Mesoamerican Communities Flashcards
(35 cards)
What time period did the Maya civilization peak?
About 300 – 900 CE
Where was the Maya civilization located?
Central American rainforest
Name 3 major cities of the Maya civilization.
- Tikal
- Chichén Itzá
*Calakmul
What type of political structure did the Maya civilization have?
Independent city-states run by kings
What writing system did the Maya civilization use?
Glyphs
What areas did the Maya civilization encompass?
Yucatan Peninsula, modern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize
What were some notable contributions of the Maya civilization?
- Step pyramid design
- Astrology and astrological calendars
- Sophisticated written language
- Advanced mathematics
*Stucco for building
What were the Maya’s beliefs regarding blood?
Blood was seen as a source of nourishment for deities
What concept related to mathematics did the Maya have?
The concept of zero
What was the primary religious belief of the Maya?
Polytheistic religion
When did the Aztec civilization flourish?
1200s – 1521 CE
What sign did the Aztec people look for to find their new home?
An eagle with a snake in its mouth on a cactus
What type of government did the Aztec civilization have?
A stronger central government than previous Mesoamerican civilizations but still some city states.
What was Tenochtitlan?
The capital of the Aztec Empire
What agricultural innovation did the Aztecs develop?
Chinampas
What was the main economic basis of the Aztec civilization?
Agriculture and conquest
Name three social classes in Aztec society.
- Nobility
- Commoners
- Slaves
What was a key belief in Aztec religion?
The world would someday end violently
What was the Aztec practice regarding human sacrifice?
Brought to an unprecedented level, with reports of thousands sacrificed
What was a common practice among all civilizations discussed?
-Divination - seeing divine signs to guide governance
-Human Sacrifice
What happened to the Mayan Civilization?
It collapsed, we do not know why. Suddenly the people fled from the cities and stopped their record keeping.
What best describes the governments of the Mayan communities?
Multiple city states each with a king, the City states were not always at peace and would often fight each other.
What is something the Mayan people had to give to their government?
Their free time, they had to give a certain amount of free labor to their king each year.
What did the Mayans use to control water?
Aqueducts
