The Discoverers: Native American Cultures

Questions and Answers

What did the Anasazi and Hohokam people eat?

Beans, squash, and corn

What was unique about the Anasazi and Hohokam people's architecture?

They built apartments out of mud cliffs on mountains

What was the primary food source of the Mississippi Mound Builders?

Corn

What was the downfall of the Mississippi Mound Builders?

They ruined their environment through slash and burn techniques Signup and view all the answers

What was the Olmec civilization known for?

They were very advanced, polytheistic, and had a calendar that was accurate to within one second Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the granite heads along the coast in Olmec civilization?

They may have indicated contact with the Egyptians Signup and view all the answers

What was the Maya civilization known for?

They invented the number 0, had three different calendars, and practiced Poketa Signup and view all the answers

What was the Aztec civilization known for?

They were militaristic, practiced aqua farming, and believed in human sacrifice Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the city of Tenochtitlan in Aztec civilization?

It was the capital city, built on an island in a lake, and may have had a population of 250,000 people Signup and view all the answers

What was the Inca civilization known for?

They stretched from Colombia to Argentina and Chile, and had a system of paved roads and ancestor worship Signup and view all the answers

Who was Leif Ericson and what was his significance?

He was a Viking explorer who landed in Vinland (present-day Newfoundland) and built a settlement Signup and view all the answers

What was the Commercial Revolution and when did it occur?

It was a period of increased trade and commerce in Europe, occurring from the 1200s to the 1400s Signup and view all the answers

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator and what was his significance?

He was a Portuguese explorer who developed new navigation techniques and established trade routes to the East Indies Signup and view all the answers

Who was Vasco de Gama and what was his significance?

He was a Portuguese explorer who sailed to India and established a trade route around Africa Signup and view all the answers

Who was Cabral and what was his significance?

He was a Portuguese explorer who discovered Brazil and claimed it for Portugal Signup and view all the answers

Who was Christopher Columbus and what was his significance?

He was an Italian explorer who sailed to the Americas and believed he had reached China Signup and view all the answers

Who was Amerigo Vespucci and what was his significance?

He was an Italian explorer who wrote about the New World and recognized that it was a separate continent from Asia Signup and view all the answers

Who was Martin Waldseemuller and what was his significance?

He was a German cartographer who created a map that included the New World and named it America Signup and view all the answers

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas and what was its significance?

It was a treaty between Spain and Portugal that divided the world into two hemispheres, with Spain controlling the western hemisphere and Portugal controlling the eastern hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anasazi and Hohokam

Known for the "3 sisters" agricultural method: beans, squash, and corn.
Constructed apartments integrated into mud cliffs and mountains.
Held a unique belief system combining polytheism and the worship of a singular god with golden attributes.

Mississippi Mound Builder

Developed planned cities with a central temple, particularly near present-day St. Louis.
Constructed mounds for religious and ceremonial purposes.
Primarily cultivated corn and employed slash-and-burn agricultural techniques which led to environmental degradation, contributing to their decline.

Olmec

Referred to as the "Egyptians of the West" due to their advanced civilization.
Practiced polytheism and believed rulers were divine descendants.
Developed an accurate calendar, skilled in astronomy, mathematics, and writing through hieroglyphics.
Created recreational games, built large pyramids, and featured granite massive heads along the coast, possibly indicating contact with Egyptians.
Believed in bloodletting rituals to sustain society.

Maya

Emerged as successors to the Olmec civilization, covering areas down to Costa Rica.
Never unified into a single political entity, maintaining independent city-states.
Developed the concept of zero, created three calendar systems, and wrote in hieroglyphics.
Similar to Olmec in pyramid construction; civilization faced destruction due to Spanish conquest.

Aztec

Known as the empire located in central Mexico, with the capital city Tenochtitlan built on an island.
Large population of approximately 250,000 people, skilled in aqua farming with floating gardens.
Followed a militaristic approach and practiced human sacrifice for strength.
Believed in the return of Quetzalcoatl, a god previously banished, who they anticipated would reclaim his land, leading to land offerings.

Inca

Spanned from Colombia to Argentina and Chile, ruled by a god-king.
Valued ancestor worship and practiced human sacrifice, especially of children.
Managed an empire situated at high altitudes, with advanced road systems connecting regions.
Utilized a labor system known as Mita, assigning specific jobs to individuals, and developed a three-tiered binary language.
Engaged in a vertical economy, trading goods across mountainous terrains, later conquered by Spanish conquistadors.

Leif Ericson

Established a settlement in Vinland (present-day Newfoundland) and interacted with indigenous people labeled Skrellings.
His accidental discovery of North America resulted in a 20-year stay in the region.

Commercial Revolution

Europe aimed to expand trade between the 1200s and 1400s, seeking goods like silk, spices, and knowledge from the Middle East and Far East.
European nations sought to bypass Muslim traders to obtain goods directly from Eastern sources.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Pioneered navigation for trade routes as a Portuguese prince.
Innovated maritime technology, including advanced boats equipped with cannons.
Played a vital role in improving navigation tools like the astrolabe and contributed to cartography.

Vasco de Gama

In 1499, successfully traced Bartolomeu Dias' route around Africa to reach the Orient.

Cabral

In 1500, diverted from Dias' planned route and unintentionally discovered South America, claiming Brazil for Portugal.

Christopher Columbus

Aimed to reach China but instead landed in the Americas, mistakenly believing he had reached the East Indies.
Conducted five voyages to America, misrepresenting the discoveries as encounters with China, and notably perpetrated violence in Cuba.

Amerigo Vespucci

In 1501, explored from North Carolina to Brazil, publishing "New World" to clarify that he had not discovered China but recognized two new continents.

Martin Waldseemüller

Produced a significant map in 1507 that incorporated Vespucci's insights and named the two new continents North America and South America.

Pope Alexander VI

Issued a decree in 1494 to divide trade routes between Spain and Portugal, mandating adherence from all Catholic nations.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Signed in 1496 between Spain and Portugal to maintain peace and allocate global exploration territories, effectively dividing the world into Spanish and Portuguese zones.

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Explore the fascinating cultures of the Anasazi and Mississippi Mound Builders through flashcards. Learn about their agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and architectural achievements. This quiz will deepen your understanding of these significant Native American civilizations.