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Topic 4-1 Note Pad

The document provides an overview of civilizations that developed in Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. It discusses key terms related to these civilizations and their origins, locations, cultural developments, and influences on one another. Specifically, it describes the Olmec as the earliest Mesoamerican civilization and the possible "mother culture" that influenced later peoples. It then focuses on the Maya, covering their farming methods, development of city-states, polytheistic religion, and cultural innovations like hieroglyphic writing and the calendar. Finally, it discusses the Aztec civilization, their empire built through tribute and warfare, and their advanced urban planning in cities like Tenochtitlan.

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Don Sanford
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484 views

Topic 4-1 Note Pad

The document provides an overview of civilizations that developed in Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. It discusses key terms related to these civilizations and their origins, locations, cultural developments, and influences on one another. Specifically, it describes the Olmec as the earliest Mesoamerican civilization and the possible "mother culture" that influenced later peoples. It then focuses on the Maya, covering their farming methods, development of city-states, polytheistic religion, and cultural innovations like hieroglyphic writing and the calendar. Finally, it discusses the Aztec civilization, their empire built through tribute and warfare, and their advanced urban planning in cities like Tenochtitlan.

Uploaded by

Don Sanford
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Americas

Lesson 1 Civilizations of Middle America

Key Terms
Mesoamerica- regions of North America, including Mexico and Central America,
which civilization which had common cultural features developed before
Europeans entered the continent.
maize- corn
Olmec- The earliest American civilization, located along the Gulf Coast of Mexico
from about 1200 b.c to 400 b.c
stela- In the ancient world, a tall, commemorative monument that was often
decorated
Valley of Mexico- Valley in Mexico in which the numerous Mesoamerican
civilization, including the Aztecs arose
Tenochtitlan- Capital city of the Aztes empire, on which modern-day Mexico City
was built
chinampa- In the Aztec empire, an artificial island used to cultivate crops and
made of mud piled atop reed mats that were anchored to the lake bed with willow
trees
tribute- Payment that conquered people many be forced to pay their conquerors
Teotihuacan-city that dominated the Valley of Mexico from about a.d 200 to a.d
750 and that influenced the culture of later Mesoamerican people

Academic Vocabulary
ingenious: clever, original, effective

Lesson Objectives
1. Explain when and where people first settled the Americas.
2. Analyze the rise of the Olmec civilization.
3. Describe the major developments of the Maya and Aztec civilizations.
4. Explain how prior civilizations influenced the Maya and Aztec.

Civilizations Develop in the Americas: Text


1. Summarize The text identifies the two prevalent theories on how human
beings migrated from Asia to the Americas. Summarize these two theories.
Scientists believed that these first people simply walked to the Americas—from
Asia! Huge portions of the northern oceans froze into glaciers. This freezing
caused the water level in the Bering Strait to drop, creating a land bridge called
Beringia that connected Asia and North America. The second theory, the first
people arrived in the Americas at least 15,000 years ago and may have spread
throughout the Americas by traveling by boat along the Pacific Coast

2. Determine Meaning of Words Read the section titled “Farming Begins.”


Based on the context, what does the term “domesticated” mean? Why was the
ability to cultivate domestic plants and animals an important part of the evolution
of civilization in the Americas?In the text, the term domesticated indicates plants
and animals that are raised by people.By gaining the ability to domesticate plants
and animals, people in the Americas were able to transition from life as nomads
to farmers, thereby establishing communities and, eventually, centers of
civilization.
3. Cite Evidence Read the second paragraph under “Influence of the Olmec.”
The text states, “…many scholars consider the Olmec the ‘mother culture’ of
Mesoamerica….” What evidence from the text supports this evidence?The
Olmec are considered the "mother culture" because of their influence on later
civilizations. According to the text, this includes: the use of Mesoamerican
pyramids, later adopted by other civilizations; religious and artistic influences that
became a part of other cultures; and political institutions that became the
foundation for those used by the Maya and Aztec.
The Maya: Text
4. Summarize Read the section under the heading “Farming Methods.” The text
states that the Maya “…developed two farming methods that allowed them to
thrive in the tropical environment.” Summarize these two methods.They
developed two framing methods that allowed them to thrive in the tropical
environment. In some areas farmers burned down forests and they cleared the
lands in order to plant on it. After some few years, the fields there were no longer
fertile.
5. Draw Inferences How did the development of city-states contribute to the
cultural advancement of the Maya? The Maya cities that developed before and
during the Classic Period never formed an empire. Instead, individual and
powerful city-states are involved.
Maya Cultural Life: Text
6. Determine Meaning of Words Read the first paragraph under “Maya Cultural
Life.” Based on the context, what does the term “polytheistic” mean? Why is it
important to know that the Maya were a polytheistic society?In the text
polytheistic means believing in many gods. The reason why is it important to
know that the Maya have a polytheistic society because they don't believe in one
god they believe in many gods.

7. Using Visual Materials Read the second paragraph under “A Legacy in


Stone,” and look at the accompanying image of a stela. How does the image
increase your understanding of the explanation of a stela found in the text?Steal
is an ancient world, a tall, commemorative monument that was often decorated.
The Aztec: Text
8. Identify Supporting Details Read the first paragraph of “Government and
Society.” The text states, “War brought immense wealth as well as power to the
Aztec empire.” Identify details from the text that help support this statement.The
Aztec used war as a path to both power and wealth. As described in the text, the
Aztec demanded payment, or tribute, from those they conquered. They then
used this tribute to help expand the capital city of Tenochtitlán.

9. Compare and Contrast Compare and contrast the Maya and Aztec
civilizations. Consider topics such as religion, government, advancements in
technology and understanding, and cultural innovation. Use the chart below for
your answer.

How are they alike? The Maya and Aztec civilizations were both
polytheistic in their religious beliefs, and both built pyramid-type
structures to their gods. The religious life of their civilizations revolved
largely around agricultural fertility and blessing, as both were
agricultural societies.

The Aztec different- The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking people who


lived in central Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. Their tribute
empire spread throughout Mesoamerica.

The Maya different- The Maya people lived in southern Mexico and
northern Central America — a wide territory that includes the entire
Yucatán Peninsula — from as early as 2600 BC.

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