State Building in the Americas: Maya, Aztec, and Inca

Maya Civilization

Ancient culture in Yucatan Peninsula region.

Yucatan Peninsula

Location of the Maya civilization; includes southern Mexico.

Classic Period

Timeframe of significant Maya cultural development.

Postclassic Period

Era following the Classic Period in Maya history.

City-States

Independent political units within Maya civilization.

Chiefdoms

Political structure based on kinship in Maya.

Divine Rulers

Maya leaders believed to be intermediaries of gods.

Bloodletting Ritual

Sacrifice practice using stingray spines for deities.

Mesoamerica

Cultural region including Maya, Aztec, and Olmecs.

Trade Networks

Smaller trade systems compared to other civilizations.

Overland Trade

Goods transported on foot by traders.

Waterway Trade

Trade conducted via canoes in Maya region.

Common Goods

Items traded included textiles, salt, and maize.

Urban Centers

Maya cities expanded from central areas outward.

Tikal

Ancient Maya city discovered in the mid-1800s.

Pyramid Temples

Common architectural feature in Maya cities.

Ball Court

Rectangular area for ceremonial ball games.

Mayan Language

Complex writing system with logograms and phonetics.

Mayan Glyphs

Symbols used in Mayan writing; 85% deciphered.

Cizin

Maya deity associated with death and earthquakes.

Quetzal

Bird whose feathers adorned Maya deities.

Human Sacrifice

Ultimate offering in important Maya rituals.

Environmental Factors

Drought and logging contributed to Maya decline.

Spanish Records

Historical accounts providing insights into Maya trade.

Ceramics

Commonly traded items, often artistically decorated.

High Value Victims

Prisoners of war chosen for human sacrifices.

Decline of Maya

Collapse attributed to environmental and societal issues.

Olmecs

First civilization in the Western Hemisphere with writing.

Colossal Heads

Famous Olmec stone carvings representing their culture.

Bloodletting Rituals

Ceremonial practices common in Mesoamerican cultures.

Mesoamerican Ballgame

Sport played by Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs.

Aztec Empire

Centralized empire known as Mexica, spanning southern Mexico.

Tenochtitlan

Capital city of the Aztec Empire, now Mexico City.

Triple Alliance

Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Tlacopan, and Texcoco.

Tributary Relationships

System of tribute that unified the Aztec Empire.

Social Hierarchy

Structured society with divine ruler at the top.

Aztec Warriors

Men who could advance socially by capturing prisoners.

Slavery in Aztec Empire

Not hereditary; often for debt or war captives.

Emperor Itzcoatl

Unified city-states to form the Aztec Empire.

Mesoamerican Timeline

Chronological overlap of Maya, Olmec, and Aztec civilizations.

Inca Empire

Largest empire in Pre-Columbian Americas, located in Andes.

Cusco

Political center of the Inca Empire in Peru.

Pachacuti

Ninth ruler of Inca chiefdom, founder of the empire.

Sapa Inca

Title for the emperor of the Inca Empire.

Inti

Sun god worshipped by the Inca as a divine ancestor.

Mummification

Process to preserve bodies for the afterlife in Inca culture.

Child Sacrifice

Ritual performed during significant events in Inca religion.

Modern Indigenous Heritage

Over 40% of Guatemalans claim Maya ancestry.

Mexica

Name used by Aztecs for themselves.

Aztlan

Mythical homeland of the Mexica people.

Huitzilopochtli

God who guided Mexica to Tenochtitlan's founding.

Tributary Demands

High taxes that sometimes caused revolts in the empire.

Moctezuma I

Sapa Inca who expanded the empire after Itzcoatl.

Andes Mountains

Mountain range where the Inca Empire was located.

Subsistence Economy

Economy focused on population needs, not profit.

Andean Royal Road

3,500 miles long road in Inca Empire.

Chasquis

Relay runners communicating messages across the empire.

Mit'a System

Labor tax system in the Inca Empire.

Tokoyrikoq

Enforcement group ensuring adherence to laws.

Matrilineal Society

Inheritance through the women's side of family.

Cahokia Mounds

Earthen mounds in Mississippian city of Cahokia.

Monks Mound

Largest mound in Cahokia, 10 stories tall.

Urbanization

Population growth leading to city development.

Chaco Canyon

Settlement with large stone houses and water systems.

Mesa Verde

Cliff dwellings in Colorado, unique architecture.

Population of Cahokia

Estimated at 40,000 at its peak.

Incan Engineers

Skilled builders of roads and bridges.

Cultural Understanding

Archaeologists piece together cultures without records.

Fire Communication

Smoke signals for urgent messages in Inca.

Diverse Population

Result of relocating conquered peoples to Cusco.

Food Production

Increased farming to support urban populations.

Water Storage Systems

Methods developed for dry climate sustainability.

Pueblo Peoples

Ancestors of Navajo from Chaco and Mesa Verde.

Cultural Shifts

Changes in food production and living arrangements.

Major Events

Significant occurrences prompting sacrificial offerings.

Historical Records

Lack of written records in Inca history.

Spanish Conquest

Inca Empire fell to Spanish in 1572.