Mesoamerican Civilizations: Maya, Inca, and Aztec Key Facts

Where did this civilization live? M

The Maya lived in Mesoamerica, a region that includes parts of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Their civilization spread across northern and southern lowlands and highlands.

What is the climate like? M

The climate was mostly hot and humid. The lowlands were covered in tropical rainforests with heavy rainfall, while the highlands were cooler and mountainous. There was a rainy season and a dry season.

What natural resources did people use? M

The Maya used rivers and cenotes for water, fertile soil for crops, limestone for buildings, wood for construction and fuel, and animals for food. They gathered wild plants, fruits, and nuts.

How did the environment affect where people built their cities or farms? M

They built cities near water sources and fertile land. In lowlands, they made raised fields to avoid flooding, and in highlands, they built terraces to prevent soil erosion. They also built reservoirs and canals to store and control water during dry and rainy seasons. Cities were often designed around natural features like rivers and hills.

What foods did people grow or gather? M

Maize (corn) was the most important crop. They also grew beans, squash, chili peppers, avocados, and cacao, and gathered fruits and nuts from the forest.

How did people grow crops in this environment? M

They used slash-and-burn farming in the rainforest lowlands (called milpa). In wet areas, they built raised fields. Terraces were used in the highlands, and stone tools helped with planting and harvesting.

How did people get water for farming? M

They collected rainwater in reservoirs, used cenotes, rivers, and canals to irrigate fields, and adapted to the seasonal rainfall patterns.

What animals did people raise or hunt? M

They raised turkeys and dogs, hunted deer, monkeys, peccaries, and birds, and fished in rivers.

How did the environment affect what people ate or how they farmed? M

The tropical climate supported crops like maize and cacao. Rainfall patterns determined planting and harvest schedules, requiring innovative farming techniques like terraces and raised fields.

What kinds of buildings or structures did people make? M

The Maya built temples, pyramids, palaces, ball courts, and observatories for astronomy, plazas, and causeways. Common people lived in small wooden homes with thatch roofs.

What materials did they use from the environment?M

Limestone for temples and pyramids, wood for homes, thatch for roofs, clay for pottery, and jade or obsidian for tools and decoration.

How did the buildings or structures help people live in this environment? M

Stone buildings stayed cool, thatch roofs shed rain, storage buildings kept food dry, and reservoirs and canals managed water.

Did they build special systems to manage the land or resources? M

Yes. They built terraces and raised fields for farming, causeways for travel, and reservoirs to store water.

How were people grouped in society? M

Society was divided into nobles, priests, warriors, artisans, farmers, and slaves. Nobles and priests held the most power.

Who was in charge or made rules? M

Each city-state had a king called an ajaw, who led in both political and religious matters. Nobles and priests assisted in administration.

How did people follow rules or laws? M

People obeyed rulers through loyalty and religious traditions. Punishments could include fines, labor, or sacrifice.

How did people support each other in society? M

Families farmed together, communities built public structures collectively, and trade and festivals reinforced social bonds.

Could people move up or down in society? M

Status was mostly inherited, but skilled warriors, artisans, or scribes could sometimes earn higher status.

What gods or spiritual beliefs did people have? M

Polytheistic; important gods included the sun god, rain god, maize god, and moon goddess.

What religious ceremonies or rituals did they perform? M

Offerings, dances, feasts, and bloodletting or human sacrifice to nourish the gods.

How did religion connect to the environment? M

Gods represented natural forces like sun, rain, and maize. Rituals ensured rain, good harvests, and balance in nature.

How did religion influence daily life, decisions, or government? M

Religion guided farming, war, and leadership. Kings claimed divine authority, and priests advised rulers. Ceremonies were central to community life.

Where did this civilization live? I

The Inca lived along the Andes Mountains in western South America, covering present-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

What is the climate like? I

Varied climates from cold, high-altitude mountains to humid rainforests and coastal deserts. Mountainous terrain dominated most Inca cities. Inca cities were often built in rugged, high-altitude regions, but farming also took place in valleys.

What natural resources did people use? I

Mountain streams and rivers, fertile valley soil, stone for building, llamas and alpacas for wool, meat, and transport, gold and silver for art and religious items.

How did the environment affect where people built their cities or farms? I

They built terraces on mountainsides, controlled water with aqueducts, and constructed cities like Machu Picchu high in the mountains for defense and religious reasons.

What foods did people grow or gather? I

Potatoes, maize, quinoa, beans, squash, chili peppers, fruits, and nuts. Guinea pigs were raised for food. They also grew coca plants, whose leaves were chewed or used in rituals for energy and religious purposes. Coca is different from cacao; coca leaves are mild stimulants used for energy and medicine, while cacao is processed into chocolate for food and drink.

How did people grow crops in this environment? I

Terraces prevented soil erosion; irrigation canals brought mountain water to fields; simple stone and wooden tools were used. I

How did people get water for farming? I

Through canals, aqueducts, and mountain streams; reservoirs stored water for dry seasons.

What animals did people raise or hunt? I

Llamas and alpacas for wool, meat, and transport; guinea pigs for food; hunted vicuñas and birds.

How did the environment affect what people ate or how they farmed? I

Mountain terrain required terrace farming; cool climate favored potatoes and quinoa; valleys supported maize and fruits.

What kinds of buildings or structures did people make? I

Stone temples, palaces, roads, bridges, terraces, and storehouses. Suspension bridges spanned deep valleys.

What materials did they use from the environment? I

Stone for buildings, adobe for homes, thatch for roofs, rope from plants, plant fibers for bridges. Buildings were made primarily from carefully fitted stone without mortar.

How did the buildings or structures help people live in this environment?

Stone buildings resisted earthquakes; terraces and aqueducts managed water; storehouses preserved food.

Did they build special systems to manage the land or resources? I

Yes, including terraces, irrigation, storehouses, and an extensive 14,000-mile road network.

How were people grouped in society? I

Emperor (Sapa Inca), nobles, priests, administrators, soldiers, artisans, farmers, and laborers.

Who was in charge or made rules? I

The Sapa Inca ruled absolutely; provincial leaders called curacas governed local areas and reported to Cuzco officials.

How did people follow rules or laws? I

Strict laws enforced by officials; punishments included loss of land or labor; obedience was reinforced through religion.

How did people support each other in society? I

Families farmed together; mit'a system organized labor for public works; government provided food and protection.

Could people move up or down in society? I

Status was mostly inherited, but skilled workers, soldiers, or administrators could sometimes earn higher status.

What gods or spiritual beliefs did people have? I

Polytheistic; key gods included Inti (sun), Viracocha (creator), and Pachamama (earth).

What religious ceremonies or rituals did they perform? I

Festivals, offerings, and sometimes animal or human sacrifices to honor gods and ensure harvests.

How did religion connect to the environment? I

Gods represented the sun, earth, and mountains; rituals aimed to control natural forces.

How did religion influence daily life, decisions, or government? I

The emperor ruled as a divine representative; ceremonies guided farming, politics, and community life.

Where did this civilization live? A

The Aztec lived in central Mexico, mainly in the Valley of Mexico. Their capital, Tenochtitlán, was built on an island in Lake Texcoco.

What is the climate like? A

Mild climate with warm days and cool nights; surrounded by mountains and lakes, with fertile soil.

What natural resources did people use? A

Fertile lake soil, obsidian (shiny black volcanic glass) for tools and weapons, feathers and cotton for clothing, water for irrigation, and fish from lakes.

How did the environment affect where people built their cities or farms? A

They built Tenochtitlán on an island for defense and trade; created chinampas (floating gardens) for extra farmland; canals and causeways connected the city.

What foods did people grow or gather?

Maize, beans, squash, chili peppers, tomatoes, amaranth, and cacao. Also gathered fruits, flowers, and herbs. Cacao was used to make chocolate drinks and for trade, unlike coca, which was used as a mild stimulant and for rituals.

How did people grow crops in this environment? A

Used chinampas for highly productive farming; dug canals for irrigation; used wooden tools with stone blades.

How did people get water for farming? A

From lakes, canals, and aqueducts bringing fresh water from hills.

What animals did people raise or hunt? A

Raised turkeys and dogs; hunted deer, rabbits, birds; fished in lakes.

How did the environment affect what people ate or how they farmed? A

Lake soil and irrigation allowed year-round farming; lakes provided fish and waterfowl; trade supplemented diet with tropical goods.

What kinds of buildings or structures did people make? A

Pyramids, temples, palaces, markets, ball courts, streets, canals, and bridges. The central temple in Tenochtitlán was the Templo Mayor.

What materials did they use from the environment? A

Volcanic stone for temples, adobe and wood for homes, lime plaster, reeds and mud for chinampas.

How did the buildings or structures help people live in this environment? A

Canals for transportation and irrigation; causeways for travel and flood control; stone buildings protected from weather; storage rooms preserved food.

Did they build special systems to manage the land or resources? A

Yes. Chinampas, aqueducts, and causeways enabled farming, water supply, and defense.

How were people grouped in society? A

Nobles, priests, warriors, merchants, artisans, farmers, and slaves. Nobles and priests held power; farmers provided food; merchants traded goods.

Who was in charge or made rules? A

The emperor (Huey Tlatoani) ruled absolutely, aided by nobles, priests, and generals.

How did people follow rules or laws? A

Laws were strict; punishments included fines, enslavement, or death; religious beliefs reinforced obedience.

How did people support each other in society? A

Families farmed and raised children together; communities built temples and canals; citizens contributed labor or goods.

Could people move up or down in society? A

Yes. Skilled warriors, priests, or merchants could rise in status, though most inherited class.

What gods or spiritual beliefs did people have? A

Polytheistic; major gods included Huitzilopochtli (sun/war), Tlaloc (rain), and Quetzalcoatl (wind/wisdom).

What religious ceremonies or rituals did they perform? A

Offerings, festivals, dances, and human sacrifices to honor and feed gods.

How did religion connect to the environment? A

Gods represented natural forces; temples aligned with sun and stars; ceremonies ensured rain and harvests.

How did religion influence daily life, decisions, or government? A

Religion shaped farming, war, and politics; emperor claimed divine selection; priests advised rulers; festivals involved the entire community.