All Flashcards
When did the Mayan civilization thrive?
From 250 to 900 CE in the Yucatan Peninsula.
What happened around 900 CE to the Maya?
The Mayan civilization collapsed due to internal conflicts and food shortages.
When did the Aztec Empire flourish?
From the 1300s to 1521 CE in modern-day Mexico City.
When did the Incan Empire dominate?
From the 1400s to 1533 CE in the Andes Mountains of South America.
What was the significance of building Tenochtitlan?
Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital built on Lake Texcoco, was a massive city demonstrating Aztec engineering and power.
What was the role of human sacrifice in Aztec society?
Human sacrifice was practiced to appease the gods, especially Huitzilopochtli, and maintain cosmic balance.
What was the purpose of the mita system?
The mita system provided mandatory public service labor for the Inca Empire, contributing to infrastructure and state projects.
What was the function of the quipu?
The quipu served as a record-keeping and communication tool for the Inca, utilizing knotted cords to store data.
What was the impact of Mississippian Culture?
The Mississippian culture influenced later societies in North America with its agricultural practices and social structures.
What was the impact of the Aztec's militaristic society?
The militaristic society of the Aztecs allowed them to expand their empire through conquest and tribute collection.
Who was Huitzilopochtli?
The Aztec sun god, to whom human sacrifices were often made.
Who was Inti?
The Incan sun god.
What is 'regionalism'?
The development of societies in smaller, distinct areas due to vast land and smaller populations.
What are 'earthen mounds'?
Large structures made of earth, used by Mississippian cultures for various purposes.
What does 'matrilineal' mean?
A system where social standing is passed down through the mother's line.
What are 'city-states'?
Independent cities that govern themselves, often cooperating with each other.
What are 'chinampas'?
Floating gardens used by the Aztecs for agriculture in Lake Texcoco.
Define 'human sacrifice'.
The ritual killing of humans, often to appease deities, as practiced by the Aztecs.
Define 'mita system'.
Mandatory public service labor required of all male citizens in the Inca Empire.
What is a 'quipu'?
A system of knotted cords used for record-keeping and communication by the Inca.
What is 'animism'?
The belief that natural objects, phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.
What is 'polytheism'?
The belief in or worship of more than one god.