mesoamerica

What is a long house in Iroquois culture?

A long house is about 200 feet long, built with wooden poles covered with sheets of bark, housing multiple families.

What is a clan?

A clan is a group of related families.

What is a quipu?

A quipu is a system of knotted strings used by the Inca people for record-keeping.

Describe the government and social structure of the Maya.

The Maya civilization was comprised of several cities, often at war, built around pyramids, with a population of about 100,000 in cities like Tikal. The class structure included rulers, nobles, scribes, and peasants.

What were the religious beliefs of the Maya?

The Maya believed all nature is sacred, practiced sacrifices to gods, and had two calendars: one of 365 days and another of 260 days.

What characterized the government and social structure of the Aztec?

The Aztec emperor claimed descent from gods and held a council of nobles. Nobles were at the top of society, followed by commoners, who were primarily farmers.

What was the Aztec religious belief system?

The Aztecs were polytheistic, believing life was centered between good and evil, and practiced sacrifices.

Describe the Inca's government and social structure.

The Inca empire expanded to a peak population of 12 million, built on war and conquest, integrating regions like Ecuador and the Amazon.

What were the religious beliefs of the Inca?

The Inca spoke Quechua, practiced polytheism, and their architecture reflected their beliefs.

What was the government structure of the Olmec?

The Olmec did not have a formal government; leaders likely held both political and religious authority, organized in hierarchical structures.

What characterized the Olmec religion and culture?

The Olmec practiced a polytheistic religion related to natural elements, with an important god being the jaguar, and their beliefs were closely tied to nature and agriculture.