Journal 1/14

Think like an archeologist; you have

just discovered this artifact. What might it

tell you about the culture of the people

who left it behind?

Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca

Olmec• Lived in Mesoamerica;

region including:• We know__________

about them• Earliest; known as the

________ _________ b/c evidence suggests later ppls adopt Olmac1) Art2) Writing3) Calander

We know little about the Olmec ‘Colossal heads’ but believe they are portrates of rulers.

The Maya• Like the ________, Maya

didn’t create a: – City states compete for:– Cities are connected

thru________

• Society was hierarchical. Each city state had– Ruler:– Nobles:– Middle class made of:– Most Maya were _____– Some city states:

Mayan Culture and Advancements• Polytheistic• Maya built temples for: and palaces for royalty and

public meetings• Large stone columns called

Stela depict1)2)3)

• Also advanced in:

Inca Brochure (197-199)

• Fill each space with info regarding:– Culture

• Influence myths had on society• Important cities• Religion• Government

– Geography and modern day countries– Advancements

Maya Civilization Declines

• Archeologists are: A few theories are:

1) Warfare:2) Over farming:

• Maya did not disappear. – Lived in small _________

villages until:– Many live in __________

today

Structure of the City-State

Journal 1/15

Turn to page 209. “Aztec Training and Education” documents B, C, and D.

Answer question 2 & 3.

Aztec: The Sun People• Tenochtitlan is the:the

______Huitzilopochtli tells the Aztec to settle where they find:

• Aztec build chinampas or_______ ________ in order to:

• The modern day city of _________ ______ is were Tenochtitlan was

A unified empire• Unlike the _______, the

Aztec:• Hierarchy is similar to

feudalism– _______at top; his job

is:– _______are respected– _______are very

important b/c:– Most people were

_________

Teotihuacan: A holy city• Not built by the

________but considered an:

b/c they believed the world was created there.

• The Pyramids of the ______&______ were built here

Journal: POP QUIZ!1. Tenochtitlan was the:2. The Aztec lived in a unified empire or

disjointed city-states?3. Tenochtitlan is now the city of:4. What did Huitzilopochtli tell the Aztec to look

for?5. What are Chinampas? Why were they used?6. Why were priests important to the Aztec?7. What is Teotihuacan?

People of South America:People of South America:The IncaThe Inca

Inca Rulers: Son of the Sun• The ruler, called ____

____, :– Held absolute_______– Claimed to be_______– Was the empire’s:– ‘owned’ all the _____

• Coya was:– Ruled:– Carried out:

The Structure of the Empire• No personal property b/c:• Villages were run by ayllu

or: who enforced laws.

• Sapa Inca could call upon young men to:

• Farmers worked land for: but then worked land for:

Uniting the Empire• System of ______

– Very intricate– All roads passed

through Cuzco:– Could not be used by:

• Quechua– _________of the Inca– Made conquered ppls:

• Religion– Made conquered ppls:– Inti is: