Aztecs, Mayans, & Incas

Yucatan Peninsula

The Maya civilization was located on the

terrace

Incas used __________ farming to grow crops.

polytheistic

All three cultures believed in ________________ religion.

human

The Mayans and Aztecs believed in ___________ sacrifices to please the gods.

it's a mystery but theories include drought, not enough food, war, invaders

What led to the collapse of the Mayan civilization?

Tenochititlan

The Aztec capital is the city of ______________ that was built on an island in the middle of a lake.

Mexico City

Tenochititlan is now known as the city of

chinampas

The Aztecs would use floating gardens called _________ to grow crops.

Montezuma

The famous Aztec ruler that extended the empire to 1/3 of Mexico was ____________.

war, tribute, and trade

Aztecs gained power through

tribute

Aztecs made neighboring tribes pay them in order to not be attacked. This was called paying ________.

Hernan Cortez

The Spanish Conquistador that captured Montezuma and killed him was ________________.

smallpox

The disease that Cortez's men left behind that wiped out the majority of the Aztec civilization was called

Andes

The Inca civilization was located in the _____________ Mountains.

South America

The Inca civilization was located on the continent of

Cuzco

___________ was the Inca capital and located in current day Peru.

Machu Picchu

The royal retreat built on top of a sacred mountain peak is called

Mesoamerica

The area composing of southern Mexico and parts of northern Central America including Guatemala is called

Aztecs

The ___________ are known for skilled warriors and floating gardens

Incas

The __________ are known for roads, masonry (working with stone), and suspension bridges.

Atahualpa

The last Inca king who was executed even though his ransom was paid

Francisco Pizarro

The Spanish conquistador responsible for conquering the Inca

Christianity

What religion did Francisco Pizarro try to convert Atahualpa to?

maize

Ancient American word for corn

quipos

A system of knots used for record keeping by the Incas

llamas

Important source of food, clothing, sacrifice, and transportation for the Incas

Tikal

Capital of the Mayan Empire

codex

Ancient book used by Aztecs to record historical events

stelae

A stone pillar used by Mayas to record historical events

Olmecs

Ancient American tribe that carved stone heads