Age of Exploration Test

What modern day country did the Aztec Empire mostly reside in?

Mexico

What language did the Aztecs speak?

Nahuatl

The capital city of Tenochtitlan was located atop what geographical feature?

A lake

Why did the Aztecs sacrifice human beings?

To appease their gods

What kind of roles did Aztec men & women perform?

1. Men: They began becoming warriors and would be mobilized for campaigns when necessary. They then would return to typical day jobs.

2. Women: They remained in the temples or got married and continued to work in a more domestic environment.

What was the initial interaction between Moctezuma & Cortes like?

Peaceful and kind

What do different sources say about this initial interaction?

1. Cortes seen as a God 

2. Cortes seen as a friend/common ancestor 

3. Aztecs had a culture of welcoming guests and being kind to strangers

Who was the leader of the conquistadors that conquered the Aztecs?

Hernan Cortes

What are some modern day countries that the Incas resided in?

Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina

What were some things the Inca built in their Empire?

The Inca built massive administrative centers, temples, and extensive road and canal systems.

What was the Inca’s complex system of knotted strings, used to count,  called?

Quipu

Who was the leader of the conquistadors that conquered the Incas?

Francisco Pizzaro

What types of crops were grown by the Incas? 

1. Potatoes (over 3,000 varieties)

2. Corn (maize)

3. Quinoa

4. Beans

5. Squash

6. Peppers

What language did the Incas speak? 

Quechua

What are some modern day countries that the Mayas reside in?

Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador

What is LiDAR and how does it help archaeologists?

It uses lasers to see through the jungle canopy and reveal the land below

What role did divine rulers play in Mayan society?

They were religious and political leaders, believed to be Gods

How did drought affect Mayan farming and trade?

It led to crop failures & broke down trade networks

How did rulers respond when the rains didn’t come?

They performed more rituals & blood sacrifices to ask the Gods for rain

How have modern Maya preserved their culture & language?

By speaking their languages, practicing traditions, & reviving Mayan writing

Similarities between the groups

Diseases like smallpox, lacked weaponry that Europe had, human sacrifice and rituals, empires, conquered by Spanish