Mesoamerica Flashcards

(32 cards)

1
Q

Maya Empire

A

Empire of the Mayans

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2
Q

Yucatan

A

A peninsula in Mexico where the Mayans were located

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3
Q

Tikal

A

Major Mayan city in northern Guatemala

Independent city state w god King at the head

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4
Q

Cacao

A

Bean that was used as currency sometimes

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5
Q

Slash-and-burn

A

Farming method

Farmers burned the existing vegetation and planted new crops in the ashes

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6
Q

Terraces

A

Farming method

Farmers would plant crops here on hillsides

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7
Q

Glyph

A

Writing system using pictures/symbols that stand for words or syllables
Mayans used it

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8
Q

Codex

A

Important historical events recorded in this book

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9
Q

Popul Vuh

A

Book about the creation of earth and everything

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10
Q

Aztec Empire

A

Empire in Mexico

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11
Q

Valley of Mexico

A

Large basin at base of mountains

Large shallow lakes, fertile soil, accessible resources

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12
Q

Teotihuacan

A

City in the valley of Mexico
Good trading
Evidence shows that they didn’t try to conquer anyone

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13
Q

Obsidian

A

Most valuable trading item of teotihuacan

Used to make razor-sharp weapons

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14
Q

Quetzalcoatl

A

Toltec ruler wanted people to worship this god (feathered serpent) and stop human sacrifice

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15
Q

Triple Alliance

A

Aztecs ally with Texcoco and Tlacopan
Alliance became the leading power in the valley
This empire was divided into provinces and a pop of 5-15 mill

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16
Q

Tenochtitlan

A

Capital of the Aztec empire
People looked for a sign from their gods (eagle w serpent in mouth on a cactus)
Built new city on the site of the sign

17
Q

Montezuma II

A

Aztec empire weakened under him

Population was growing so more need for tribute and sacrifice which caused rebellions

18
Q

Inca Empire

A

Empire on pacific coast of South America

19
Q

Pachacuti

A

Ruler of Inca empire that expanded the empire a lot

20
Q

Quechua

A

Language of the Incans

21
Q

Cuzco

A

Capital of Inca Empire

All roads in the empire led to Cuzco

22
Q

Ayllu

A

Small community/family group who work together for the common good

23
Q

Mita

A

Incan empire requirement that all able-bodied citizens have to work for the state for a certain number of days per year

24
Q

Quipu

A

Knotted strings used by the Incas for numerical things

25
Atahualpa
Incan ruler who was kidnapped and killed by Pizarro
26
Colony
Spanish wanted to settle new lands so they had colonies
27
Conquistadors
Explorers/soldiers from Spain who were sent to new world to conquer land and expand the empire
28
Hernando Cortes
Conquered the Aztecs | Won because of superior weaponry and native groups sided w them bc they didn't like their harsh practices
29
Francisco Pizarro
Conquered the Incan empire by killing the ruler which abled him to take it easily
30
Mestizo
The product of Spanish colonists and natives
31
Encomienda
Spain granted land to colonists including the right to use natives as labor source
32
Machu Pichu
Incan city