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city-state
an independent, self-governing country contained totally within the borders of a single city.system that employs characters in the form of pictures
empire
a nation that controls many territories and is ruled by a single authority figure (emperor mostly)
hieroglyphics
system that employs characters in the form of pictures
stela
an upright monument containing information in the form of texts, images or a combination of the two
epigrapher
the study of inscriptions, or epigraphs, as writing
codex (codices)
an ancient manuscript text in book form
mayan solar calenders
called haab (means year) has a count of 365 days
mayan sacred calender
called tzolk’in. This calendar is not divided into months. Instead, it is made from a succession of 20 day glyphs in combination with the numbers 1 to 13, and produces 260 unique days. Multiplying 20 x 13 equals 260 days
long count calenders and units of time
keeps track of the days that have passed since the mythical starting date of the Maya creation, August 11, 3114 BCE
jade death mask
the Death Mask of Mayan King Pakal, represents deities or ancesters
royal cranial deformation
high pointed head shape to signify group affilation to demonstrate social status
mayan mathematics
counts by 20s
stepped pyramids
an architectural structure that uses flat platforms, or steps, receding from the ground up
egyptian pyramids
pyramid-shaped monuments, constructed mostly as funerary tombs
mayan pyramids
used for religous or ceremonal purposes
chinampas
small, stationary, artificial island built on a freshwater lake for agricultural purposes by aztecs
pilings
foundations that are driven or bored through the ground along a certain length of area to carry
aqueducts
pathway that directs water across a distance and into a city
tribute
wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect.
pochteca
professional, long-distance traveling merchants in the Aztec Empire
triple alliance
a military and political pact among three city-states who shared lands in the Basin of Mexico (mexico city today) (an alliance of three Nahua city-states: Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan.)
mexica
aztecs who were also known as the Tenochca, the source of the name of the great Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlán, on the site of current-day Mexico City
aztlan
the name of the mythical homeland of the Aztecs
m’ita
mandatory service in the society of the Inca Empire
royal inka masonry
precisely cut and shaped stones closely fitted without mortar
inka road and bridge system
well-built and lasting, with many incorporating bridges, causeways, and stairways. Many also had small station
facilitated the movement of armies, people, and goods across plains, deserts, and mountains
khipu
are recording devices fashioned from strings historically used by the Incas and other ancient Andean cultures
important characteristics that affected the cultures that developed in the southern lowlands of Mesoamerica
a complex pantheon of deities, architectural features, a ballgame, the 260-day calendar, trade, food (especially a reliance on maize, beans, and squash), dress, and accouterments
important characteristics that affected the cultures that developed in the basin or valley of Mexico
was unusual in that it was truly a bowl and all water drained into the center,
no water flowed out of the valley. Because it was a basin, the floor of the valley was swampy and consisted of 5 inter-connected shallow lakes.
important characteristics that affected the cultures that developed in lake texcoco
were faced with many challenges of creating staple foundations for their buildings, fresh water for their people, access to and from their island city, and protection from flooding during heavy rainfall.
imporant characteristics of that affected the cultures the developed in the andes
colorful woven textiles, hunting-gathering subsistence strategy with agriculture, domesticating plants, ceramics, metalwork, architecture, khuipu (system of record-keeping using differently colored and knotted cords.)
imporant characteristics of that affected the cultures the developed in lake titicaca
the largest freshwater lake in South America, the center point of the mythology for the people of the Andes
identify the cultural groups, region, time period occupied, and architectural features present in El Mirador
Mayan civilization, Guatemala, 1000 BC-250 AD, was a busy metropolis covering 6 square miles home to tens of of thousands of people, and filled with grand buildings and plazas. It's now thought to be the cradle of Maya civilization (huge pyramid)
identify the cultural groups, region, time period occupied, and architectural features present in tikal
mayan civilazation, guatemala, 900-300 BCE ?, five pyramidal temples and three larger complexes
identify the cultural groups, region, time period occupied, and architectural features present in tenochtitlan
aztec empire, mexico, 1325-1521, temples, palaces, and platforms, the city laid out symmetrically, with four sectors separated by four causeways or canals surrounding the central area
identify the cultural groups, region, time period occupied, and architectural features present in cuzco
inca empire, peru, 1400-1534, walls without mortar cut in irregular shapes with hammerstones,
motecuhzoma II (montezuma)
one of the last rulers of the great Aztec Empire before the arrival of the Spanish. Under his mandate, the city of Tenochtitlan managed to maintain its power and the domain it exercised over other peoples, who were obliged to pay tribute
pachacuti
known for the vast expansion of the Inca empire. His many achievements, including construction of a road system and food storage facilities, helped Incan civilization advance. He is also credited with the construction of Machu Picchu
What were the most important crops and agricultural practices in each of the three areas?
maya-
-beans, squash, chili peppers, and sweet manioc
-harnessed rainwater through irrigation channels and used the slash-and-burn technique to clear the dense jungle
aztec-
-maize, beans, squash, chilies, tomatoes,
-used chinampas
inca-
-quinoa, potatoes, corn
-terracing
How do the glyphs in hieroglyphic writing systems represent language?
(1) phonetic glyphs, which represent the sounds of words, and (2) semantic glyphs, which serve to mark the meaning of words. Some glyphs serve as both in different contexts, as we shall see.
How do the main population centers and other sites built by the Classic period Maya, the Aztecs, and Inka compare and contrast with one another?
The Aztecs were fiercer. They warred, captured enemies, practiced cannibalism at times, and believed in sacrifices. The Incas, however, were more peaceful. They did not provide sacrifices to their gods. The main difference between Aztec and Mayan is that Aztec civilization was in central Mexico from the 14th to 16th century and expanded throughout Mesoamerica, while the Mayan empire branched all over a vast territory in northern Central America and southern Mexico from 2600 BC.
How were intimidation and persuasion used sometimes instead of open warfare by the Aztecs and Inka to expand and control their empires?
-The main way the Aztecs built their empire was through military conquest and subjugating conquered peoples. After they conquered a neighboring city in war, they would then control their conquests by forcing conquered people to pay tribute or using military force against them if the conquered people tried to resist.
-The empire was divided into four quarters known as the four Suyus. Hence the Incas called their empire Tahuantinsuyu, which means 'land of the four quarters'. Each quarter was placed under a governor who reported directly to the king. The king ruled the Inca Empire from his seat in the capital city of Cuzco
Contrast the two approaches of the Aztecs and Inka to administering their empires. Be prepared to give me some examples of their methods.
The Incan Empire's government was much more centralized than the other two civilizations. The Aztec Empire utilized military force to extract tribute in the form of material goods from subject people. While the Inca also extracted tribute, it was in the form of labor.
Be prepared to discuss some of the inventions cultural achievements or infrastructure associated with the way the three civilizations we discussed coped with the challenges of urban life in their environments. How did they manage transportation, communication, and trade?
Be prepared to discuss the archaeological evidence for the following rituals and provide an explanation for why it might have been done and who was involved: the ballgame among the Classic Maya
ancient scoreboard and a stone disk, a religious event of regeneration, mayan civilzation
be prepared to discuss the archaeological evidence for the following rituals and provide an explanation for why it might have been done and who was involved: bloodletting among the Classic Maya
artwork, writing, and recovery of obsidian blades, to gain favor of the gods and their ancestors, the classic mayan civilaztion
be prepared to discuss the archaeological evidence for the following rituals and provide an explanation for why it might have been done and who was involved: human sacrifice among the Aztecs
hundreds of skulls at the site of old temples, to pay back the debt that was formed when the gods let blood from themselves to create the world, the aztecs
be prepared to discuss the archaeological evidence for the following rituals and provide an explanation for why it might have been done and who was involved: royal mummies among the Inka.
obsidian blades, petition their ancestors and the gods for rain, good harvests, and success in warfare, among other needs and desires, mayan civization
What factors were involved with the collapse of the Classic Period Maya, and the defeat of the Aztecs and Inka?
overpopulation, environmental degradation, warfare, shifting trade routes and extended drought
