Ancient Civilization Notebook

A Look at the

Mississippian, Maya,

Aztec and Inca

Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations
of the WBy: estern
HemBisyp:here

Sophie Peterson

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. means Before Christ
for when looking at
A.D means Anno Domini, which is
dates? latin for “In the year of our lord.”

What does A.D. stand
for when looking at

dates?

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

What does C.E. stand
for when looking at

dates?

What do c. and ca. C and C.A. means Around about.
stand for when looking

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.

You will insert a picture in this space of
you holding your completed timeline at

the end of this project!

The
Mississippians

The great Serpent Mound

Mississippian pottery
cMorisns, itshseipypaialsnosagtreetwhecrcooprns like

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 temperatures,
because it is closer to the
equator

Misspisesoipplpeian

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
Made for religious ceremonies; left side of the
Used for burial of important People
drawing?

Why do you
think it was
made? What was
it used for?

They valued the Why do you
serpent think they
chose this
Hand made by the civilization
using natural resources 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 mound is The reason of the shape
of the serpent mound is
1,300 long, and 1 to 3 feet to determine true north,
tall. The shape is a snake that which makes it a sort of
seems to be eating an egg. like a compass.
The oval shape Could be a
document of a Solar

Eclipse.

Fort Ancient culture, People who really Danielle Knight GO Interactive, 2015
who were influenced by respect the earth,
and used natural
the mississippians
resources

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? Chiefs called suns, these peoples
Did powerful relationships exist believe the leaders had connections
with the gods.
between the people and their
leaders? 4 classes:1.Suns 2.Nobels 3. honored
men/woman 4.lower class
How was their society set up?
What were the types of jobs Jobs: farmers, craftsmen, fishermen,
people had? Were the jobs people and hunters which are critical for
did purposeful for the civilization? survival.

Describe their religion. Did the They also worshiped the sun.
relationship the people had with Believed that serpents had
their gods and religious leaders powers, and they worshiped
mounds.
follow rules?
rules: on where they live, and how
What did the people invent, create, they worship
or trade that allowed them to
exchange ideas or values with Traded: Pottery, effigy heads, stone
others they had relationships weapons
with?
They also build trading centers to
What was the agriculture like? trade with people from the gulf of
What food did they eat? How
mexico and great lakes.
did they grow it? What
relationships did the people Grew: corns, beans, pumpkins
have with their environment? They fished and hunting for
communal food.



The Maya

These are 3 of the Mayan gods
This is a Mayan pyramid

This is an image of a Mayan calendar

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.

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

Southern Maya
highlands

Ancient Maya
Concept Map

The Mayan Government/
Social Structure

Priests

Priests would give
advice to Mayan
people, also people
believed Priests
could talk to god.

Nobles

They believed they were given the
right to rule, from the gods. THey were
Kings and Queens. Don’t have to do a

job, or pay taxes.

Merchants & Craftsmen

There was no middle class so
Merchants and Craftsmen made art, ran

businesses, and farming. Some were
pesents who were trying to have a
better life or SOme where

Peasants

Peasants are used to fill gaps in armies were more
important units are not needed. Peasants are armed
only with a Macana club and protected by a shield.

Slaves

Slaves were a from different civilization.

Mayan Religion Mural

The gods in the sky show that
there were 4 mayan gods. The
gilaten shows how they
sacurufised their slaves.

Mayan Language and
Number Systems

This is my name in Mayan glyphs.

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 Mayas were ruled by Kings and
Did powerful relationships exist Priests. The leaders used peasants

between the people and their and slaves for sacrifice.
leaders?
Mayan groups
How was their society set up? 1: priesthood
What were the types of jobs
people had? Were the jobs people 2: Nobility
did purposeful for the civilization? 3: common people

Describe their religion. Did the 4: slaves
relationship the people had with Jobs: farmers, cloth makers,
their gods and religious leaders
Jewelers/tool makers
follow rules?
Mayans had a Sun god, a Maize god,
What did the people invent, create, and many more. Sometimes people
or trade that allowed them to would sacrifice themselves for their
exchange ideas or values with
others they had relationships gods.
with?
Mayans traded: salt, cotton mantels,
What was the agriculture like? slaves, quetzal feathers, flint, chert,
What food did they eat? How honey, colored shells, copper tools,

did they grow it? What and more.
relationships did the people The Mayan created a solar calendar.
have with their environment?
Mayans ate: corn, beans, squash,
potatoes, tomatoes, and a tiny grain

called quinoa
Tools they used: hoes, chisels,
plumb-bobs, and grinding tools

The Aztec

Where in the World…
Were the Aztec Located?

The Ancient
The Ancient

Ancient Aztec
Concept Map

The Aztec Government/
Social Structure

Government: King/ Laws:

The punishments for Emperor/ NO
breaking a law were ● Stealing
severe with death being Huey Tlatoani ● Murdering
a common punishment. ● Being drunk
Other punishments The Aztec government ● Property
included having your was similar to a damage
head shaved or being
sold into slavery. Also monarchy where an
Emperor or King was the
priests were primary ruler. They called
responsible for the
their ruler the Huey
schools. Tlatoani. The Huey
Tlatoani was the ultimate
power in the land.

Pipiltin

Only pipiltin or the noble class
could wear poisons in the

priesthood, the army, and the
government. The kings were

always chosen from the
pipiltin.

Macehualtin
They were the common people in the

Aztec Society were called the
Macehualtin. This includes farmers,

warriors, and craftsmen.

Slaves

Aztec people became slaves by selling themselves into slavery to pay for
debts or as punishment for crimes. The slaves had certain rights. They were
not to be mistreated by their owners, they could buy their freedom, and they

could not be sold by their masters unless they agreed.

Aztec Calendar and
Religion

The calendar stone related to Aztec religion
because they believed that certain days were
“favorable,” such as planting, going to war, and
building. Religious ceremonies were performed in
temples on top of pyramids. To please the gods,
or for punishment they sacrificed themselves or
others in these temples.

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? The Aztec people payed money to
Did powerful relationships exist the Aztec leaders, like taxes.

between the people and their Society Jobs
leaders? ● King ● farming
● Tuchuhliti ● Lawmakers
How was their society set up? ● Piplitin ● Merchants
What were the types of jobs ● Pochteca ● sculptures
people had? Were the jobs people ● Macehualtin ● painters
did purposeful for the civilization? ● Slaves ● And more

Describe their religion. Did the The Aztecs believed that they had to
relationship the people had with sacrifice people to make the Gods
their gods and religious leaders happy. They used slaves, prisoners of
war, and people who wanted to.
follow rules?

What did the people invent, create, Aztecs made/inventions
or trade that allowed them to ● Clothes
exchange ideas or values with ● Jewlrey
others they had relationships ● Weapons
with? ● Popcorn

What was the agriculture like? ● Chewing gum
What food did they eat? How
They raised cattle, and planted
did they grow it? What flowers, maize, potatoes, squash,
relationships did the people
have with their environment? corn, tortillas, and more.



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.

Ancient Inca
Concept Map

The Inca Government/

Social Structure

1. Sapa Inca-There was one single leader they were Emperors
or kings called the Sapa Inca.

2. Villac Uma-Just behind the Sapa Inca were the high Priests
because they were believed to speak to the gods they were
called the Villac Uma

3. Royal Family-The relatives of the Sapa Inca who were next
in line were called the Royal family

4. Inca-The noble class, or Inca class, was made up of the
people directly descended from the people who first
established the city of Cuzco. They were called the Inca.
They lived lives of luxury and held the best positions in the
Inca government.

5. Inca-by-privilege - As the empire grew, the emperor needed
more people he could trust in high positions in the
government. There weren't enough of the original Inca to
rule. So a new class was created called Inca-by-privilege.
These people were considered nobles, but not as high in
class as the true Inca.

6. Public Administrators - Below the Inca or noble class was
the class of public administrators. These people ran the
government at the low level.

7. Ayllu-The basic unit of Inca society was the ayllu. The ayllu
was made up of a number of families that worked together
almost like one large family. Everyone in the empire was
part of an ayllu.

Inca Religion, Science, Roads, Language

Religion

The Inca had a Sun god and the ancestor of the ruling dynasty. Inti was belived to
be the most powerful god.

Science & tech

they used bundles of cord called quipus to keep their numerical records. The quipu was made up of a
horizontal cord with a series of strings suspended from it.

Roads and
Briges

The Inca roads were very well built. They were paved and they belonged to the
government there were also many bridges that they were built.

Language

Quechua is mostly influenced by the Spanish. Quechua has a three vowel system that includes the
letters a, i, and u. Today, some people still speak Quechua. Inca math used Larger numbers were
based on powers of 10. String was used and knots were to represent numbers.

Fun Facts

The Inca empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, and possibly the
largest empire in the world in the early 16th century.

Determine the Relationships

Explore the Inca 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 high Priests had a relationship
Did powerful relationships exist with the people because they
were believed to speak to the
between the people and their
leaders? gods they were called the Villac
Uma
How was their society set up?
What were the types of jobs The Incas had many jobs such as
people had? Were the jobs people farmers, warriors, fisherman,
did purposeful for the civilization? craftsman and weavers.

Describe their religion. Did the Text goes here
relationship the people had with
their gods and religious leaders

follow rules?

What did the people invent, create, They also invented a flute, a drum,
or trade that allowed them to the famous panpipe, aqueducts,
exchange ideas or values with strange and scary art, a central
others they had relationships government, a unified language
with? woven colorful, textiles, gold and

What was the agriculture like? silver jewelry, and status
What food did they eat? How
The Inca had difficult conditions for
did they grow it? What planting. All though they did plant
relationships did the people
have with their environment? corn, quinoa, and potatoes.