Empires in America Day 2

Created
    English
  1. History
  2. AvatarTeresa Cuellar
Best for asynchronous learning and homeworkAssign in student-paced mode
Best for live in-class or video conferencing lessonsStart teacher-led lesson
Preview as student
  • Government: The Aztecs formed a massive empire, controlled it through 38 provinces, & received tribute from conquered peoples

  • Economy: They survived on tribute & farming; They built “floating gardens” (chinampas)

  • Society: (1) Kings (2) Nobility (3) Commoners

  • (4) Slaves 

Religion: Aztecs worshipped many gods, especially the sun god & made thousands of human sacrifices each year

  • Technology: Like the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an accurate calendar & built advanced temples

  • Around 1200, Aztecs arrived in Mexico & built their city Tenochtitlan in 1325

How did the Aztecs control their empire? 

a) Through a democratic government 

b) By establishing a federal system 

c) By dividing it into 38 provinces and receiving tribute from conquered peoples 

d) Through a centralized monarchy without any provinces

What was a significant feature of Aztec agriculture? 

a) Terrace farming on mountains 

b) Building floating gardens known as chinampas 

c) Crop rotation with rice and wheat 

d) Slash-and-burn farming

  • Around 1500 A.D., the Aztecs began to decline; A century of brutal rule over the provinces & millions of human sacrifices led to revolts

  • But, the true demise of the Aztecs came when the Spanish discovered America  & conquered the Aztecs 

  • While the Aztecs ruled Mexico, the Incas began to dominate the area of the Andes Mountains of South America

Many Incan cities like Machu Picchu & Cuzcu were built in the mountains

  • Religion:  The Inca were polytheistic & offered llamas & food (but not humans) to the gods 

  • Society

(1) King

(2)Nobility

(3)Ayllu (commoners)

  • Economy: The Incan gov’t controlled the economy & required all citizens to farm for the good of the empire

  • the Incas ruled with tolerance & unified their empire with roads, schools, & a common language

The Inca social hierarchy was composed of King, Nobility, and Ayllu (commoners).

a) True      b)   False

The Inca were monotheistic and offered llamas and food (but not humans) to the gods.

 a) True or      b)     False

What was the true cause of the Aztecs' demise? 

a) Internal civil war 

b) A massive volcanic eruption 

c) The Spanish discovery of America and their subsequent conquest of the Aztecs 

d) Famine and disease

  • Technology: Inca innovations included quipu, a means of record keeping involving knotted ropes as well as an extensive system of roads & suspension bridges

  • Government: Like the Aztecs, the Incas built a vast empire which included 80 provinces; But, the Incas ruled with tolerance & unified their empire with roads, schools, & a common language

  • In the 1520s, a civil war divided & weakened the Incan Empire;  Ten years later Spanish conquistadors conquered the empire

Which technological innovation did the Incas use for record-keeping? 

a) Papyrus scrolls 

b) Hieroglyphics 

c) Quipu, involving knotted ropes 

d) Clay tablets

How did the Inca empire manage to unify its vast territories? 

a) By imposing a single religion 

b) Through military conquest only 

c) By building roads, schools, and promoting a common language 

d) By forming alliances with neighboring empires

Who was especially worshipped by the Aztecs and was central to their religious practices? 

a) The god of rain 

b) The god of war

 c) The sun god

 d) The moon goddess