Maya, Aztec, Inca Empires Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which of these sources best helps scholars learn about the cultures of the Mayan, Aztec and Incan people?

Traditions found among descendants of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas (correct)

Historical documents

Archaeological artifacts

Oral stories

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?

Based on the number 20 instead of 10

Which picture shows a Mayan stele?

A graduated cylinder Signup and view all the answers

What traditional Mayan art makes it possible for a Mayan to identify a stranger's town?

Weaving cloths and wearing the colorful clothes and patterns Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Mayans create hundreds of glyphs?

To communicate sounds, words and ideas Signup and view all the answers

How can tourists in Mexico observe Aztec technology still in use today?

Take a boat to see flowers grown on artificial islands Signup and view all the answers

What achievement did the Aztecs adapt from the Mayans?

Two calendars Signup and view all the answers

Suppose you are an archaeologist and find an old, overgrown temple. You know it is Aztec because it has ________.

double stairway Signup and view all the answers

The Aztec system of writing made use of ___________.

pictographs Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did the Incas face to a much larger extent than other peoples in the Americas?

Controlling a large empire Signup and view all the answers

How did travelers on Incan roads cross rivers?

Suspension bridges Signup and view all the answers

Why did Incan farmers terrace their fields?

To increase available cropland Signup and view all the answers

The sets of strings called quipus helped solve what problem of the Incas?

Lack of a written language Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Incan farmers terrace their fields?

To increase available cropland Signup and view all the answers

What material did the Inca cover almost every inch inside their Temple of the Sun with?

Gold Signup and view all the answers

What has helped the Mayan and Aztec artifacts survive for hundreds of years?

Stone slabs called steles Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan build chinampas?

To grow crops and expand the land Signup and view all the answers

What made it possible for the Olmec and the Mayas to create permanent settlements?

Farming Signup and view all the answers

Who established the first American civilization?

Olmecs Signup and view all the answers

What did the Olmecs make that represented their Gods?

They carved large stone heads Signup and view all the answers

Do modern humans carve large stone heads like the Olmecs and where?

True Signup and view all the answers

What is a skill that the Mayas adapted from the Olmecs?

Writing pictures as symbols Signup and view all the answers

Incan priests, who were in charge of healing, practiced a type of surgery called _____________.

trephination Signup and view all the answers

What was the reason for the fall of the Aztec Empire?

Spaniards came to claim the lands of Central America for Spain. Aztecs believed that Cortez was a legendary God that they were expecting in Tenochtitlan. Signup and view all the answers

How did Cortez conquer the Aztec Empire?

He gained alliances with the native tribes to help him defeat the Aztec and take their gold. They were defeated in 1521. Signup and view all the answers

What were some reasons for the fall of the Incan Empire?

War, disease, civil war, Spanish desire for gold, rebellion. They were defeated by the Europeans in 1572. Signup and view all the answers

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!