Chapter 20 Study Cards APWH

Aztecs

Union of Mexica ( Aztecs ) , Texcoco & Tlacopan to build large empire in Mexico and exact tribute from subjects - p

Aztecs

Built a large agricultural empire ( chinampas ) around lake Texcoco - e

Bloodletting

Aztecs believed gods shed their blood ( rain ) to produce crops ( corn ) - e

Bloodletting

Priests and nobles self - sacrificed to honor gods . Animal and human sacrifice became more common . Believed to help Aztecs defeat neighboring peoples - c

Calpulli

Aztec agricultural communities . Clan organization . Purpose = organize cultivation of land- e

Calpulli

Evidence of decentralization in Aztec empire - p

Incas

Powerful centralized ( bureaucrats ) empire in modern day Peru - p

Incas

Thriving agricultural empire . Government created roads for communication and movement ( soldiers ) , but also served as trade routes .

Quipu

Incan record keeping device which kept track of population , crop production - p

Quipu

Bureaucrats could assess taxes based on records - p . society - s

Ayllu

Rural ( farming ) organization in Inca society - s

Ayllu

Peasants work on allocated lands and pay taxes in the form of labor on noble / government land - p .

Aboriginal Australians

Nomadic hunting and gathering peoples of Australia - h / e

Aboriginal Australians

Very little contact with outside peoples b / c they did not have surplus or maritime technology - IN

Sweet potatoes

A crop that is native to Latin America - e

Sweet potatoes

Polynesian mariners made contact with South America and brought the crop to the Pacific Islands and to mainland Asia - h/e