Aztec, Maya, Inca

Copan

ancient Mayan city, located in the present-day country of Honduras

civilization

culture that has developed systems of government, religion, and learning

Tikal

ancient Mayan city, located in the present-day country of Guatemala with many pyramids

pyramids

is a building with a square base and four triangular sides

hieroglyphics

symbols, signs, or pictures used in ancient writing

Tenochtitlan

Aztec city located in Lake Texcoco

specialize

able to concentrate on doing particular kinds of work

empire

group of lands and people under the control of one government

tribute

was a tax that was paid in goods or services

chinampas

floating gardens

causeway

a raised road that connects an island to the mainland

terraces

level fields built into a mountain; provided more flat land for farming especially for the Incas

Cuzco

Incan capital city; known as the cradle ancient Inca civilization

Machu Picchu

Incan city built in the Andes Mountains; on of the Inca's greatest achievements

emperor

absolute ruler

The 3 Sisters

trio of vegetables that grew well together; squash, beans, maize

obsidian

hard rock from volcanic rock that they Mayans used to make tools

Valley of Mexico

A valley where the Aztecs settled.

Aztlan

A land where the Aztecs supposedly came for.

Lake Texacoco

the lake the Aztecs settled on.

The Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus

an island where the Aztecs saw the sign as to where they were to settle

Moctezuma II

Last Aztec emperor, overthrown by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes.

Pachacuti

Ruler under whom the Incan Empire grew quickly

Lake Titicaca

is the highest navigable lake in the world on the border of Bolivia and Peru

mita

labor tax system used by the Inca

Children of the Sun

name given to all Incas

llamas

used for their meat, wool, and to carry goods

irrigation

the watering of drylands and they did this by using streams, canals, or pipes to carry the water

Incan architecture

buildings were put together like a jigsaw puzzle without cement or mortar

Incan Trail

a network of roads used to communicate throughout the Incan Empire

quipus

A system of knotted cords of different sizes and colors used by the Incas for keeping records

Atahualpa

Last ruling Inca emperor of Peru. He was executed by the Spanish.

Inca

located along the west coast of South America

Maya

located in the Yucatan Peninsula

Aztec

located in the Valley of Mexico

maize

an important crop for the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs

Hernando Cortes

Conquered the Aztec Empire

Franciso Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire

Yucatan Peninsula

An area of land in Central America where the Mayan civilization settled.