Mesoamerican Civilizations

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Mesoamerica

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Region that stretches from Southern Mexico to Central America. Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs all lived in this region.

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Olmecs

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First civilization in Mesoamerica. Known as the 'mother culture' because of their cultural influence on the region.

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Three Sisters

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Main Mesoamerican highlands crop - squash, corn, and beans all grown together.

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Slash and Burn Farming

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Cutting down trees to clear land for farming. Mayans did this because of their lowlands, jungle environment.

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Glyphs

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The Mayans writing system, symbolic pictures.

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Tenochtitlan

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Aztec capital city, an island in the middle of a swampy lake.

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Chinampas

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Artificial or floating gardens. Vital to Aztecs farming in Tenochtitlan, the swampy lake.

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Hernan Cortes

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Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs.

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Terrace Farming

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Cutting steps into the mountains and farming on the flat tops. Incas had to farm this way because of the rugged environment of the Andes Mountains.

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Machu Picchu

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Inca 'city in the sky', Prime example of Inca Engineering Achievements.