Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the term Mesoamerica mean?
Middle America
Which of the following civilizations is NOT part of Mesoamerica?
How long did the Maya civilization last?
Approximately 2000 years
The Maya developed the concept of ______.
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What is the capital city of the Inca civilization?
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What was the primary purpose of the Inca calendar?
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Which civilization is known for using a writing system based on glyphs?
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The Aztec civilization relied solely on a solar calendar.
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What notable medical invention did the Aztecs contribute?
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Machu Picchu is a famous site from the ______ civilization.
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Which ancient civilization created a system of knotted ropes to keep records?
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Study Notes
Mesoamerica
- The term Mesoamerica was coined by Paul Kirchkoff
- It means “middle America”
- Mesoamerica has five periods: Archaic, Pre-classic/Formative, Classic, Epiclassic, and Postclassic
- It encompasses the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to the border of South America
- It was rich in culture and knowledge prior to the arrival of European colonizers
Maya Civilization
- The Maya civilization lasted for approximately 2000 years
- Known for their works in astronomy
- Believed to be the first people to produce rubber products
- Encompassed Mexico in the 8th—9th century
- Had an understanding of the celestial bodies which was advanced for their time
- Developed the concept of zero (0) and the positional value
- They used two calendars:
- Solar calendar: 365 days/18 months/20 days each, with 5 extra days at the end
- Lunar calendar: Based on the movement of Venus, also known as the Sacred Calendar or Ritual Calendar
- Known for:
- Their works in astronomy
- Two complicated calendar systems
- Their writing system, known as Mayan hieroglyphics, which contained more than 800 characters
Inca Civilization
- Flourished in ancient Peru between c. 1400 and 1533 CE
- Cuzco was their capital city, meaning ‘dried-up lakebed’
- The largest empire in America and the world at their time
- Famed for their architecture and inventions, including:
- Roads paved with stones
- Stone buildings
- Irrigation system
- Calendar with 12 months
- The first suspension bridge
- Quipo, a system of knotted ropes to keep records
- Inca textiles
Aztec Civilization
- Emerged beginning in the 1200s
- Flourished in Central Mexico from 1345-1521 CE
- Dominated their neighboring states
- Like the Maya, they used a sacred calendar and a 365-day agricultural calendar
- The Aztec writing system was based on glyphs, symbols that stand for sound and words
- Settled on an island called Lake Texcoco (1325)
- Their capital and largest city was called “Tenochtitlan”
- Substantial contributions to science, technology, and society:
- Mandatory education
- Chocolates
- Antipasmodic medication
- Chinampa, a form of Aztec technology for agricultural farming
- Aztec Calendar
- The invention of the canoe
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Description
Explore the rich cultures of Mesoamerica and the Maya civilization through this quiz. Discover their historical significance, achievements in astronomy, and unique calendar systems. Learn about the five periods of Mesoamerica and the innovations of the Maya that shaped their legacy.