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=== UNIT 1: MESOAMERICA VOCABULARY & TERMS ===

Mesoamerica: Southern Mexico and Central America where early civilizations developed.

Yucatan Peninsula: A large peninsula in Mexico that separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea; home to the Maya civilization.

Slash and Burn: A farming technique where trees and plants are cut down and burned to clear land and add nutrients back to the soil.

Maya: A Mesoamerican civilization located in Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula from 250 to 900 CE.

Aztec: A Mesoamerican civilization located in Central Mexico from 1300 to 1500 CE.

Tenochtitlan: The capital city of the Aztec Empire, built on an island in Lake Texcoco (modern-day Mexico City).

Chinampas: Artificial floating islands/gardens built on lakes by the Aztecs to grow crops.

Conquistadors: Spanish conquerors who arrived in the Americas and brought disease, warfare, and colonization.

Inca: A South American civilization located in the Andes Mountains from 1200 to 1500 CE.

Cuzco: The capital city of the Inca Empire.

Machu Picchu: A royal estate and city built by the Incas high in the Andes Mountains.

Terrace Farming: Step-like fields cut into steep mountainsides used by the Incas to grow crops.

Quipu: A record-keeping system using colored, knotted strings used by the Incas to keep records and count data.

Polytheistic: Believing in or worshiping more than one god.

Monotheistic: Believing in or worshiping only one god.

Social Hierarchy: A system where people are ranked in society according to status or authority (Ruler -> Nobles/Priests -> Warriors -> Farmers/Craftsmen -> Slaves).

Irrigation: Supplying land or crops with water through artificial channels.

Precision Stonecutting: Advanced stonemasonry technique used by the Incas to fit massive stones together tightly without mortar.

=== GEOGRAPHY & MAP LOCATIONS ===

Oceans of the World: Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean.

Continents of the World: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica.

Major Mountain Ranges: Sierra Madre Mountains (Mexico), Andes Mountains (South America).

Key Geographic Features: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Equator.

Maya Location: Yucatan Peninsula and Central America (Key City: Tikal).

Aztec Location: Central Mexico (Key City: Tenochtitlan).

Inca Location: Andes Mountains, western coast of South America (Key Cities: Cuzco, Machu Picchu).

=== CIVILIZATION COMPARISON: MAYA ===

Maya Location: Yucatan Peninsula and Central America.

Maya Religious Beliefs: Polytheistic; worshiped nature spirits and the Serpent God (Kukulkan).

Maya Places of Worship: Step-pyramid temples (such as in Tikal) and sacred plazas.

Maya Communication and Language: Complex written language using hieroglyphics (pictographs).

Maya Art: Stone instruments, detailed pottery, stone carvings, wall murals, jade jewelry.

Maya Architecture: Step-pyramids, astronomical observatories, 365-day solar calendar alignment.

Maya Science and Math: Concept of zero, advanced astronomy, 365-day solar calendar.

Maya Technology: Slash-and-burn farming, irrigation channels, stonecutting tools.

=== CIVILIZATION COMPARISON: AZTEC ===

Aztec Location: Central Mexico (Tenochtitlan).

Aztec Religious Beliefs: Polytheistic; worshiped the Sun God (Huitzilopochtli) and Rain God (Tlaloc); performed human sacrifices to ensure the sun rose.

Aztec Places of Worship: Templo Mayor and large temple pyramids.

Aztec Communication and Language: Nahuatl language; traded extensively and communicated through picture codices.

Aztec Art: 260-day ceremonial calendar stone, feather artwork, stone sculptures.

Aztec Architecture: Floating capital city (Tenochtitlan), causeways, dikes, step-pyramids.

Aztec Science and Math: 260-day ritual calendar, 365-day solar calendar, herbal medicines.

Aztec Technology: Chinampas (floating gardens), dikes to filter salt water, causeways.

=== CIVILIZATION COMPARISON: INCA ===

Inca Location: Andes Mountains in South America (Cuzco, Machu Picchu).

Inca Religious Beliefs: Polytheistic; worshiped Inti (Sun God), Pachamama (Earth Mother), sacred mountains, and rivers.

Inca Places of Worship: Sun temples (like Coricancha), sacred natural mountain sites.

Inca Communication and Language: Quipus (knotted colored strings for accounting/numbers); Quechua oral language.

Inca Art: Fine textiles, gold and silver metalwork, stone statues, pottery.

Inca Architecture: Machu Picchu, precision stonecutting without mortar, extensive road/bridge networks.

Inca Science and Math: Terrace engineering, aqueducts, freeze-drying food, early brain surgery (trepanning).

Inca Technology: Quipus, terrace farming steps, rope suspension bridges, stone aqueducts.