WH8 Americas
Aztec
(1200-1521) In 1300, the Aztec settled in the valley of Mexico. Grew corn. Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer others of the region. Worshipped many gods (polytheistic). Believed the sun god needed human blood to continue his journeys across the sky. Practiced human sacrifices and those sacrificed were captured warriors from other tribes and those who volunteered for the honor.
Amazon
A major South American river.
maize
An early form of corn grown by Native Americans
Altiplano
An elevated plateau region found in mountain areas. Most of the cities of the Andres are found on altiplanos.
Eastern Woodland
Area in Eastern North America that was home to many Native Americans such as the Iroquois who adapted to the resources of the region. Lived in communities based on family relationships.
Montezuma
Aztec chieftan; encountered Cortes and the Spanish and saw that they rode horses; Montezuma assumed that the Soanush were gods. He welcomed them hospitably, but the explorers soon turned on the natives and ruled them for three centuries.
Animism
Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life
Suspension bridge
Bridges were important in connecting Incan communities in the mountainous terrain. They created suspension bridges supported by cables and anchored on both sides. Most labor was done by humans as the Inca did not have large animals in the region.
Moche
Civilization of north coast of Peru (200-700 C.E.). An important Andean civilization that built extensive irrigation networks as well as impressive urban centers dominated by brick temples.
Maya
Classic culture emerging in southern Mexico and Central America contemporary with Teotihuacan; extended over a broad region; featured monumental architecture, written language, calendrical and mathematical systems, and highly developed religion with human sacrifice.
Inca Empire
(1450-1572 CE), Largest Empire ever built in South America; territory extended 2,500 miles from north to south and embraced almost all of modern Peru, most of Ecuador, much of Bolivia, and parts of Chile and Argentina; maintained effective control from the early 15th century until the coming of Europeans in the early 16th century. As the most powerful people of Andean America, the Inca dominated Andean society until the coming of Europeans; was an extremely diverse culture cause it spanned north and south rather then east and west.
Teotihuacan
(200 BC - 750 AD) Highland Mexico, largest city, obsidian, more than 5000 structures, pop 125-200k people, large pyramids, no ball courts, no writing, city of the gods, evidence for large fires
Anasazi
A Native American who lived in what is now southern Colorado and Utah and northern Arizona and New Mexico and who built cliff dwellings
Amazon Rainforest
A dense forest, especially near the equator, with an annual rainfall of at least 160 inches The largest rain forest in the world is located in South America
Slash and burn farming
A farming method in which people clear fields by cutting and burning trees and grasses, the ashes of which served to fertilize the soil.
Andes Mountains
A large system of mountain ranges located along the Pacific coast of Central and South America
Atahualpa
Huayna Capac's youngest son, also his favorite; Huayna Capac divided the empire between him and his oldest son Huascar; civil war followed, and Atahualpa won when he received aid from the Spanish to defeat his brother. Unfortunately, Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador, turned on him and had him ransomed and executed him after being paid.
Atacama
In Chile, this desert's chief claim to fame is the rain shadow of the Andes which makes it the driest (hottest) desert in the world. The desert was the primary bone of contention in the War of the Pacific, (1879-1883, Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia) that sought to control its nitrate resources (which were necessary for the production of explosives).
mita
In the Inca Empire, the requirement that all able-bodied subjects work for the state a certain number of days each year.
Macchu Piccu
Incan village that is identifiable by terrace farming and it's altitude. Shows how geography influenced architecture.
Popol Vuh
Mayan creation epic, taught that god created humans out of maize and water.
chinampa
Raised fields constructed along lake shores in Mesoamerica to increase agricultural yields.
cultural differentiation
People of the same race develop different cultures.
Pachacuti
Ruler of Inca society from 1438 to 1471; launched a series of military campaigns that gave Incas control of the region from Cuzco to the shores of Lake Titicaca. This was all of the present day nation of Peru.
Terrace farming
The cutting out of flat areas (terraces) into near vertical slopes to allow farming. Terrace farms appears as steps cut into a mountainside. This adaptation allowed both the early Chinese, and the Inca of Mesoamerica to grow enough food for their large populations.
Olmec
The first Mesoamerican civilization. Between ca. 1200 and 400 B.C.E., the Olmec people of central Mexico created a vibrant civilization that included intensive agriculture, wide-ranging trade, ceremonial centers, and monumental construction. (86)
Chavin
The first major South American civilization, which flourished in the highlands of what is now Peru from about 900 to 200 B.C. A major urban civilization in South America the capital was located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Chavin became politically and economically dominant in a densely populated region.
Chichen Itza
The most powerful city of the Myan culture. Here they came up with their writing called pictograph. The priests kept the writing skills to themselves., the most powerful city of the Myan culture. Here they came up with their writing called pictograph. The priests kept the writing skills to themselves.
Bering Strait
land bridge -- Native Americans crossed this former land bridge from Asia to the Americas
quipa
the Incas created this device, a set of knotted strings that could be used to record data
