Chapter 14 Lesson Review
How did the Inca use the quipu in place of a formal system of writing?
Because quipu allowed them to track goods and count how many men went to war. It only tracked thing that could be counted, and wise men turned the historical events into stories which were passed down from mouth to mouth.
Where was Cahokia located, and how was it important to the Hopewell peoples? What did archaeologists find at the site?
It was located in Illinois and the hopewell people built mounds of dirt for ceremonies and tombs. Its importance is a burial site for the Hopewell people. The base is larger than those of the great pyramids in Egypt.
Who were the early peoples of North America?
The Iroquois lived in the Mississippi river valley and hunted and farmed. They had a Grand Council who met up to discus issues and make peace.
How did geography influence how the Inca road system and Machu Picchu were built? How do these feats of engineering point to the complexity of the Inca culture?
The geography was very treacherous and the roads were used to connect the empire. Machu Picchu was built on a mountain top because of the geography and fields were cut into the mountain side.
Compare and contrast the three great Mesoamerican civilizations.
The toltecs were the smallest with 40,000 to 60,000 people and the mayans had a capital city of 100,000 people. The aztecs had extensive trading markets and canals and bridges. Both the Mayan and Aztecs used a number system based off of 20 and made an accurate calendar. They all had pyramids and palaces.
What was the organization of the Inca government?
Their was an emperor at the top, and the kingdom was divided into four parts with a ruling governor. These quarters were divided into provinces each with a governor as well and contained about 10,000 people.
What made the Maya one of the most sophisticated civilizations of the early Americas?
They built great pyramids, and invented their own calendar. They also used hieroglyphics to write and invented the number zero independently of the rest of the world.
How were the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec civilizations influenced by geography?
They could plant all of the essential crops (beans, corn, and squash) and also build huge cities to house many people.
How did the Inca develop their successful empire?
They had a very centralized government and a big army at all times. They also used forced labor to get work done.
What characteristics defined the early civilizations of South America?
They made pottery and the Nazca people dug huge grooves in the ground that can only be seen by air depicting animals, humans, and geometric shapes. The Moche people like war and did not have a written language.
How did the Aztec continue the tradition of building successful civilizations in Mesoamerica?
They used canals to water their crops and bridges to connect people all across lake Texcoco. They developed extensive trade throughout the region and had a strong military force.
What contributions did the Toltec make to early Mesoamerican culture?
They were the first mesoamericans to work metals, and worked in gold, silver, and copper. They were also great builders, and built many pyramids and palaces.
