Civilizations of Mesoamerica and Native American Cultures

Mesoamerica

Region in Mexico and Central America with ancient empires.

Inca Empire

Flourished from 1438 to 1532 CE in South America.

Ayllu

Extended family group in Inca society.

Inca Road System

19,000 miles long, facilitating trade and communication.

Quipu

Knotted strings used by Incas for record keeping.

Maya Civilization

Thrived from 300 to 900 AD in Mesoamerica.

Three Sisters

Agricultural trio of corn, beans, and squash.

Cenotes

Natural sinkholes considered sacred by the Maya.

Human Sacrifice

Ritual practice in both Maya and Inca cultures.

Olmec Civilization

First major civilization in Mesoamerica, ~1200 B.C.

Zapotec Civilization

Centered in Oaxaca Valley, known for urban centers.

Teotihuacan

First major city in Central Mexico, 250 BC-800 CE.

Toltec Empire

Known for metalworking and architectural advancements.

Aztec Empire

Controlled a vast empire through alliances and warfare.

Chinampas

Floating gardens used for agriculture in Tenochtitlan.

Pachacuti

Inca leader who expanded the empire in 1438 AD.

Nazca Lines

Geoglyphs in Peru, possibly for religious rituals.

Bering Land Bridge

Migration route for first Americans, ~22,000 years ago.

Eastern Woodlands

Region with diverse tribes and matrilineal societies.

Iroquois Confederacy

Alliance of five tribes for mutual defense and peace.

Algonquians

Tribes living in wigwams, focused on hunting and fishing.

Five Civilized Tribes

Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole in Southeast.

Mississippians

Built large towns around central plazas, like Cahokia.

Cliff Palace

Largest cliff dwelling in North America, built by Ancestral Puebloans.

Great Basin

Nomadic culture between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada.

California & Northwest Coast

Tribes with abundant resources, focused on fishing.

Great Plains

Arid grassland, tribes relied on buffalo hunting.