The Maya

The period between AD 250 and 900 when the Maya reached the height of their civilization and built temples, palaces, canals

and paved large plazas is known as the ____________________ ________________.

The period between AD 250 and 900 when the Maya reached the height of their civilization and built temples, palaces,

canals and paved large plazas is known as the Classic Age.

The ________________ , who they believed to be related to the gods, held the highest position

in May society.

The King, who they believed to be related to the gods, held the highest position in May society.

Most members of the Maya society were _______________________________ and had to

pay their rulers with crops and goods.

Most members of the Maya society were lower-class and had to pay their rulers with crops and

goods.

The Maya worshipped many gods and believed they needed ________________ to prevent

disasters or the end of the world.

The Maya worshipped many gods and believed they needed blood to prevent disasters or the

end of the world.

The Mayas beliefs led them to impressive advances in science. Using _____________________ the

Maya studied the stars in the sky.

The Mayas beliefs led them to impressive advances in science. Using observatories the

Maya studied the stars in the sky.

Though unknown, causes for the decline of Maya civilization may have been _______________ against the rulers, _____________

between the cities, or simply that they could not produce enough ____________.

Though unknown, causes for the decline of Maya civilization may have been rebellion against the rulers, warfare between the cities, or simply that they could not produce enough food.

The Aztecs

______________ , ____________________ , and ______________ made the Aztec empire

strong and rich.

War, tribute, and trade made the Aztec empire strong and rich.

The capital city that displayed the greatness of the Aztec empire was ____________________.

The capital city that displayed the greatness of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlan.

________________ connected the Tenochtitlan island to the lakeshore with raised roads across

water and/or wet ground.

Causeways connected the Tenochtitlan island to the lakeshore with raised roads across water

and/or wet ground.

___________________ were floating gardens made of piled soil on top of large rafts that were

anchored to trees.

Chinampas were floating gardens made of piled soil on top of large rafts that were anchored to

trees.

The four classes of people in the Aztec society were the king, warriors and priests, merchants and artisans, and

_____________________ and __________________________.

The four classes of people in the Aztec society were the king, warriors and priests, merchants

and artisans, and farmers and laborers.

To please the gods, Aztec priests regularly made _________________ sacrifices.

To please the gods, Aztec priests regularly made human sacrifices.

Hernan Cortez was a ________________, or Spanish conqueror, who was initially welcomed by the Aztecs because they thought he was the god

Quetzalcoatl who left long ago but promised to return in ___________. It just so happened that Hernan Cortez showed up in _______.

Hernan Cortez was a conquistador, or Spanish conqueror, who was initially welcomed by the Aztecs because they thought he was the god Quetzalcoatl who left long ago but promised to return in

1519. It just so happened that Hernan Cortez showed up in 1519.

Hernan Cortez was a ________________, or Spanish conqueror, who was initially welcomed by the Aztecs because they thought he was the god

Quetzalcoatl who left long ago but promised to return in ___________. It just so happened that Hernan Cortez showed up in _______.

Hernan Cortez was a ________________, or Spanish conqueror, who was initially welcomed by the Aztecs because they thought he was the god

Quetzalcoatl who left long ago but promised to return in ___________. It just so happened that Hernan Cortez showed up in _______.

The Aztec king __________________ was taken captive by Cortes and ultimately killed in a battle

that drove the conquistadors out.

The Aztec king Monteczuma II was taken captive by Cortes and ultimately killed in a battle that

drove the conquistadors out.

Hernan Cortez returned a second time and ultimately thousands of Aztecs were killed as a result of Spanish _________________ ,

____________________, and ____________________.

Hernan Cortez returned a second time and ultimately thousands of Aztecs were killed as a

result of Spanish weapons, horses, and diseases.

The Incas

The Incan ruler _________________ was the first to expand the Incas power beyond the city of

Cuzco.

The Incan ruler Pachacuti was the first to expand the Incas power beyond the city of Cuzco.

The language of ________________ was required for use in all official business and this

helped unify the Empire.

The language of Quecha was required for use in all official business and this helped unify the

Empire.

Most Incas worked for the ______________________ as well as

_________________.

Most Incas worked for the King as well as themselves.

Farmers, artisans, and servants made up the ________________ _________________. The emperor, government officials, and priests made up the __________________ ______________.

Farmers, artisans, and servants made up the lower-class. The emperor, government officials,

and priests made up the upper-class.

Inca ____________________________ ceremonies included sacrifices of llamas, cloth,

and food.

Inca religious ceremonies included sacrifices of llamas, cloth, and food.

The Incas expert _______________ allowed them to build building with no cement because the

stone blocks were cut so precisely.

The Incas expert masonry allowed them to build building with no cement because the stone blocks

were cut so precisely.

The Incas kept records using _____________ or knotted cords of different colors. The knots stood for numbers and the colors

represented information about crops, land, or other important topics.

The Incas kept records using quipus or knotted cords of different colors. The knots stood for numbers and the colors represented

information about crops, land, or other important topics.

A civil war in the Inca Empire between two sons of a deceased ruler greatly weakened the Inca

____________________.

A civil war in the Inca Empire between two sons of a deceased ruler greatly weakened the Inca

army.

____________________ had the Incas fill a room with gold and silver in return for his freedom. In the end,

though, _______________ and the Spanish killed him.

Atahualpa had the Incas fill a room with gold and silver in return for his freedom. In the end, though, Pizarro and the Spanish killed him.