Week 5 Flashcards

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Isthmus

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A narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas and has water on both sides. It can be an important route for travel and trade.

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Maize

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An early form of corn grown by Native American civilizations. It was a major food source and helped support large populations.

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Hieroglyphs

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A writing system that uses symbols or pictures to represent ideas, words, or sounds. It was used by ancient civilizations like the Maya and the Egyptians.

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Oral Traditions

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Stories, beliefs, and history passed down by word of mouth instead of written records. Many ancient cultures used this to keep their heritage alive.

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Shaman

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A spiritual leader or healer in many indigenous cultures who is believed to have a connection to the spirit world and the power to heal or guide others.

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Quipu

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A recording system used by the Inca that involved tying knots in strings to keep track of information like taxes, trade, and population.

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Inca

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A powerful civilization in South America, centered in the Andes Mountains. They built a large empire with roads, strong government, and terrace farming before being conquered by the Spanish in the 1500s.

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Aztec

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A civilization in central Mexico known for their large cities, advanced farming, and strong military. Their capital, Tenochtitlán, was built on a lake. They were conquered by the Spanish in 1521.

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Maya

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A civilization in Mesoamerica known for its advanced writing system, math, calendar, and large cities. They built pyramids and had a deep religious and cultural life.

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Olmec

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One of the earliest civilizations in Mesoamerica, known as the "mother culture." They created giant stone heads and influenced later cultures like the Maya and Aztec.