Unit 3 – “Early Civilizations in the Americas”
Chapter 6 – “Mesoamerican Civilizations” Study Guide
Vocabulary
Peninsula
Cenote
Theocracy
Aqueduct
Codex
Mercenary
Chinampa
Causeway
Alliance
Know the 3 Civilizations and features about them.
Ls. 1
Describe the location of Mesoamerica.
Know the features of Mesoamerica.
What are the crops grown on Mesoamerica.
What do cenotes provide?
How did the landscape influence the people who lived there?
Know at least 4 facts to support: The landscape of Mesoamerica is interesting and beautiful.
Ls. 2
What were the social classes of the Olmec based on?
Who were the most powerful in the Olmec social classes?
Why are the Olmec called the “Mother of Civilization” of Mesoamerica?
Compare and contrast the Maya and Olmec.
Why do archaeologists believe the Olmec may have been the ancestors of the Maya?
Why did the Maya use calendars? (At least 3)
Ls. 3
What did the Aztecs call themselves?
Where was Tenochtitlan built?
How did the Aztecs expand Tenochtitlan when it became overcrowded?
What does this mean: The Mexica formed alliances to help their power grow?
Why might the Aztec Empire continued to grow if Cortes had not attacked?
What might you have advised Moctezuma about Cortes if you had been an advisor to Moctezuma?
What job would you have chosen if you had lived in a Mesoamerican civilization and why?