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Fun Trivia: L : Latin America

Special Sub-Topic: Pre-Columbian Civilizations


This civilization used chinampas for growing.

    Aztecs. Because of the large population on the small island of Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs used chinampas, or floating gardens, to grow corn, squash, and beans. They made these by piling soil on top of reed mats that were anchored to the bed of Lake Texcoco. They were not just able to grow in otherwise unusable land, but this made the soil more fertile.

Agriculture was a primary economic activity that allowed this civilization to grow.
    All of these (Aztecs, Incas, Mayas). Agriculture was important in all of the Mesoamerican civilizations. Many methods were employed to make farming cheaper, easier, and more efficient.

In this civilization, rule was not centralized. Instead, the land was divided into city-states, each with a separate leader.
    Mayas. It was the Mayas that were divided into city-states, each with its own ruling chief and social hierarchy. However, this is seen by many historians as a theory as to why they mysteriously disappeared before European countries arrived. Civil war may have destroyed the Mayas, but this is just one of many theories: others include invasion, famine and disease.

This civilization conquered a large area of over 2,500 miles on the Pacific coast of South America in the Andes Mountains
    Incas. The Andes Mountains had a great impact on their development. Many steps were taken to unite the geographically separated empire. For example, the Incas built a large system of roads throught the empire. A special method called terrace farming was used. Stone walls were built to level out land in the mountainous region. Where flat land was scarce, they made their own.

This civilization built large "pyramid temples", in many ways similar to the great pyramids of the Egyptians.
    Mayas and Aztecs. Another example of great architecture in Mayan cities was large palaces with elaborate paintings and carvings on the walls to depict scenes in Mayan history. Historians are studying these scenes to learn more about the Mayas. The Aztecs had a great pyramid in the middle of Tenochtitlan where sacrifices were performed.

Incan government kept records by a system of knotted strings. What were these called?
    Quipus. Historians believe that quipus were used to record dates and events as well as population and crop statistics. Cuzco is the Incan capital. Quecua was the Incan language. Chinampas were the Aztecs' floating gardens mentioned previously.

What did the Aztecs believe that it was their duty to feed to the gods?
    Blood. The Aztecs not just practised human sacrifice, but did so on a large scale. Millions were killed to benefit the gods, and guarantee favorable conditions for the Aztecs. The main victims were captured ememy soldiers.

Even though the Mayan civilization does not exist today, millions of people in southern Mexico today speak Mayan languages.
    t. Actually, more people are found today from a Mayan descent than from Aztec and Incan descent. This is because while the Aztecs and Incas were conquered by the Europeans, destroyed by disease, and intermarried with the Europeans, the Mayans were scattered about the land already by the time the conquistadors arrived.

Which mathamatical concept was devised by the Mayas?
    The number zero. They also had an advanced 365-day calendar, a hieroglyphic writing system, and wrote books made of bark.

Who was the Spanish Conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire?
    Hernan Cortez & Cortez & Hernan Cortes & Cortes. Cortez tricked the Aztecs into thinking that he was a god. He then defeated the entire Aztec army with a few hundred men.


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