Unit 9 Flashcards
Why are the Olmecs often referred to as a “mother culture” in Mesoamerican history?
They are referred to as a “mother culture” because they led the foundation for future cultures in Mesoamerican history
What do the colossal heads tell us about Olmec society?]
They compared their leaders to god like figures making statues representing them
How did the environment of the Olmecs impact their society, including economics and use of resources?
The Olmec civilization’s environment, specifically the Gulf Coast lowlands of Mexico, profoundly shaped their society and economy. The fertile lands enabled abundant agriculture, leading to a surplus that supported specialized labor and trade. This environment also provided access to valuable resources like obsidian, rubber, and jade, further fueling their economic activities and cultural development.
What geographic challenges did the Maya face, and how did these influence their engineering solutions?
They lived in the Jungles, this caused it to be difficult to travel due to the mountainous terrain and plants.
How did the structure of Maya city-states shape their political and military strategies?
The structure of the Maya city states shaped their political and military strategies because it caused them to ally or to become enemies with their neighbors.
What role did religion play in Maya engineering and city construction?
Religion caused them to spend a lot of manpower and resources to create great buildings for their gods. They created a large temple for their gods
What are some theories about why the Maya civilization collapsed?
They experienced drought causing them to migrate
How did the Aztecs overcome their geographical challenges?
They had limited space to farm and live so they created Chinampas
What are the chinampas and how did they work?
a small, stationary artificial island created on a freshwater lake for agricultural purposes
What do the chinampas reveal about Aztec culture and innovation?
It showed how they were very innovative and were able to come up with great technological discoveries
What caused the collapse of the Aztec Empire?
One factor that contributed to the collapse of the Aztec Empire was the Spaniards coming. They spread their smallpox which the Aztecs haven’t created immunities to. This led many of them to die, also leading them to be weaker. The Spaniards were then easily able to defeat them.
How did the Inca adapt to a wide variety of environments across their empire?
They lived in a very mountainous region which decentralized them, but they were able to create the Capa Nan because of these challenges. This was a system of roads that connected the empire
How did the Incas use quipus? What do they show about Incan society?
They used them to keep records of stuff like population and accounting. This shows how sophisticated and advanced the Incan Society was.
How did terrace farming help the Incas adapt to mountainous terrain?
It allowed them to gain access to a lot of farming land that most other people wouldn’t have in a mountainous area like this.
How did agriculture influence urban planning and design in the Inca Empire?
In the Inca Empire, agriculture profoundly shaped urban planning and design. Terraced farming, irrigation systems, and storage facilities were integrated into city layouts, reflecting a deep understanding of both agricultural practices and the natural environment. Machu Picchu exemplifies this, with its terraced fields and water management systems
What caused the collapse of the Incan Empire?
Disease brought from the Spaniards killed a lot of them including their king, the sons had a civil war killing more people, the Spaniards had way more advanced weapons so they were able to easily take over their civilization.
What do architectural images from early Latin American civilizations reveal about their technological abilities?
Architectural images from early Latin American civilizations reveal significant technological abilities, particularly in engineering, materials science, and astronomical knowledge. These civilizations developed sophisticated methods for construction, planning, and adapting to diverse environments.
How were the Pre-Columbian civilizations similar to previously studied civilizations in relation to monumental architecture?
They built pyramids to bury leaders like the Egyptians.
What are shared cultural achievements of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations?
People practiced farming, developed social structures, raised armies, and worshipped many gods.
