Pre-Columbian Civilizations Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which of these civilizations built cities as centres for trade routes?

The Inca
The Aztec
Cahokia
All of the above (correct)

What was a commonality between the Inca, Aztec, and Cahokia civilizations?

They all built pyramids. (correct)
They all used wheels for transportation.
They did not build pyramids.
They were all located in present day Peru.

What is the most likely reason for the lack of wheeled transportation in the Inca and Aztec civilizations?

They believed that wheels were unlucky.
They preferred using boats and pack animals.
They did not have the technology.
They lacked oxen to pull carts. (correct)

What is the likely reason for the limited archaeological evidence of pre-Columbian agriculture in the Americas?

<p>The passage of time has led to the erosion of evidence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument presented in the article regarding the pyramids in the Americas and Egypt?

<p>It is likely that the pyramids were built independently due to similar physical, technological and spiritual needs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Inca Civilization

A dominant culture in South America with its capital at Cuzco in the Andes.

Aztec Civilization

A dominant culture in Central America, with the capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Cahokia

A notable civilization in North America, located near present-day St. Louis.

Transportation methods

Inca and Aztec used roads and waterways, lacking the wheel.

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Pyramids in the Americas

Civilizations in the Americas built more pyramids than those in Egypt.

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Study Notes

Pre-Columbian Civilizations

South America: Inca civilization, capital city Cuzco, located in the Andes Mountains, present-day Peru
Central America: Aztec civilization, capital city Tenochtitlan (ten-OHCH-teet-lahn), built on landfill in a lake, modern-day Mexico City
North America: Cahokia civilization, located near present-day St. Louis, on the Mississippi River

City Function

Cities were centers of trade routes: Cahokia used the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers

Transportation

Inca and Aztec civilizations built roads for human, boat, and pack animal travel; no wheels or carts due to lack of oxen

Pyramids

Extensive pyramid construction in the Americas, rivaling Egyptian pyramids; more pyramids in the Americas than in Egypt
Shared physics, technology, and spirituality contributed to similar structural development, not shared ancestry