MAYAS, AZTECS, INCAS vocabulary

A culture that has developed complex systems of government, education, and religion.

• civilization

• irrigation

• potlatch

• nomad

The practice of owning people and forcing them to work without pay.

• develop

• translate

• longhouse

• slavery

A large area of different groups of people controlled by one ruler or government.

• prairie

• empire

• conduct

• wampum

To supply water by using artificial means.

• potlatch

• teepee

• confederacy

• irrigation

To move from one place to another.

• develop

• migrate

• prairie

• lodge

To change words from one language to another.

• conduct

• migrate

• confederacy

• translate

A log that is carved and then painted with symbols (totems) or animal or people.

• totem pole

• teepee

• longhouse

• wampum

A special Native American celebration in the Pacific Northwest at which guests, not hosts, receive gifts.

• wampum

• lodge

• empire

• potlatch

Flat or gently rolling land covered mostly with grasses and wildflowers.

• totem pole

• prairie

• migrate

• conduct

A person that moves from place to place and doesn't and doesn't have a permanent home.

• empire

• teepee

• wampum

• nomad