Warm-up #17• Which Incan achievement was the

most impressive to you and why? • What did you enjoy most about

learning about Early Latin American cultures?

Unit 1 Study Guide Key

1. Explain the importance of domesticating maize and how it helped Mesoamerica develop.

• By growing crops like maize, settlements could support larger populations. More advanced societies grew, and people began to focus on activities such as building, trade, art, and organized religion. Eventually, settlements developed into towns and cities.

2. What is obsidian? How was it used in Mesoamerica? Why was it important

economically?• Obsidian is a sharp, glasslike volcanic rock. It

was used in mesoamerica as a sharp edge for cutting tools and weapons. It was important economically as a trade commodity for the cities located in the highlands.

3. When did the Maya Empire spread to the Yucatan Peninsula?

• The Maya empire spread to the Yucatan Peninsula during the Classic Age.

4. What is special about cacao beans? How did the Maya use them?

• Cacao beans are used to make chocolate. They Maya used them as the food of rulers and of the gods, they even used them as money.

5. Describe the city of Palenque? Why was the temple built there? Who was their

famous king?• The city of Palenque was a major power on

the border between the Maya highlands and lowlands. The temple was built to record the achievements of their famous king, Pacal.

6. How did the Mayans adapt to growing crops on hills and in the jungle?

• The Maya adapted by using terraced farming on hills and slash and burn techniques in the jungle to grow crops.

7. How did the Aztecs increase farmable land?

• The Aztecs created floating islands called chinampas to increase farmable land.

8. What do historians think caused the collapse of the Mayan Civilization?

• There were four factors that historians think caused the collapse of the Mayan civilization:– Increased warfare– Inability to provide enough food for a growing

population– Rebellion against the King– Prolonged drought (climate change)

9. What was the Mayan social structure like? Name the different classes and some

responsibilities for each.• The highest position was the King. He ruled over

the city state. Below him were the Priests, Warriors and Merchants. Together they controlled the politics, religion and economy of the Maya. Farmers were below them, and consisted of the majority of the population. They grew food, built temples and palaces and had to join the army during times of war. Slaves were at the bottom. They worked as servants for the upper class.

10. How did the Mayans worship and honor their gods?

• The Mayans worshiped and honored their gods by provided them with blood offerings. This was normally through piercing their tongue or skin, but sometimes involved human sacrifice.

11. How did the Aztecs worship and honor their gods?

• The Aztecs also believed in sacrifice to please the gods. They would cut themselves to give blood to the gods and provide them with frequent human sacrifice of captured warriors from other tribes.

12. Explain how the Mayan calendar rounds worked? What were they used for?

Who used them?• The Maya had a 365 day farming calendar and

a 260 day religious calendar. They would use them in concert to determine the best day to perform certain tasks such as planting crops or planning a wedding.

13. Explain how Mayan numbers worked? What number did they invent before anyone else in

North America?• Mayan numbers were a base 20 system. Each

dot represented 1 unit, each line represented 5 units. They invented the number zero before anyone else in North America.

14. Explain how the Mayan language worked? Why is it unique? Why is it

important?• The Mayan language was similar to Egyptian

hieroglyphics. It is unique in the sense that each symbol represents both objects and sounds. It is important because it is one of the few written languages in the Americas.

15. How did the Aztecs conquer the other cities around Lake Texcoco?

• The Aztecs formed a secret alliance with two other cities on Lake Texcoco. With their allies’ help, they defeated the other towns around the lake.

16. Explain the role of war, tribute and trade in the Aztec empire. How did these factors help

the empire grow?• War was a key factor in the Aztec’s rise to

power. They made people they conquered pay tribute with goods such as cotton, gold, or food. They controlled a huge trade network, which made them very wealthy. This helped them grow stronger and grow their empire.

17. How did Acampapichtli help build great temples in Tenochtitlan?

• Acampapichtli was the first Tlatoani of the Aztecs. He divided the city into four sections and began construction of the “Great Pyramid.”

18. What advancements in engineering were apparent in Tenochtitlan?

• The advancements in engineering that were apparent in Tenochtitlan included causeways, aqueducts, and floating gardens (called chinampas).

19. Explain the Aztec social class structure. Name a few responsibilities and characteristics

of each class.• Aztec society was broken down into calpullis,

which were communities of families that shared land, schools and a temple. At the top of society was the King and Nobles, they were in charge of law, trade, tribute and warfare. Priests and Warriors were next, they had great influence over the Aztec’s lives. Next were merchants and artisans, they were responsible for driving the economy. Farmers and Slaves were at the bottom and performed manual labor.

20. What is a codex? How do they inform historians?

• A codex is an ancient book that kept written historical records on separate pages. They allow historians to access some of the history of the Aztecs that was mostly destroyed by the Spanish.

21. What role did human sacrifice play in the Aztec religion?

• Human sacrifice provided the gods with the blood they needed to survive. The Aztecs would sacrifice captured warriors from their neighbors.

22. Where did the first Incas live?

• The Incas began as a small tribe in the Andes.

23. What was the capital city of the Incas?

• Their capital was Cuzco.

24. What was the official language of the Incas? Why was picking an official

language important?• The official language of the Incas was

Quechua. It was an important way to unify their empire.

25. Describe the Inca religion.

• The Inca worshiped a sun god and their ancestors. They would mummify their dead. They did make sacrifices to their gods, but rarely did they sacrifice humans.

Why was the Inca road system important?

• The roads were used for transportation, communication, and government administration. The roads symbolized the power of the Inca government.

27. What is Machu Picchu? Why was it important?

• Machu Picchu was an Incan city. It was a royal retreat for the Inca rulers. Scholars believe the Incas held festivals there.