Mesoamerica Reading Guide

Chapter 9: The Americas: A Separate World

Section 1: The Earliest Americans (p. 235) A Land Bridge 1. How many miles does North and South America stretch from North to South?

Name ______________________ Hour _____

Peopling the Americas 3. What years did the Ice Age span?

2. What is Beringia?

4. How did Siberian hunters become the first Americans?

Section 2: Mesoamerican Civilizations (p. 240) Setting the Stage 5. Where is Mesoamerica located?

The Olmec 6. When and where did the Olmec create their civilization?

8. In what years did the Olmec thrive as a civilization?

The Rise of the Olmec Civilization 7. How were the Olmec discovered?

Gulf Coast Geography 9. Describe the geography of the Olmec:

Olmec Society 10. What did archeologists find at San Lorenzo?

At La Venta?

Decline of the Olmec 11. What are some of the proposed theories as to what happened to the Olmec? Zapotec Civilization Arises Peoples of the Oaxaca Valley 12. Describe the geography of the Oaxaca Valley: The Zapotec Flourish at Monte Alban 13. What are some of the key characteristics of Monte Alban? 14. As with the Olmec, the fall of Zapotec civilization remains a _____________________________.

Chapter 16: People and Empires in the Americas

Section 2: Maya Kings and Cities (p. 446) 15. What were the names of important Mayan urban areas? 18. Describe both Maya calendars:

16. What goods were exchanged by the Mayas?

19. Describe Mayan written language:

17. What were some of the gods in the Mayan religion?

20. What are the theories of what happened to the Mayas?

Section 3: The Aztecs Control Central Mexico (p. 452) 21. Describe the geography of The Valley of Mexico:

The Aztec Empire 22. In 1325, the Aztecs established a city. Who told them to build it, where did they build it, and what was the name of the city?

Aztecs Grow Stronger 23. What was the Triple Alliance?

Tenochtitlan: A Planned City 24. What was the population of Tenochtitlan?

-What is a causeway?

-What is a chinampa(s)?

-What was in the center of the city?

Religion Rules Aztec Life 25. Why did the Aztecs use sacrifice?

Problems in the Aztec Empire 26. Who was Montezuma II and which new visitors did he meet (and eventually caused their demise?)

Section 4: The Inca Create a Mountain Empire (p. 459)

Setting the Stage 27. Where were the Inca located (continent, mountain range, & modern day country)?

Incan Government Creates Unity 28. What is Quechua?

What was the Incan capital city?

What is an ayllu?

How were they divided?

What was a mita and how was it used?

How many miles of roads did they build?

What is a quipu?

Religion Supports the State 29. How were women used in religious roles for the Incas?

Discord in the Empire 30. Who was Huayna Capac?

-What was in his gift box?

-What happened to the empire after Huayna Capacs death?