Kasturi's notebook

A Look at the

Mississippian, Maya,

Aztec and Inca

Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations
of the WBy: estern
HemBisyp:here

Kasturi Gogula

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 This time marker is used on the
for when looking at Gregorian or Christian calendar. BC
stands for ´Before Christ´ and is used
dates? to mark the period of time before
Jesus´ Birth .
What does A.D. stand
for when looking at Also used on the Gregorian calendar.
Ad stands for Anno Domini which is
dates?
Latin for ´In the year of the lord´.
What does B.C.E. stand
for when looking at Before Common Era...This is used to
dates? mark the same dates as BC.

What does C.E. stand Common Era… This used to mark the
for when looking at same dates as AD.

dates? C or CA stands for Circa.

What do c. and ca.
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.

The
Mississippians

Corn Beans

Great serpent
Mound

I learned that mississippians eat things like
corn,squash,beans and other foods that we
even eat. There religion was led by chiefs called
suns. They also believed that there leaders had
specials connections or powers with god. They
also believe in wealth and military powers. There
people were ranked in two groups called the elites and
the commoners.

The mississippians believed in mythical creatures like
the horned snake ,thunderbird and the piasa bird.
They believed in things also like the tattooed serpent
and the great sun. They also built or made something
called the great serpent mound. There cultures that
they made had things like the culture on it and nature.
They made pottery of people and also made faces on
their pottery.

Where in the World…
Were the Mississippian Located?

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?

What is the approximate latitude and longitude of the location you colored?
The absolute location is 33 degrees north and 84 west.

What might the climate be like in this location based on the latitude and longitude?
The temperature would be warmer or hot.

How would this affect the way people live in this area?

They wouldn't need to wear a lot of clothes. The soil would also be rich because
they sun would be giving light to the soil. The sun would also give protection to the
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. *Note these answers are all based on your
observations at this point!

It is called the Great What is
Serpents Mound . this?

It is where the people What is the
circle on the
stood to tell the time. left side of the

It was made to tell time drawing?
because there were no
Why do you
clocks. think it was
made? What was
They choose this shape it used for?
to tell the reflection of
the sun to tell the time. Why do you
think they
They used their chose this
natural resources to
shape?
make the 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?

It is in the shape of a They say the tail could

serpent. It is 1,300 feet be used to point to the
long 1-3 feet tall. Its
winter solstice
head is in the east and its sunrise,and the head
tail is in the west.
pointing to the summer

solstice sunset.

They fort. Ancient The people who built Danielle Knight GO Interactive, 2015
Culture who were them did on purpose
influenced by the and might had wanted
to leave a hint for the
Mississippians.
future.

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
Did powerful relationships exist tied to the religion. The people
believed the leaders had connections
between the people and their to the gods and as such they had
leaders? powerful relations with them.

How was their society set up? There religious beliefs are in wealth
What were the types of jobs and military powers. People were
people had? Were the jobs people ranked in two different groups and
did purposeful for the civilization? there names are The elites and the
the commoners.
Describe their religion. Did the
relationship the people had with They believed in mythical creatures
their gods and religious leaders such as horned snakes,thunderbird
and also the Piasa bird. They also
follow rules? believed in things like the great sun
and the tattooed serpent.
What did the people invent, create,
or trade that allowed them to They make effigy heads for
exchange ideas or values with culture and nature. They also make
others they had relationships pottery with faces. They also make
with? figures of people. They also made
pipes that were shaped like animals.
What was the agriculture like?
What food did they eat? How The mississippians are also called the
horticulturalists .The mississippians
did they grow it? What used basic tools for farming and
relationships did the people grew their food .They grew their food
have with their environment?
in small farms and at things like

Brainpop Native Americans

● They speak different languages
● The have different culture
● They can be split up into nomadic and

others were people who mastered
farming
● Europeans spread a disease that
killed most of the native Americans
● The Americans had reservations set
up for native Americans
● They traveled from Russia to Alaska
on a bridge
● They had a sculpture that is called the
Kwakwaka'wakw
● There were tribes called the
Athabascans,Eskimo,Aluets,Tlingit

The Maya

Watermelon Calendar
Temples

The mayan people were a tribe back then. They
believed in a bunch of thing. The mayans had their
own writing system and calendar. They performed
rituals to satisfy the gods, It was really hard for the
mayan people to move up in life. If your father was a
farmer then you would have to be a farmer. It was
like a pyramid.

The mayan had their own type of government that
they believed in. They had different people that
were in different groups. They would put them into
groups that were like kings/rulers, priests, nobles and
peasants.They believed in a lot of things. Kings were
also priests that would communicate to the gods.
They grew food like watermelon, squashh, beans,
and other foods. They ate food like beef,dogs, and
turkey. They did blood sacrifices to keep the cosmos
balanced. They had rocky soil but they still were able
to plant thing. They also had temples or churches
that they would go to.

Where in the World…
Were the Maya Located?

Map from ducksters.com What is the approximate latitude and
longitude of the center of the Maya
Empire?
Latitude: 30 degrees
Longitude : 90 degrees
This would make t closer to the
capital Teotihu.

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

It would be hot and good for farming.
But it would also be humid.

How would this affect the way people
live in this area?
They could wear warm weather
clothes.

The Mayan Government/
Social Structure

King/rulers Ruling family for each
city-state.Lived life of luxury.
Were believed to talk to gods.

Priests Most powerful people - The
people believed they could
talk to the gods

Nobbles Did not have to pay taxes. Could choose if
they wanted to have jobs or not.Lived easy

lives

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

Most Mayan people were peasants.They worked very hard.Peasants who
worked as craftsmen were able to live in the city and had a slightly better
life. Slaves were the lowest. Many times hey were treated better than the

peasants.

Overview of Mayan government:

Mayan Religion Mural

Our picture is showing things that the
mayans believed in. They believed in
a bunch of different things. Like the
sun god , they also made sculptures
like the Mayan snake and a sculpture
of a Mayan person. They even had
tattoos back then that they would

Mayan Language and
Number Systems

In the Mayan system this is my
name. Back then in the time the
Mayans were alive my name would
have been Kawtoowe. They first
picture is like a ear, the next is like a
bokeh, and the next is like a tongue
sticking out.

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? Kings were also priests which can help people
Did powerful relationships exist communicate with the gods. Kings would

between the people and their perform rituals for the people so that the gods
leaders? would be happy with the people.

How was their society set up? In the mayan culture it was extremely hard to
What were the types of jobs move upwards in the mayan pyramid. For
people had? Were the jobs people
did purposeful for the civilization? example, if you father was a farmer then you
would have to be a farmer. Women were
Describe their religion. Did the involved in religion, economics, and
relationship the people had with government.
their gods and religious leaders
The mayan people would perform rituals to
follow rules? satisfy the gods. The mayans had there on
system of writing. The mayans believed in
blood sacrifices to keep the cosmos balanced.

What did the people invent, create, They invented their own calendar. They also
or trade that allowed them to invented their own system of writing. Their
exchange ideas or values with calender took 260 days. Weeks spanning to
others they had relationships 20-30 days. They invented another calendar
with?
that had 360 day and 5 unlucky days.

What was the agriculture like? The soil was extremely rocky. 36 inches of rain
What food did they eat? How per year. They used stone tools and flint axes.
They grew a lot of thing like cotton,watermelon
did they grow it? What and ect. The mayans ate dogs, turkey and beef.
relationships did the people
have with their environment?

Ancient Maya
Concept Map

The Aztec

Where in the World…
Were the Aztec Located?

Map from ducksters.com What is the approximate latitude and
longitude of the center of the Aztec
Empire?
110 west latitude and 30 north
longitude. North of guatemala. East
of the Pacific and west of atlantic.
Which would now be now central and
southern ocean.

What might the climate be like in this
location based on the latitude and
longitude?
The climate might be warm and
humid because it is near the
equator.Had a huge rainy season that
from May-October.

How would this affect the way people
live in this area?
The people had to find ways to water
their crops. There
clothing,housing,and crops that has
to be adaptable.

The Aztec Government/
Social Structure

Emperor was the
primary ruler.
They called their
emperor Tlatoani.

Tuchuhtil
These were the rulers of
the individual city states.

Pipiltin
This was the noble class. They were
able to wear gold and feathers. They
were able to serve as priests, army
commanders, and hold government
jobs.

Pochteca
These merchants were very valued by the aztec people because they
would travel to trade and bring back luxury.

Macehualtin
These were the common people. They held jobs as farmers, warriors,

nd craftsman.
Slaves
People could sell themselves into slavery to pay off debts or credits.

Aztec Sun Stone
Calendar

It was carved from solidified lava in
the late 15th century. Somehow it got
lost for 300 years and was found in 1790,
buried under the zocalo, or central square
of Mexico City. The calendar stone was
called the sun stone or the Cuauhxicalli
Eagle Bowl

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 government conquered cities
Did powerful relationships exist also paid tribute in the form of money.
The Aztec government became both rich
between the people and their and powerful. There government was
leaders? ruled by an emperor.

How was their society set up? The Aztec society was a really interesting
What were the types of jobs experience. They believed in being independent
people had? Were the jobs people and had a really well-ordered out existence. In
did purposeful for the civilization? fact the most impressive attribute. The idea of

Describe their religion. Did the free education for all irrespective of the class
relationship the people had with the children belonged to. Six levels in this
their gods and religious leaders society.

follow rules? Most of the Aztec society centered around their
religion and gods. Built large pyramids as
temples to their gods. Went to war to
capture people they could sacrifice to their
gods.

What did the people invent, create, The Aztecs invented hot chocolate, popcorn,
or trade that allowed them to chewing gum and the sun stone. Ullamaliztli,
exchange ideas or values with the famous Aztec ball game, was played on
others they had relationships a tlachtli ball court. Patolli is actually a type
with? of board game, which was played by the
common people as well as the nobles. They
What was the agriculture like? invented aqueducts for their city and their
What food did they eat? How
crops.
did they grow it? What
relationships did the people The Aztecs had a passion for chocolate. The
have with their environment? Aztecs made popcorn and chewing gum. They
ate dogs, turkey, geese,duck,deer, and rabbits.
There swapping areas made a challenge so they
created chinampas to grow their crops. They

had gods about the food that they grew.

Ancient Aztec
Concept Map

The Inca

Where in the World…
Were the Inca Located?

What is the approximate latitude and
longitude of the center of the Inca
Empire?
13 degrees south and 72 degrees
west. Near the city of cusco peru.
Peru is bordered to the east by the
pacific ocean C are located obama
and ecuador are to the north. South
of peru is the country of Chile. Brazil
and Bolivia are located to the east.

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

The high altitude is going to make the
the temperatures cool during the day
and cold during the night. They had
a lot of rain during december-March.

How would this affect the way people
live in this area?
They might have to water their crops
more often. People would need to
dress for cooler temperatures. Grow
food such as corn, quinoa, and
potatoes that were adopted to the
higher elevation.

Map from ducksters.com

The Inca Government/
Social Structure

The Inca Government:

Inca Social Structure

Noble classes Sapa Inca is the Empire. He was their
emperor. The royal family is the next in the line for sapa
Inca. They are direct relatives of the sapa Inca. The vilic
uma was the highest priest. The Inca by privilege , They
were considered as nobles but not as high in class.

Public administers - The Curacas were the leaders from the tribes that were
conquered. They were often left as leaders of their tribes.They still had to
report to the Inca but if they remained loyal hey often kept their position.
Each group of families had a tax collector who kept watch over them. He
makes sure that they paid all of their taxes.

Commoners - Artisans were commoners, but were also considered a higher social class than
the farmers. At the bottom of the social class were the farmers. The farmers were also the
largest and the most important class within the Inca Empire.

The Ayllu - The ayllu was made up of a number of families that worked together almost like one large family. All
were part of a Ayllu.

Inca Religion,
Science, Roads,

Language

https://docs.google.com/documen
t/d/1CNO8ayYAix2Rt_U3OZwy6a
jSLHkf6jwKQDU11HRDJ6Y/edit?
usp=sharing

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? The government was monarchy led by the king
Did powerful relationships exist and high priest. The people believed they could
talk with the gods. The royal family for the sapa
between the people and their
leaders? Inca were given positions in the government.

How was their society set up? In addition to the noble class, there were also
What were the types of jobs public administers who held the jobs of tax
people had? Were the jobs people collectors and record keepers. The lowest class
did purposeful for the civilization? was called the commoners. They held jobs of
potters, craftsman, and farmers.

Describe their religion. Did the They also mummified their people to preserve
relationship the people had with them for the afterlife. The incas built many
their gods and religious leaders
temples to honor their gods. If the Incas didn’t
follow rules? follow the rules they believed that they would

be punished.

What did the people invent, create, The incas built a complex system of roads and
or trade that allowed them to bridges that they used to facilitate trade
exchange ideas or values with throughout their civilization. They created
others they had relationships
with? stone building that were so strong that they
withstand earthquakes.

What was the agriculture like? Corn, squash, and beans were their primary
What food did they eat? How foods. In some places people ate ducks, fish,
peppers, and tomatoes. The people used the
did they grow it? What sun to bake adobe bricks that they used to build
relationships did the people
have with their environment? their homes.

Ancient Inca
Concept Map