stranger's town?
What traditional Mayan art makes it possible for a Mayan to identify a stranger's town?
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Why did the Mayans create hundreds of glyphs?
Why did the Mayans create hundreds of glyphs?
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How can tourists in Mexico observe Aztec technology still in use today?
How can tourists in Mexico observe Aztec technology still in use today?
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What achievement did the Aztecs adapt from the Mayans?
What achievement did the Aztecs adapt from the Mayans?
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Suppose you are an archaeologist and find an old, overgrown temple. You know it is Aztec because it has ________.
Suppose you are an archaeologist and find an old, overgrown temple. You know it is Aztec because it has ________.
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The Aztec system of writing made use of ___________.
The Aztec system of writing made use of ___________.
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What challenge did the Incas face to a much larger extent than other peoples in the Americas?
What challenge did the Incas face to a much larger extent than other peoples in the Americas?
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How did travelers on Incan roads cross rivers?
How did travelers on Incan roads cross rivers?
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Why did Incan farmers terrace their fields?
Why did Incan farmers terrace their fields?
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The sets of strings called quipus helped solve what problem of the Incas?
The sets of strings called quipus helped solve what problem of the Incas?
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Why did the Incan farmers terrace their fields?
Why did the Incan farmers terrace their fields?
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What material did the Inca cover almost every inch inside their Temple of the Sun with?
What material did the Inca cover almost every inch inside their Temple of the Sun with?
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What has helped the Mayan and Aztec artifacts survive for hundreds of years?
What has helped the Mayan and Aztec artifacts survive for hundreds of years?
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Why did the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan build chinampas?
Why did the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan build chinampas?
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What made it possible for the Olmec and the Mayas to create permanent settlements?
What made it possible for the Olmec and the Mayas to create permanent settlements?
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Who established the first American civilization?
Who established the first American civilization?
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What did the Olmecs make that represented their Gods?
What did the Olmecs make that represented their Gods?
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Do modern humans carve large stone heads like the Olmecs and where?
Do modern humans carve large stone heads like the Olmecs and where?
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What is a skill that the Mayas adapted from the Olmecs?
What is a skill that the Mayas adapted from the Olmecs?
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Incan priests, who were in charge of healing, practiced a type of surgery called _____________.
Incan priests, who were in charge of healing, practiced a type of surgery called _____________.
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What was the reason for the fall of the Aztec Empire?
What was the reason for the fall of the Aztec Empire?
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How did Cortez conquer the Aztec Empire?
How did Cortez conquer the Aztec Empire?
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What were some reasons for the fall of the Incan Empire?
What were some reasons for the fall of the Incan Empire?
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Study Notes
Mayan Civilization
- Scholars learn about Mayan culture through traditions passed down by descendants.
- Mayans calculated the solar year as the period it takes Earth to orbit the sun.
- Their numerical system is base-20, contrasting with the base-10 system commonly used today.
- Weaving and colorful clothing patterns signify a Mayan's town of origin.
- Hundreds of glyphs were created for communicating various sounds, words, and ideas.
- Permanent artifacts include stone slabs known as steles, which have withstood the test of time.
Aztec Civilization
- Aztecs adapted two calendars from the Mayans as part of their advancements.
- Identification of Aztec temples features distinct architectural elements like a double stairway.
- Aztec writing used pictographs for communication.
- To observe Aztec technology today, tourists can witness agriculture on chinampas, or artificial islands.
Inca Civilization
- The Incas tackled the challenge of managing a vast empire effectively.
- Infrastructure included suspension bridges that allowed for river crossings.
- Farming techniques included terracing fields to enhance arable land area.
- Lack of a written language was addressed through the use of quipus, a system of knotted strings for record-keeping.
- Gold was a prominent material used for temple decoration, masks, sculptures, knives, and jewelry.
Olmec Civilization
- The Olmecs are credited with establishing the first American civilization.
- They created large stone heads that represented their gods, which influence modern sculptures such as Mount Rushmore.
Conquests and Declines
- The Aztec Empire fell to Spanish conquest, driven by Hernán Cortés, who formed alliances with native tribes.
- The Aztecs mistakenly viewed Cortés as a returning deity, leading to their defeat in Tenochtitlan in 1521.
- Multiple factors contributed to the fall of the Incan Empire, including war, disease, civil unrest, and European greed for gold, culminating in their defeat in 1572.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the ancient civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca through these flashcards. Each card covers key aspects of their cultures, including their traditions, calendars, and number systems. Perfect for students and history enthusiasts alike!
