Inca, Mayan, and Aztec Civilizations and Spanish Colonies

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to the Incas, Mayans, Aztecs, and Spanish Colonies.

Incas

An ancient civilization known for terraced farming, silver mining, and extensive road networks.

Terraced farming

Agricultural technique involving creating stepped fields on mountainsides.

Sapa Inca

The title for the emperor of the Incas; notable leader included Atahualpa.

Mita

An organized system of labor used by the Incas.

Quipu

A system of knotted strings used by the Incas for record-keeping.

Cuzco

The capital city of the Inca Empire.

Chichen Itza

A major Mayan city known for its stepped pyramid.

365-day calendar

A calendar developed by the Mayans that closely resembles the modern calendar.

Spanish Colonies

Regions in the Americas governed by Spain, including parts of the southern USA and Mesoamerica.

Encomienda system

A labor system that granted colonists the right to demand labor from indigenous peoples.

Creole

People of European descent born in Latin America.

Mestizo

A person of mixed indigenous and European ancestry.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire.

Chinampas

Floating islands used by the Aztecs for agriculture.

Templo Mayor

The main temple in Tenochtitlan, dedicated to several deities.

Huitzilopochtli

The Aztec sun god associated with war.

Quetzalcoatl

The creator god in Aztec mythology.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire.

Moctezuma

The ruler of the Aztec Empire at the time of its conquest.

Nahuatl

The language spoken by the Aztecs.

Mexica

The ethnic group that formed the basis of the Aztec Empire.