GEO-CHALLENGE
Civilizations of the Americas
Geography Skills
Analyze the maps in “Setting the Stage.”
Then answer the following questions and fill out the map as directed.
Name: ____________________
Date: _____________________
1. Locate the area of the Mayan civilization. Shade it on your map and in the key.
2. Locate the area of the Aztec civilization. Shade it on your map and in the key.
3. Locate the area of the Incan civilization. Shade it on your map and in the key.
4. Locate the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Andes Mountains, the Mexico Plateau, the
Yucatán Peninsula, and the Amazon River. Label them on your map.
5. According the map in your book, what is the elevation and principal climate zone of the land in central Mexico?
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6. How would you predict that elevation and climate might affect the way the Aztecs lived? ____________________
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7. About how high is the land in the northern Yucatán Peninsula? _________________________________________
In the southern Yucatán Peninsula? ___________________________________________________________
8. Which climate zone is in the northern Yucatán Peninsula? _____________________________________________
Which climate zone is southern Yucatán Peninsula? ______________________________________________
9. What challenges do you think climate and elevation might have posed for the Mayas? _______________________
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10. What is the elevation and climate of the land in western South America? _________________________________
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11. What impact do you think elevation and climate might have had on Incan life? ____________________________
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© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
Civilizations of the Americas
GEO-CHALLENGE
Civilizations of the Americas
Critical Thinking: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
12. Based on physical features and climate, which civilization would you predict had the largest city? Why?
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13. In which civilization do you think it would have been easiest for people to have an economy based on agriculture?
Why? Where do you think agriculture would have been most challenging? Why?
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14. What do people need in order to trade? Which civilization do you predict had an extensive system of trade? Why?
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15. Look at the geographic features of all three civilizations. What did they have in common that enabled them to
thrive?
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© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
Civilizations of the Americas