1.4 apwh americas

andean region

mountainous western south america, where the inca developed

ayllu

incan communal clan group that farmed and shared labor

calpulli

aztec clan groups manage land and rituals

chinampas

aztec floating gardens; an innovation in environmental adaptation

deity

a god or divine being. root; deus (latin, "god")

empire

the political system uniting diverse regions under one ruler. root: imperium (latin, "command")

polytheism

belief in many gods. roots: poly + theos

quipu

incan knotted-cord record system

social hierarchy

ranking of people into classes: a recurring global theme

Tenochtitlan

aztec capital later transformed into mexico city

terrace farming

step-like agriculture on slopes. root: terra (latin, "earth")

theocracy

rule by divine authority. roots: theos + kratos ("rule")

tribute system

payment of good or labor from conquered peoples

urbanization

growth of cities due to trade and agriculture. roots: urbs + -ization)

agricultural intensification

increasing food production through innovations such as irrigation, terracing or chinampas. (roots: ager (latin, "field") + intensus (latin, "stretched, increased")

andes mountains

the major south american range shaping incan roads, agriculture, and settlement

aztec empire

mesoamerican civilization centered in tenochtitlan; expanded by warfare and tribute

codices

bark-paper or animal-skin books preserving aztec and mayan history, law, and art

divine kingship

belief that rulers possess or receive power from the gods. roots: divinus (latin, "godlike") + rex/regis (latin, "king")

gender parallelism

andean concept where men and women performed distinct but complementary roles

mita system

incan labor tax requiring service on public works

pyramid temples

monumental stepped religious structures for ceremonies and astronomy

sacred geography

the idea that specific landscapes hold spiritual meaning. roots sacer (latin, "holy") + geo (greek, "earth") + graphein (greek, "to write or describe")

textiles

woven fabrics are used as wealth, tribute, and status markers. root: texere (latin, "to weave")

tribute collection

organized gathering of goods or labor from conquered peoples to sustain the state

vertical economy

the andean system of exploiting different altitude zones for varies crops. roots: vertex (latin, "highest point") + oikos (greek, "house, management")