Unit 10 Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts regarding the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas from the Unit 10 study guide.

Aztecs

A civilization located in the Arid Valley of Central Mexico and around Lake Texcoco.

Maya

A civilization located in the Mexican and Central American rainforests, particularly the Yucatan Peninsula.

Incas

A civilization located in the Andes mountains of South America.

Economy of the Aztecs

Based on agriculture and tributes, with corn as the main crop.

Economy of the Incas

Based on high-altitude agriculture and mining.

Form of government for the Aztecs and Incas

Emperor; both civilizations had an imperial form of government.

Economy of the Maya

Based on agriculture (corn, beans, squash, fruit trees) and trade (gold, jade, copper, obsidian).

Government of the Maya

Consisted of groups of independent city-states ruled by kings.

Animism

The belief system of the Inca civilization.

Religion of the three civilizations

Polytheistic, believing in multiple gods.

Accomplishments of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas

Calendars, mathematics, writing, and record-keeping.

Quipu

A system used by the Incas for record keeping, involving knots.

Road system

Developed by the Incas to connect their empire.

Capital of the Aztec civilization

Tenochtitlan.

Capital of the Mayan civilization

Chichen Itza.

Historic city of the Incan empire

Machu Picchu.

Military conquests and slavery

Mechanisms through which slaves were captured in Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations.

Art forms used for religious expression

Textiles, murals, domes, sculptures, and pottery.

Downfall of the Aztec & Incan Empires

Led primarily by the Spanish conquest.

Slash-and-burn agriculture

Practiced by the Mayans.

Terraced farming

A technique used by the Incans.

Chinampas

Agricultural islands used by the Aztecs.

Ways the Aztecs & Incans rose to power

Through military conquest and political alliances, not conversion to Christianity or cultural achievements.