The Americas Packet

Americas Map: LABEL Title: People and Empires in the Americas 900-1500 see page 389 and label locations with the dates for: Aztec Maya Inca near Aztec write: trade network, chinampas (man-made terraced farms), human sacrifices, pyramids, polytheistic near Maya write: Chichen Itza, human sacrifice, calendar, astronomy,glyphs pyramids, polytheistic near Inca write: Andes Mountains region of Peru, road/trade network, no written records but used Quipu or knotted string, Machu Picchu, sun god, polytheistic

Central America Region

THE AMERICAS

Date: ____________AZTECS - red

Date:____________MAYANS - green

Date:____________INCANS - yellow

Mayan

Civilization

Location: ____________ and

___________ American rain forest

Government: city-states ruled by a

________.

________________: Agriculture and

trade

Religion: ___________________ and

built pyramids

Declined for unknown reasons

Maya is represented by

____________ ________

Achievements:

•Had an _________________

system of ____________

•Gifted ___________________

–Observed the stars and created a

____________________

Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

Aztec

Civilization

• Location: In arid (dry) valley in

______________ Mexico

• Government: Ruled by an

_______________

• Economy: Agriculture

• Religion: Polytheistic and built pyramids

where the Gods were thirsty for

_______________ _____________

Represented by ________________

•No _____________ Language

•Invented Tlachtli:

•A ___________________ that uses a rubber

ball or _____________ of sacrificed victims

•No use of hands

•Shoot the ball into a hoop on the side of a wall

Location: _________ Mountains of South ______________

Government: Ruled by Emperor

Economy: Agriculture in ________ altitudes

Religion: Polytheistic

• Represented by _________

_____________

Agriculture in high altitude

in the mountains

Used _____________

which prevented

water from running

off too quickly

No writing system

Used __________ – system of knots on a cord to record important information

Road System

©M

cD

ou

ga

l L

itte

ll In

c.A

ll ri

gh

ts r

ese

rve

d.

2 Unit 4, Chapter 16

Name Date

GUIDED READING Maya Kings and CitiesSection 2

A. Summarizing As you read about the rise and fall of Maya civilization, fill out theweb diagram below.

B. Analyzing Causes What explanations do historians offer for the disappearance ofMaya city-states? What factors do you think led to the fall of Maya civilization? Givereasons to support your answer.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Writing Expository Paragraphs On the back of this paper, write a paragraphexplaining how each of the following relate to Maya civilization.

Tikal glyph codex Popol Vuh

CHAPTER

16

1. Environment 2. Urban centers 3. Economy

4. Social structure 5. Religion 6. Achievements

Maya Civilization

People and Empires in the Americas 3

©M

cD

ou

ga

l L

itte

ll In

c.A

ll ri

gh

ts r

ese

rve

d.

A. Evaluating Courses of Action As you read this section, note one or more rea-sons why the Aztecs took each of the following actions.

B. Summarizing On the back of this paper, briefly describe the story ofQuetzalcoatl.

Name Date

GUIDED READING The Aztecs Control Central Mexico

Section 3

CHAPTER

16

1. The Aztecs first worked for local rulers as soldiers- 2. The Aztecs joined two other city-states to form a

for-hire. Triple Alliance.

3. In Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, the Aztecs built 4. Aztec engineers built three causeways over water

hundreds of temples and religious structures and marshland.

dedicated to the gods.

5. Aztec priests sacrificed humans atop the Great 6. The Aztecs built a calendar in the main ceremonial

Temple. plaza of Tenochtitlán.

7. Some of the conquered provinces rebelled against 8. Montezuma II reduced the number of

Aztec rule. public officials.

©M

cD

ou

ga

l L

itte

ll In

c.A

ll ri

gh

ts r

ese

rve

d.

4 Unit 4, Chapter 16

GUIDED READING The Inca Create a Mountain Empire

Section 4

A. Analyzing Causes and Recognizing Effects As you read this section, takenotes to answer questions about the Incan Empire.

B. Clarifying On the back of this paper, explain the purpose of ayllu and mita inIncan government.

CHAPTER

16

Name Date

What role did each of the following play in the building of the Incan Empire?

1. Ancient cultures 2. Incan traditions and beliefs 3. Pachacuti

How did each of the following help to unify or support the Incan Empire?

4. System of government 5. Language 6. Cities

7. Road system 8. Economy 9. Religion

The Early Americas

1. List and explain 2 ways that the Mayan and Aztec civilizations were similar to one another.

2. List and explain 2 ways that the Aztec and Incan civilizations were similar to one another.

3. List and explain 3 ways the American civilizations were similar to the Early River Valley civilizations of

Egypt and Mesopotamia.

4. If given the choice, which civilization would you choose to live in and why? Give two reasons.

Directions – Put an X in each box that fits for the following

questions MAYAN AZTEC INCAN

1. Has a main city called Macchu Picchu.

2. Used human sacrifices to please the gods

3. Known for creating a road system 14,000 miles long

4. Was located in Central America

5. Known for its main city of Chichen Itza

6. Based their economy on agriculture and trade

7. Had polytheistic religious beliefs

8. Used obsidian knives and were a very warlike tribe

9. Were located in high elevations (over 5000 ft)

10. Used two different kinds of calendars to guide their lives

11. Prayed to the Serpent god Quetzalcoatl

12. Was known for its main city of Tenochtitlan

13. Had a ball court used for religious reasons in the city center

14. Used astronomy and mathematics to calculate their calendars

15.Best known location was on the Yucatan peninsula

16. Was located in South America in the Andes mountains

17. Its civilization lasted from about 250 to 900 A.D.

18. Held the llama in high esteem in their civilization

19. Was ruled by an emperor

20. Its civilization lasted from about the 1200s to the 1500s