Ancient Civilization

A Look at the

Mississippian, Maya,

Aztec and Inca

Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations
of the WBy: estern
HemBisyp:here

Jason Hinkle

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

What does A.D. stand Jesus’ birth.
for when looking at
Also used on the Gregorian calendar,
dates? AD stands for Anno Domini which is
Latin for “In the year of the Lord.”

What does B.C.E. stand Before Common Era...This is used to
for when looking at mark the same dates as BC.
dates?

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

dates?

What do c. and ca. These stand for the word “circa”
stand for when looking which means around or about. It is
used when we don’t know the exact
at dates?
date of something.

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

The mississippian culture is based on outdoor living. They
made mounds and shelter using the materials they could find.

Although they didn’t really use the shelter they still used it
sometimes. The typical jobs people had were farmers,

craftsman, fisherman, and hunters. Different people had a
different status based on their family that lived before them.
The different status that people were was: Suns/Leaders, The
Elites, and The Communers. One of the most famous mounds

they built was called The Great Serpent Mound. The great
serpent mound looks like a snake with some kind of eggshell

for the eye. They made it because of their religion. They
worshipped the sun and serpents. Their religion centered
around a temple. Human sacrifice and ritual suicide was
practiced as a result of a chiefs death so they may accompany
him in afterlife. They traded their artifacts with people from the
Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico for iron to make swords. The
Great Serpent Mound also shows the seasons. Some of the
artifacts they made were effigy heads, iconography, and people.

This is how the Mississippian people lived their life.

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 relative and approximate absolute location of the center of the South Appalachian
Mississippian culture? Absolute: 32 North, 83 West relative: North of Florida, West of the
Atlantic Ocean, South of Tennessee.
What might the climate be like in this location based on the latitude and longitude?
Humid subtropical, long hot summer, mild winter
How would this affect the way people live in this area? Mississippians would have needed
shelter from sun, less hunting, more agriculture.

Brainpop Video

The Mississippian
Social Structure

Chief:
Led the tribe, as the leader and
had there own mound to live in.
Were thought to have
supernatural abilities.

Elites:
Believed to be Descendants from gods. They did not have
jobs, but instead had larger and special clothing.

Commoners:
They were lowest in rank and were the laborers and warriors.
They grew food and made crafts.

Settlements:
They settled on the banks of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Their settlement was built around a central plaza and had two
mounds and houses in orderly rows. They grew crops and small
gardens because they were close to rivers.

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 Serpent Mound is Archeologist believe that it is
1,300 feet long and it is shaped like that because they
very green. are religious and, they might
be astronomist.

The people who created The people who built Danielle Knight GO Interactive, 2015
the mound were Adeana the mound were
people. thought to be religious
and astronomist.

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

between the people and their believed the leaders had connections
leaders? to the gods.

How was their society set up? There were four different social classes:The
What were the types of jobs Suns/Leaders, The Elites, and The Commoners.
people had? Were the jobs people
did purposeful for the civilization? People were farmers, craftsman, fisherman, and
hunters.

Describe their religion. Did the The Mississippians worshipped the sun and
relationship the people had with serpents their religion centered around a
their gods and religious leaders temple. Human sacrifice and ritual suicide
was practiced as a result of a chiefs death so
follow rules?
they may accompany him in afterlife.

What did the people invent, create, They crafted beautiful art for their
or trade that allowed them to ceremonies. Wood panels were used
exchange ideas or values with to make designs on clay. They traded
others they had relationships with people from the Gulf of Mexico
with?
and Great Lakes region.
What was the agriculture like?
What food did they eat? How They grew much of their food in
small gardens using simple tools.
did they grow it? What Corn, beans, squash and other plants
relationships did the people and animals were collected to eat.
have with their environment? They took care of the environment

Ancient Mississippians
Concept Map

The Aztec

Where in the World…
Were the Aztec Located?

Map from ducksters.com What is the relative and approximate
absolute location of the center of the
Aztec Empire?

23.6345 degrees N, 102.5528
degrees W

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

Very hot and dry summers and wet
and mild winters.

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

If it is hot and dry summers it will be
easier to hunt bu it will be harder in
the winter it won’t.

Brainpop Video

Aztec
Society

The Aztec Family and King/ City-States:Altepi, and
Calpulli:The Aztecs Emperor: Tenochtitlan were the
Montezuma ll Aztec cities and states.
families live in Calpulli,
known as “Big House.”

Tecuhtli:Rulers of
city-states and were
very wealthy and lived
in large houses.

Pipiltin:They were only aloud Social Classes
to wear certain clothes.

Pochteca: Travelers that brought back
goods for the Aztecs.

Macehualtin: They were mostly farmers, warriors
and craftsman.

Slaves:They had to buy their freedom and their children
were not slaves in their life though.

Art and Religion
of the Aztec

The aztec religion was very balanced and very sacrificial. They believe
that the gods sacrificed their lives to make the earth. The Aztecs held
rituals so the gods the gods felt like they were respected and did
something good.

Their art shows creativity.

Aztec Writing and Technology

The Aztecs Aztec Inca One of the Aztecs
spoke Nahuatl Language calendars tracked
which is still Aztec days in the year.
spoken in and Calendar They had 365
Mexico. The Writing days and a total
Aztecs used of 18 months
pictures to with a leftover of
write. 5 days.

↑

The Aztecs were creative and
there was a lot of death for the
Aztecs.

The Aztecs grew Aztec Aztec Aztec people
maize, beans, and Agriculture Aqueducts grew huge
squash. They built Aqueducts
man made artificial because the
islands called believed they
chinampas that should bathe
were used to grow every day.
crops.

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 government was rich because
Did powerful relationships exist they made people pay tribute with
money. The relationships between
between the people and their the people and their leaders were
leaders?
very scarce.
How was their society set up?
What were the types of jobs Their society was set up by their
people had? Were the jobs people family. The types of jobs they had
did purposeful for the civilization? were farmers, craftsman, or warriors.
They were helpful because they had a
Describe their religion. Did the
relationship the people had with purpose for their life type.
their gods and religious leaders
The Aztecs were very warful and
follow rules? sacrificial. They believed in gods and they
thanked them for the earth that they think
was theirs. So they sacrificed themselves

to tell the gods they were grateful.

What did the people invent, create, They traded goods such as pottery,
or trade that allowed them to art, and crops to show their lifestyle.
exchange ideas or values with
others they had relationships
with?

What was the agriculture like? The Aztecs grew maize, beans, and
What food did they eat? How squash. They built man-made

did they grow it? What artificial islands called chinampas
relationships did the people that were used to grow crops.
have with their environment?

Ancient Aztec
Concept Map

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

What does A.D. stand Jesus’ birth.
for when looking at
Also used on the Gregorian calendar,
dates? AD stands for Anno Domini which is
Latin for “In the year of the Lord.”

What does B.C.E. stand Before Common Era...This is used to
for when looking at mark the same dates as BC.
dates?

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

dates?

What do c. and ca. These stand for the word “circa”
stand for when looking which means around or about. It is
used when we don’t know the exact
at dates?
date of something.

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

The mississippian culture is based on outdoor living. They
made mounds and shelter using the materials they could find.

Although they didn’t really use the shelter they still used it
sometimes. The typical jobs people had were farmers,

craftsman, fisherman, and hunters. Different people had a
different status based on their family that lived before them.
The different status that people were was: Suns/Leaders, The
Elites, and The Communers. One of the most famous mounds

they built was called The Great Serpent Mound. The great
serpent mound looks like a snake with some kind of eggshell

for the eye. They made it because of their religion. They
worshipped the sun and serpents. Their religion centered
around a temple. Human sacrifice and ritual suicide was
practiced as a result of a chiefs death so they may accompany
him in afterlife. They traded their artifacts with people from the
Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico for iron to make swords. The
Great Serpent Mound also shows the seasons. Some of the
artifacts they made were effigy heads, iconography, and people.

This is how the Mississippian people lived their life.

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 relative and approximate absolute location of the center of the South Appalachian
Mississippian culture? Absolute: 32 North, 83 West relative: North of Florida, West of the
Atlantic Ocean, South of Tennessee.
What might the climate be like in this location based on the latitude and longitude?
Humid subtropical, long hot summer, mild winter
How would this affect the way people live in this area? Mississippians would have needed
shelter from sun, less hunting, more agriculture.

Brainpop Video

The Mississippian
Social Structure

Chief:
Led the tribe, as the leader and
had there own mound to live in.
Were thought to have
supernatural abilities.

Elites:
Believed to be Descendants from gods. They did not have
jobs, but instead had larger and special clothing.

Commoners:
They were lowest in rank and were the laborers and warriors.
They grew food and made crafts.

Settlements:
They settled on the banks of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
Their settlement was built around a central plaza and had two
mounds and houses in orderly rows. They grew crops and small
gardens because they were close to rivers.

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 Serpent Mound is Archeologist believe that it is
1,300 feet long and it is shaped like that because they
very green. are religious and, they might
be astronomist.

The people who created The people who built Danielle Knight GO Interactive, 2015
the mound were Adeana the mound were
people. thought to be religious
and astronomist.

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

between the people and their believed the leaders had connections
leaders? to the gods.

How was their society set up? There were four different social classes:The
What were the types of jobs Suns/Leaders, The Elites, and The Commoners.
people had? Were the jobs people
did purposeful for the civilization? People were farmers, craftsman, fisherman, and
hunters.

Describe their religion. Did the The Mississippians worshipped the sun and
relationship the people had with serpents their religion centered around a
their gods and religious leaders temple. Human sacrifice and ritual suicide
was practiced as a result of a chiefs death so
follow rules?
they may accompany him in afterlife.

What did the people invent, create, They crafted beautiful art for their
or trade that allowed them to ceremonies. Wood panels were used
exchange ideas or values with to make designs on clay. They traded
others they had relationships with people from the Gulf of Mexico
with?
and Great Lakes region.
What was the agriculture like?
What food did they eat? How They grew much of their food in
small gardens using simple tools.
did they grow it? What Corn, beans, squash and other plants
relationships did the people and animals were collected to eat.
have with their environment? They took care of the environment

Ancient Mississippians
Concept Map

The Aztec

Where in the World…
Were the Aztec Located?

Map from ducksters.com What is the relative and approximate
absolute location of the center of the
Aztec Empire?

23.6345 degrees N, 102.5528
degrees W

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

Very hot and dry summers and wet
and mild winters.

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

If it is hot and dry summers it will be
easier to hunt bu it will be harder in
the winter it won’t.

Brainpop Video

Aztec
Society

The Aztec Family and King/ City-States:Altepi, and
Calpulli:The Aztecs Emperor: Tenochtitlan were the
Montezuma ll Aztec cities and states.
families live in Calpulli,
known as “Big House.”

Tecuhtli:Rulers of
city-states and were
very wealthy and lived
in large houses.

Pipiltin:They were only aloud Social Classes
to wear certain clothes.

Pochteca: Travelers that brought back
goods for the Aztecs.

Macehualtin: They were mostly farmers, warriors
and craftsman.

Slaves:They had to buy their freedom and their children
were not slaves in their life though.

Art and Religion
of the Aztec

The aztec religion was very balanced and very sacrificial. They believe
that the gods sacrificed their lives to make the earth. The Aztecs held
rituals so the gods the gods felt like they were respected and did
something good.

Their art shows creativity.

Aztec Writing and Technology

The Aztecs Aztec Inca One of the Aztecs
spoke Nahuatl Language calendars tracked
which is still Aztec days in the year.
spoken in and Calendar They had 365
Mexico. The Writing days and a total
Aztecs used of 18 months
pictures to with a leftover of
write. 5 days.

↑

The Aztecs were creative and
there was a lot of death for the
Aztecs.

The Aztecs grew Aztec Aztec Aztec people
maize, beans, and Agriculture Aqueducts grew huge
squash. They built Aqueducts
man made artificial because the
islands called believed they
chinampas that should bathe
were used to grow every day.
crops.

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 government was rich because
Did powerful relationships exist they made people pay tribute with
money. The relationships between
between the people and their the people and their leaders were
leaders?
very scarce.
How was their society set up?
What were the types of jobs Their society was set up by their
people had? Were the jobs people family. The types of jobs they had
did purposeful for the civilization? were farmers, craftsman, or warriors.
They were helpful because they had a
Describe their religion. Did the
relationship the people had with purpose for their life type.
their gods and religious leaders
The Aztecs were very warful and
follow rules? sacrificial. They believed in gods and they
thanked them for the earth that they think
was theirs. So they sacrificed themselves

to tell the gods they were grateful.

What did the people invent, create, They traded goods such as pottery,
or trade that allowed them to art, and crops to show their lifestyle.
exchange ideas or values with
others they had relationships
with?

What was the agriculture like? The Aztecs grew maize, beans, and
What food did they eat? How squash. They built man-made

did they grow it? What artificial islands called chinampas
relationships did the people that were used to grow crops.
have with their environment?

Ancient Aztec
Concept Map