Ancient Civilizations Notebook

A Look at the

Mississippian, Maya,

Aztec and Inca

Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations
of the WBy: estern
HemBisyp:here

Corrine Jirousek

Learning About Time

Watch the “Commonly Asked Questions about Dates” video on
Schoology to learn about the abbreviations/key words listed
below. As you watch, pause the video and write in your own
words what each of these means.

What does B.C. stand B.C. stands for before christ. Before
for when looking at christ the years and times went
backwards.
dates?
A.D. stands for anno domini which is
What does A.D. stand latin for in the year of the lord. A.D. is
for when looking at after christ.

dates?

What does B.C.E. stand B.C.E stands for Before common era.
for when looking at
dates?

What does C.E. stand B.E stands for common era.
for when looking at

dates?

What do c. and ca. C. sands for a latin word named Circa
stand for when looking that is when you don’t know the
actual date.
at dates?

Multiple-tier Timelines

Multiple-tier timelines use two or more rows of events.
While each row represents a different subject, the time
period is the same.

Multiple-tier timelines can be used to help us look at
cause and effect relationships or patterns and themes
among events in a specific period of time.

We will be using a multi-tier timeline to show the rise
and fall of four early civilizations in the Americas: The
Mississippian, Inca, Maya, and Aztec and look for
RELATIONSHIPS between the dates.

The
Mississippians

Mounds Effigy heads
Corn

Where in the World…
Were the Mississippian Located?

Directions: Use the shape tool to add color to the areas
where the Mississippian people lived. Use the text box
tool and arrow tool to create labels that point to the area.

What is the approximate latitude
and longitude of the location you
colored?

What might the weather be like in
this location based on the latitude
and longitude?

● warm , because it is closer
to the equator.

Mississippian people

What’s This?

Study this picture and then answer the questions
on the next page.

What’s This?

Use the picture on the previous page to answer the following
questions.

The Great Serpent What is
mound this?

An Egg What is the
circle on the
Serpents were valued. left side of the
Mounds were used as a
temple and burial place drawing?

They Valued Why do you
Serpents and think it was
believed they ruled made? What was
the underworld it used for?

With their bare hands Why do you
they formed it in the think they
chose this
earth.
shape?

How do you
think they
made this?

The Mounds

Read the Khan Academy article posted in your
Schoology course: Fort Ancient Culture: Great
Serpent Mound. After you read, complete the
page below with your team.

Describe the physical attributes What do archeologists believe
of the Serpent Mound in your might be the reason the mounds

own words: are shaped like a serpent?

The Great Serpent The head faces the east
mound is 1,300 long.1-3 and the tail faces west
feet long, and slightly acting as a compass for
crescent shaped. the culture.

The Fort Ancient Culture. The people who built Danielle Knight GO Interactive, 2015
them were creative
and good architects.

Who is believed to have created What relationship generalization
it? can you make between the
mounds and the people who
built them?

Research the Relationships

Explore the Mississippian links in the Symbaloo posted in your Schoology
course as well as in the books and other resources available in class to
complete this organizer.

What was the government like? Led by chiefs called suns who were tied to the
Did powerful relationships exist religions.

between the people and their The people believed the leaders had
leaders? connections to the gods and as such they had
powerful relations with them.
How was their society set up?
What were the types of jobs 4 Classes: 2.son 2.nobles 3.honored
people had? Were the jobs people Men/women 4.lower class
did purposeful for the civilization? Most people were farmers,
craftsmen, fishermen, and hunters
Describe their religion. Did the which was critical for all to survive.
relationship the people had with
their gods and religious leaders The people worshiped the sun and believed that
serpents had mystical powers. They built
follow rules? temples in mounds to worship. They built
temples in mounds to worship. They had to
follow certain rules for where they lived and
how they worshiped.

What did the people invent, create, Pottery,effigy heads,traded stone
or trade that allowed them to that could be used for weapons. They
exchange ideas or values with built trade centers to trade with
others they had relationships people from the gulf of mexico and
with? great lakes region.

What was the agriculture like? Corn(zea mays),squash(cucurbita),beans
What food did they eat? How (phaseolus vulgaris)is the mississippian diet.

did they grow it? What Pottery containers were used for
relationships did the people storing,preparing,serving,and eating food.
have with their environment?



The Maya

Maize
Mayan Math

soMlaar ycaanlendar

Where in the World…
Were the Maya Located?

Directions: Use the shape tool to add color to the areas
where the Mayan people lived. Use the text box tool and
arrow tool to create labels that point to the area.

Yucatan What is the approximate latitude
Maya and longitude of the location you
colored?
Lowland
Maya What might the weather be like in
this location based on the latitude
and longitude?

HMigahylaands

Ancient Maya
Concept Map

Replace this example with your own concept map!

The Mayan Government/
Social Structure

Priests

Most powerful people-the people
believed they could talk to the
gods.Religion was an important
part of the mayan culture so
priests were powerful figures in
the Mayan government. They
had a big influence on how the
King ruled.

Nobles

One noble family controlled each maya city.
Those families had a great deal of power
because they had a large army. Control of the
the city went passed down by father to son.
Nobles did not have to pay taxes. Chose if you
wanted to have a job or not. Lived easy lives.

Merchants and Craftsmen

Some were peasants who wanted a better life and some were
nobles that wanted a job. They made art or ran business.

Peasants

Most mayan people were peasants. Worked very hard. Most were farmers and lived
outside the city. Who worked as craftsmen were able to live in the city and had a slightly

better life. No slaves available next chosen for sacrifice.

Slaves

These people were the lowest class. Many times they were treated better than the peasants, but had no rights. They could
be children whose parents had died, people who were captured in war, or people had committed crimes. Slaves were
mostly chosen for sacrifice.

Mayan Religion Mural

This is a mural of the mayan religon. It is a
tiple with a preist on the top and pesants
watching the saromonyof the sacerfise. With a
feather serpant by it because it is a god of
theirs that they sacurfse people to.

Mayan Language and
Number Systems

The mayan writing is very interesting. Only
the priest will learn to read and write. This is
my name Corrine in the mayan writing.

Determine the Relationships

Explore the Mayan links in the Symbaloo posted in your Schoology course as
well as in the books and other resources available in class to complete this
organizer.

What was the government like? The mayans were ruled by kings and
Did powerful relationships exist priest. Peasants and slaves were

between the people and their sacrificed to their gods and leaders.
leaders?
The society had four groups:
How was their society set up? priesthood, Nobility, common
What were the types of jobs people, and slaves. Jobs they had:
people had? Were the jobs people farmers, cloth makers, and jewelers.
did purposeful for the civilization?

Describe their religion. Did the They had a sun god and a maize god.,
relationship the people had with and many more. Sometimes people
their gods and religious leaders sacrificed themselves for their gods.

follow rules?

What did the people invent, create, Mayans traded: salt, slaves, honey,
or trade that allowed them to copper tools, ornaments, flint, and
exchange ideas or values with colored shells. Mayans created a
others they had relationships
with? solar calendar.

What was the agriculture like? Mayans ate: Corn, beans, squash,
What food did they eat? How potatoes, tomatoes, and quinoa.

did they grow it? What Tools to farm: howes, chesils,
relationships did the people Plumb-bob, and grinding tools.
have with their environment?

The Aztec

Where in the World…
Were the Aztec Located?

Directions: Use the shape tool to add color to the areas
where the Aztec people lived. Use the text box tool and
arrow tool to create labels that point to the area.

What is the approximate
latitude and longitude of the
location you colored?

What might the weather be like
in this location based on the
latitude and longitude?

The Ancient
The Ancient

Ancient Aztec
Concept Map

The Aztec Government/
Social Structure

Government: Emperor/ Laws:
King/ Huey Tlatcani
The Aztecs government is referred The aztec law system was
to an empire. Areas inside the The Emperor was the primary complicated. Laws were written
empire were city-states. ruler and had the ultimate down by judges. The aztecs were
warned about the sacrifices of
power. They called their ruler breaking the law.
the Huey Tlatcani. They felt
that they were appointed by
the gods and had the divine
right to rule. A group of high
ranken nobles chose who the

new Emperor would be.

Pipiltin

The pipilitin were the noble class. Only they could were
clothes and jewelry such as feathers and gold. They
held the good position in in the army, priesthood, and

the government. The huey Tlatcani was always chosen
from the pipiltin. They help rule the city-states.

Pochteca

The pochteca were a special class of aztec merchants. They were
treated like nobility because their jobs were very important to the
Aztec Empire. They traveled long distances to bring back luxury

goods.

Slaves

They slaves were the lowest class. The children of the slaves were not slaves.
Their slavery came by them wanting to pay their debts through salivary or a
punishment for crimes. The slaves had rights which were; Not be allowed to
be mistreated by their owners, They could buy their freedom and they are not

allowed to be sold by their masters unless they agree.

Aztec Calendar and
religion

The aztecs called themselves the people of the sun. Their calendar was
made from solidified lava. The largest festival they had was the Xiuhmolpilli. That
means “new fire”. It was held every 52 years to prevent the world from coming to
an end. The Aztecs believed they were living under the fifth or final sun. The
calendar predicts solar eclips. There was 20 days in each of the 18 months. Also,
there 5 unlucky days that were likely to have a natural disaster on them.

Determine the Relationships

Explore the Aztec links in the Symbaloo posted in your Schoology course as
well as in the books and other resources available in class to complete this
organizer.

What was the government like? It was a system of tribute which conquered
Did powerful relationships exist cities paid respect to the aztec empire. Yes, they
had powerful relationships between the people
between the people and their
leaders? and their leaders.

How was their society set up? The Aztec society believed in being
What were the types of jobs independent. Education is an important part of
people had? Were the jobs people their society. They had different curriculum for
did purposeful for the civilization?
boys and girls. Yes, they had is jobs that are
purposeful.

Describe their religion. Did the They called themselves the “people of the sun”.
relationship the people had with They believed they needed human sacrifices to
their gods and religious leaders
make the sun rise every day.
follow rules?

What did the people invent, create, -rabbit -chilli
or trade that allowed them to -birds -maize
exchange ideas or values with -Dogs -tomatoes
others they had relationships
with? -fish -
-turkey
What was the agriculture like?
What food did they eat? How The people believed that the gods had control
over the environment.
did they grow it? What
relationships did the people
have with their environment?



The Inca

Where in the World…
Were the Inca Located?

Directions: Use the shape tool to add color to the areas where the

Incan people lived. Use the text box tool and arrow tool to create
labels that point to the area. Complete the questions in the box.
Delete this text box when you are finished.

What is the approximate latitude
and longitude of the location you
colored?
What might the weather be like in
this location based on the latitude
and longitude?

Ancient Inca
Concept Map

The Inca Government/
Social Structure

Sapa Inca and the Coya
Sapa Inca means solo ruler. Coya in the king and sapa inca is the
king. He is the most powerful in the land. Everyone reported back to
him.

Viceroy
Close relitve to the sapa inca and works as his adviser.

Royal Family
Relatives of the Sapa Inca and had high government positions.

Wallq Umu
Second in power to the sapa Inca due to the importance of
religion in the Inca empire.

Apu
Ruled one of the divided parts of the Inca empire.

Counsel of the realm
Powerful nobles who advised the sapa Inca on major matters.

Inspectors
Made sure people paid taxes and followed the rules of the inca.

Military Generals
The head general of the military. Often close relatives to the Sapa Inca

Inca Religion,
Science, Roads,

Language

The Incas believed that the god The Inca didn’t have a lot of basic
Viracocha created the earth stars technologies we often consider
and all living things. They believed important to advanced societies.
that he made the sun and moon They don’t use the wheel for
from taking them from an island. transport. They didn’t have iron for
The sun was another important making tools. They also didn’t
god to them. have a writing system for records.

The Inca roads covered 40,000 km. The Inca didn’t have a
(25,000 miles) One highway ran writing system. Numbers
down the coast, and the other were showed by nots in the
wound through highlands. Another string. They used a base
was two main highways and ten.
spread over Peru, Ecuador, Chile,
Bolivia, and Argentina. Some ran
through the Inca empire.

Determine the Relationships

Explore the Incan links in the Symbaloo posted in your Schoology course as
well as in the books and other resources available in class to complete this
organizer.

What was the government like? Below the sapa Inca were several officers
Did powerful relationships exist who helped to rule the empire.High ranking
officials were often relatives of the
between the people and their emperor and were always part of the Inca
leaders? class.Yes powerful relationships exist
between their leaders they

How was their society set up? The inca inventions and trades
What were the types of jobs The incas invented the flute drum and
people had? Were the jobs people panpipe. They also invented many hollow
did purposeful for the civilization? tubes. Another invention is terrace
farming and freeze dried food.

Describe their religion. Did the They Inca had a bishop called a vilcas. They
relationship the people had with traveled around the Inca and watched the
their gods and religious leaders religion practice. They also, would go to
different temples to supervise. The incas
follow rules? practiced sacrifices and offerings daily.

What did the people invent, create, The Inca society included any complex levels in
or trade that allowed them to the Inca Empire. The Inca had numerous jobs:
exchange ideas or values with architects, craft makers, farmers, and miners.
others they had relationships
with? These jobs were important to the society
because if an Inca didn´t report to their jobs
What was the agriculture like?
What food did they eat? How they would be punished by death.

did they grow it? What The Inca farmers planted seeds and waited for their
relationships did the people crops to grow. They planted maize, squash, beans,
have with their environment? chili peppers and cacao. The Inca used cacao to
make chocolate. Also, the Incas faced difficult
conditions for agriculture.