Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
The Early Americas
Section 3
MAIN IDEAS
1. The Incas created an empire with a strong central government in South
America.
2. Life in the Inca Empire was influenced by social structure, religion, and the
Incas’ cultural achievements.
3. Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas and took control of the region in
1537.
Key Terms and People
Pachacuti ruler who expanded the Inca Empire in the mid-1400s
Quechua the language of the Incas
masonry stonework
Atahualpa the last Inca ruler
Francisco Pizarro Spanish conquistador leader who conquered the Incas
Academic Vocabulary
distribute to divide among a group of people
Section Summary
THE INCAS CREATE AN EMPIRE
While the Aztecs rose in Mesoamerica, the Incas
were building an empire in South America. The
Incas began as a small tribe high in the Andes. They
built their capital, Cuzco, in modern-day Peru. In
the mid-1400s, the ruler Pachacuti (pah-chah-KOOtee) led the Incas to expand their territory. By the
early 1500s, the Inca Empire stretched from
northern Ecuador to central Chile.
To rule this empire of 12 million people, the
Incas formed a strong central government. The
Incas replaced local leaders of conquered areas with
new people loyal to the Inca government. The Incas
established an official language, Quechua (KEchuh-wuh). The Incas paid taxes in the form of
labor. This labor tax system was called the mita
(MEE-tah). There were no merchants or markets.
Instead, government officials would distribute
goods such as food and clothing.
On what continent did the
Incas build their empire?
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Where did the Inca tribe
originate?
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How did Incas get food,
clothing and other goods?
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_______________________
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Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 3, continued
LIFE IN THE INCA EMPIRE
Inca society had two main social classes. The king,
priests, and government officials were the upper
class. The upper class lived in Cuzco and did not
pay the labor tax. The lower class included farmers,
artisans, and servants. Most Incas were farmers.
They could not own more goods than they needed.
The Inca religion was based on the belief that
Inca rulers were related to the sun god and never
really died. Inca ceremonies often included sacrifice
of llamas, cloth, or food. They also believed certain
natural landforms had magical powers.
The Incas are known for their masonry, or
stonework. They built massive buildings and a
network of roads. Inca artisans made beautiful
pottery, jewelry, and textiles. The Incas had no
written language. Instead, they kept records with
cords and passed down stories and songs orally.
Incas believed their rulers
were related to whom?
_______________________
_______________________
The Incas excelled in the
use of what building
material?
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PIZARRO CONQUERS THE INCAS
In the 1520s civil war broke out between an Inca
ruler’s two sons, Atahualpa (ah-tah-WAHL-pah) and
Huáscar (WAHS-kahr). Atahualpa won, but the war
had weakened the Inca army. On his way to be
crowned king, Atahualpa heard that conquistadors
led by Francisco Pizarro were in Peru. When
Atahualpa came to meet with them, the Spanish
captured him. They attacked and killed thousands of
Inca soldiers. The Incas brought gold and silver to
offer for Atahualpa’s return. But instead the Spanish
killed him. The Spanish defeated the Incas and
ruled their lands for the next 300 years.
CHALLENGE ACTIVITY
Critical Thinking: Drawing Inferences The Incas
used labor as a form of currency. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of this type of
economic system? Write a brief essay explaining
your answer.
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173
Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 3, continued
DIRECTIONS Use the terms Atahualpa, masonry, Pachacuti,
Francisco Pizarro, and Quechua to write a summary of what you
learned in the section.
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174
Guided Reading Workbook
Answer Key
Challenge Activity
Answers will vary. Student designs should
accurately reflect life in the early 21st century.
SECTION 3
Summary
(First Page) South America; high in the
Andes; from the government
Definitions
1. observatories; possible answers—
structures built to study the sky and the
stars
2. maize; possible answers—another name
for corn
3. Pacal; possible answers—Maya king
whose temple is one of our main sources
about Maya life
4. Palenque; possible answers—large Maya
city now in ruins
(Second Page) sun god; stone
Challenge Activity
Answers will vary. Student essays should
point out at least one advantage and one
disadvantage of the mita system.
Written Summary
Answers will vary. Sample answer: The Inca
were a powerful civilization who lived in the
Andes of Peru. Under powerful leaders like
Pachacuti, they conquered large parts of South
America. The Inca made many cultural
advances, such as creating the Quechua
language and large structures of masonry. The
empire ended when the last emperor,
Atahualpa, was defeated by the conquistador
Francisco Pizarro.
SECTION 2
Summary
(First Page) poor farmers from northern
Mexico; conquests and trade; Students should
underline the sentence: He was in charge of
law, trade, tribute, and warfare.
(Second Page) They believed sacrifice was
necessary to keep the gods happy; possible
answers—better weapons, horses, disease
The Early Middle Ages
Challenge Activity
Answers will vary. Student papers should
clearly state an opinion and provide support to
back it up.
Summary
(First Page) because it is part of a large
landmass that includes both Europe and Asia;
the Alps
Words or Phrases
Answers will vary. Sample answers:
1. bridge
2. conquerors, Spanish warriors, explorers
3. conqueror of Mexico, conquistador leader
4. last Aztec emperor, opponent of Cortés
(Second Page) These crops grow well on the
region’s mountainsides and can survive its dry
summers; because the land is flat and provides
no barrier to invasions
SECTION 1
Challenge Activity
Student letters should include a preference and
details to support their choice.
Letters
Answers will vary. Sample answer: Dear
Mother, Today a group of odd warriors came
to the city. They call themselves conquistadors
and follow a man named Hernán Cortés. I saw
them as they crossed the causeway into the
city. I hope Emperor Moctezuma knows how
to deal with them.
Fill in the Blank
1. topography
2. Eurasia
3. Ural Mountains
4. Alps
5. Northern European Plain
6. Scandinavia
7. rivers
8. peninsula
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18
Guided Reading Workbooks Answer Key