Maya
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Located in Yucatan Peninsula and settled in a “flat region” called _______
o Settled in Pet’en (“flat region”)
 _______________________________________________ (usually undesirable geographic feature
but liked it because provided freshwater)
 Rain forests were _________________________________ to make the land farmable
Civilization was divided into ____________________________ run by kings that were believed to be gods
o Ordered Mayans to build extensive step pyramids to worship the gods
Achievements:
1.
2.
Decline of Mayan civilization  _______________________________________________________________________
Aztec
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Settled in _______________ (today Mexico City), called ______________________________ (elevated,
surrounded by mountains, with lakes and swamps)
o Geography made them successful  _________________ provided plants, fish, frogs, ducks
o Built _____________________________/__________________________ (floating gardens in swamps) to
grow crops and improve agriculture  growing population and empire
Capital city of Aztec, ____________________________________, built in a lake connected by bridges and
floating gardens.
o Social Hierarchy:
1. Emperor - ___________________________________, Nobles, Commoners, Unskilled Laborers,
Enslaved People
Achievements:
1. _________________________________________ - built to honor the Aztec gods and 1,000s of people
sacrificed here
2. _________________________________________ - for worship
3. _________________________________________ - for agriculture
Decline of Aztec civilization  ________________________________________________________________________
Inca
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Settled in _______________________________________ (today Peru)
o Difficult to farm in mountains
o Raised ______________________________________ for food and labor
Most powerful people in South American history
o Over _____________________________ people
o Strict social hierarchy
 The Inca (emperor), Royal family (ruling aristocracy), Tribe leader (led tribe), Clan
leader (led clan), Common people
o ________________________________ (Sun-god worshipped over the others)
 Temples and sacrifices for sun-god
Achievements
o _______________________________ a retreat built for Incan kings
o _________________________________________ from cities to connect civilization
o Advancements in medicine and surgery
o Spoken language, ___________________________, language
o No writing system so kept records on colored ____________________________
Decline of Inca civilization  __________________________________________________________________________.