Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 3 

Name: Malia Malden

Date: 2/23/18

Class: 7th Grade - Medieval World History

 
Videos and Notes 
Slide Student Notes

Title  ☆ MesoAmerican Art and Language ☆

Describe the art and oral traditions in the three
Goal 
civilizations.

The Mayans  
Summarize the video using at least four of the
words to the left:

A folding book is a long piece of tree bark that is

● Murals 
folded many times. Scribes were a noble class in
● Stucco 
the Mayan society. The citizens had to learn 500
● Hieroglyphic 
letters and memorize them a lot to be able to be a
● Stelae 
scribe. Murals can be seen in houses and temples.
● Folding Book 
The walls of houses and temples are made from
● Scribes 
stucco, which is similar to plaster or cement.

Critical Thinking 
Partner Work Answer:  They were creative and artistic.
⇨ 

The Incas  
● Andes Mountains  Summarize the video using at least four of the
● Gold or Silver  words to the left:
● Ceramics 
● Sun  A lot of the incan art was made from gold and
● Cloth  silver. Ceramics are made from soft clay that is

 
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Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 3 

● Quechua  baked. The Inca’s had one major language:

Language  Quechua. They spoke this language, but did not
● Inca moral code  write it down. The cords had many notes to figure
● Quipus Cords  out the records.

Critical Thinking 
They were a very honored group. They took a lot of
Partner Work Answer: 
time to translate the language.
⇨ 

The Aztecs  
Summarize the video using at least four of the
words to the left:

● Mexica Books   Th​e Tlacuilos were very respected members of

● Nahuatl  society. They were artists who created images for
Language  books. The Mexica books were supposed to be read
● Hieroglyphs  aloud. The Mexica spoke a language called Nahuatl
● Mnemonic  since the seventh century. Hieroglyphs were very
Device  complex enough to fully represent the entire
● Tlacuilos  language.

Critical Thinking  They made cuts on their body. After that, they
Partner Work Answer:  rolled them down the temple and they landed on a
big cookie. That is how they advanced in medical
⇨  surgery.
 
 
Ending Research
Directions: ​Find a reliable source online to look up ONE (1) artistic artifact from each 
culture. Paste the picture in the box and describe it. Be sure to answer the critical thinking 
question to the right. 
Picture​ of Art Piece  Culture​ of  Description​ of Art Piece   Critical Thinking:

 
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Ms. Diane Nicoll 7th Grade History Unit 5: Lesson 3 

Origin  (What is it? What was it  How does this art indicate an
used for? What  aspect of their society? You
materials is it made  may have to infer or take a
from?)  guess.

Maya 
 
It indicates religion. It was a 
https://w
ceramic cylinder used to 
ww.metm 1) Sculpture 
hold a bowl of incense 
useum.or 2) Rituals 
during rituals. The figure 
g/toah/w 3) Ceramics 
was to depict the mayan sun 
orks-of-ar
god.  
t/1978.412
.99/ 

Inca 
 
It indicates social hierarchy. 
https://w
It was a female figurine 
ww.metm 1) Female figurine 
thought to have energizing 
useum.or 2) Negotiation of power 
power. It was used for 
g/toah/w 3) Gold rich silver alloy 
negotiations of power within 
orks-of-ar
the Incan empire.  
t/1974.271
.8/ 

Aztec  It indicates religion.

  Sculptures like this were
1) Stone sculpture 
https://w probably set up in
of a water god 
ww.metm
useum.or
2) Worshipped  household shrines where
3) Basalt (stone)  they were worshipped in
g/toah/w
  family settings rather than
orks-of-ar
  t/00.5.44/  in public ceremonies. 
 

 
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