The Civilizations of America: Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca
Fill in the gaps with the correct word.
1.Civilisations of America – introduction
While ________________ civilisations were developing in the Mediterranean and Asia advanced societies, first civilisations in ___________________ were developing in the isolation.
The first American civilisation were people known as the __________________ in an area known as ___________________. They are often called the „mother culture” because they influenced other Mesoamerican societies. The Olmecs built ____________________ to honor their leaders and gods. Olmecs knew _______________, _______________________, the basics of _______________________ and the number zero. They spread their ___________________ to other Mesoamericans. For unknown reasons, the Olmec civilization _____________________ by 400 B.C.
2. Mayan, Aztec and Incan Empires
A. MAYANS
Mayans were ____________________ into individual ___________________________ ruled by kings. The Mayan economy was based on _____________________ (they cultivated corn, beans and broad beans). Mayan society was highly organized. At the top was the king who had _____________________ power. He held both _________________ and _____________ authority. Below him were nobles, priests, and warriors, who played important roles in governing, conducting rituals, and protecting the cities. Skilled artisans and merchants formed the middle class, producinggoods and trading with other regions. The _________________ made up the largest social class. Mayans were polytheistic and offered their blood, food and sometimes ______________ sacrifices to please the gods. They invented a _____________________ based on pictures, an accurate 365-days __________________ and advanced temples. The Mayans declined perhaps due to warfare among Mayan city-states, overfarming and Spanish invasion.
B. AZTECS
After the decline of the Mayans, the ________________ were developing in present-day ________________ . They built their main city ___________________________ in 1325 and formed a massive ________________ controled it through 38 __________________________ and received tribute from conquered peoples. They based on farming and trading. They did not know the ___________________. Aztecs society was ________________________ (kings, nobility, merchants, artisans, slaves). Aztecs worshipped many goods, especially the ____________ and made thousands of human _________________ each year. Like the Mayans, the Aztecs developed an accurate _____________________, they built ________________ complexes and ______________ on top of pyramids. When the ______________________ arrived in America, their civilization was already in ________________. A century of brutal rule over the provinces and milions of human sacrifices led to revolts. But, the true demise of the Aztecs came when the __________________ discovered America and conquered this civilization.
C.INCAS
1.While the Aztecs ruled Mexico, the ______________________ began to dominate the area of the Andes Mountains of___South________America. Many Incan cities like ____________________ and ___________________ were built in the ____________________ . Like the Aztecs, the Incas built a vast ________________ which included 80 provinces. But, the Incas ruled with tolerance and __________________ their empire with roads, ____________________ and communication (smoke signals). Inca innovations included _____________, a means of record keeping involving ____________. Like other Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish conquistadors.
