UNIDAD EDUCATIVA PARTICULAR “SAN JOSÉ DE CALASANZ”

Name:………………………………………………………………… Date: ……….…………………………….

Grade: 1ro bachillerato Subject: History and Social Sciences

PART I: IMPORTANCE OF THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

American Cultures
Several cultures flourished in Central and South America from about 300 A.D. in the
modern-day nations of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua,
and Costa Rica. Of the many early civilizations first living in this area, the Mayans,
Aztecs, and Incas are the best known and offer a broad understanding of early life in
these areas.
Aztecs
The Aztec Empire was located in central Mexico. It ruled much of the region from the
1400s until the Spanish arrived in 1519. Much of the Aztec society centered ontheir
religion and gods. They built large pyramids as temples to their gods and went to war
to capture people they could sacrifice to their gods. Tenochtitlan, the great Aztec
capital, housed the Great Pyramid, a four-stepped structure some 60 meters high. At
its top, two shrines honored Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of sun and war, and Tlaloc,
god of rain and fertility. At the height of its power, the city likely had a population of
200,000 people. Around 1517 the priests of the Aztecs began to see omens of doom.
They felt that something bad was going to happen. They were right. In 1519 Spanish
conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico. By 1521 the Spanish had conquered
the Aztecs. They tore down much of the city of Tenochtitlan and built their own city
on the site called Mexico City.
Daily life
Life for the typical person living in the Aztec Empire was hard work. As in many
ancient societies the rich were able to live luxurious lives, but the common people
had to work very hard.
Family Life
The family structure was important to the Aztecs. The
husband generally worked on a job outside of the home as
a farmer, warrior, or craftsman. The wife worked at home
cooking food for the family and weaving cloth for the
family's clothes. Kids attended schools or worked to help out around the house.
What type of homes did they live in?
Wealthy people lived in homes made of stone or sun-dried brick. The king of the
Aztecs lived in a large palace with many rooms and gardens. All of the wealthy had a
separate bathing room that was similar to a sauna or steam room. Bathing was an
important part of the Aztec daily life. Poor people lived in smaller one or two room
huts that had thatched roofs made from palm leaves. They had gardens near their
homes where they would grow vegetables and flowers.
What did the Aztecs wear for clothes?
The Aztec men wore loincloths and long capes. The women wore long skirts and
blouses. Poor people generally wove their own cloth and made their own clothing. It
was the responsibility of the wife to make the clothes. There were rules in Aztec
society regarding clothing. These included detailed laws specifying what clothing
decorations and color different classes of people could wear. For example, only
nobles could wear clothing decorated with feathers and only the emperor could wear
a turquoise colored cloak.
What did they eat?
The main staple of the Aztec diet was maize (similar to corn). They ground the maize
into flour to make tortillas. Other important staples were beans and squash. Besides
these three main staples the Aztecs ate a variety of foods including insects, fish,
honey, dogs, and snakes. Perhaps the most valued food was the cocoa bean used to
make chocolate.
Marriage
Most Aztec men got married around the age of 20. They typically did not choose their
wives. Weddings were arranged by matchmakers. Once the matchmaker chose two
people to be married, the families would both need to agree.
Empire
The Aztec Empire was made up of city-states.
At the center of each city-state was a large city
that ruled the area. For the most part, the
Aztec Emperor did not interfere with the ruling
of the city-states. What he required was that
each city-state paid him a tribute. As long as
the tribute was paid, the city-state remained
somewhat independent of Aztec rule.
The Emperor or Huey Tlatoani
The Aztec government was similar to a monarchy where an Emperor or King was the
primary ruler. They called their ruler the Huey Tlatoani. The Huey Tlatoani was the
ultimate power in the land. They felt that he was appointed by the gods and had the
divine right to rule. He decided when to go to war and what tribute the lands he
ruled would pay the Aztecs. When an emperor died, the new emperor was chosen by
a group of high ranking nobles. Usually the new emperor was a relative of the
previous emperor, but it wasn't always his son.
Law
The Aztecs had a fairly sophisticated code of law. There were numerous laws
including laws against stealing, murder, drunkenness, and property damage. A
system of courts and judges determined guilt and punishments. They had different
levels of courts all the way up to a supreme court. Citizens could appeal rulings to a
higher court if they did not agree with the judge. One interesting part of the law was
the "one time forgiveness law". Under this law, a citizen could confess a crime to a
priest and they would be forgiven. This only worked if they confessed the crime prior
to being caught. It also could only be used once.
Art
Music
The Aztecs also enjoyed music. They played various instruments
such as flutes, shells, whistles, and drums. They played their music
for the gods and used it to make requests such as asking the gods
for rain or for the harvest to be good. An Aztec musician
Sculpture
The Aztec carved a lot of sculpture from stone of all types. They
carved small items as well as huge statues of their gods that were
placed in public areas and the temples. A lot of their sculpture
had similar features. Male statues were usually shown sitting with
their knees up and their arms crossed. Female statues were
generally shown kneeling with their hands on their knees.
Pottery
The Aztecs took pride in creating a variety of beautiful pottery. Other nations from
around the lands often traded for the prized Aztec pottery. They made everything
from small simple bowls to tall jars that were heavily decorated and painted.
Feather-work
Perhaps the most prized art during the time of the Aztecs was feather-work. Using
this art form, artisans wove brightly colored feathers together to make beautiful
cloaks and headdresses. Only the nobility and wealthy were allowed to wear them.
Jewelry
The Aztecs also made a variety of jewelry. Jewelers used different materials including
gold, silver, copper, jade, and obsidian. Jewelry made from precious stones and
metals was generally reserved for the nobility.
Religion
The Sun
One of the most important aspects of Aztec religion was the sun. The Aztecs called
themselves the "People of the Sun". They felt that in order for the sun to rise each
day the Aztecs needed to perform rituals and sacrifices to give the sun strength.
Main Gods
 The god Huitzilopochtli Huitzilopochtli - The most fearsome and powerful of
the Aztec gods, Huitzilopochtli was the god of war, the sun, and sacrifice.
 Tlaloc - Tlaloc was the god of rain and water.
  Quetzalcoatl - Quetzalcoatl was the god of life and wind.
 Tezcatlipoca - Tezcatlipoca was a powerful god associated with many things
including magic, the night, and the earth. He was a rival god to Quetzalcoatl.
 Chicomecoatl - Chicomecoatl was the Aztec goddess of agriculture,
nourishment, and corn. She was often drawn as a young girl carrying flowers or
a woman using the sun as a shield.
Aztec Language
The Aztecs spoke the language Nahuatl. It is still used to today in some parts of
Mexico. Some English words come from Nahuatl including coyote, avocado, chili, and
chocolate.
Aztec Writing
The Aztecs wrote using symbols called glyphs or pictographs.
They didn't have an alphabet, but used pictures to represent
events, items, or sounds. Only the priests knew how to read
and write. They would write on long sheets made of animal
skins or plant fibers. An Aztec book is called a codex.
Aztec Calendar
One of the most famous aspects of Aztec technology was their use of
calendars. The Aztecs used two calendars. One calendar was used
for tracking religious ceremonies and festivals. This calendar was
called the tonalpohualli which means "day count". The calendar had
260 days. Each day was represented by a combination of 21 day signs and thirteen
day signs. The other calendar was used to track time. This calendar was called the
Xiuhpohualli or "solar year". It had 365 days divided up into 18 months of 20 days
each. There were 5 days left over that were considered unlucky days. Every 52 years
the two calendars would start on the same day. The Aztecs were afraid that the
world would end on this day. They performed the New Fire Ceremony on this day.
Agriculture
The Aztecs used agriculture to grow food such as maize, beans, and squash. One
innovative technique they used in swampy areas was called the chinampa. A
chinampa was an artificial island that the Aztecs built up in the lake.
Aqueducts
A major part of Aztec culture was bathing at least once per day. At the capital city of
Tenochtitlan the Aztecs built two large aqueducts that carried fresh water from
springs located over two and a half miles away.
Medicine
The Aztecs believed that illness could come from natural causes as well as
supernatural causes (the gods). They used a wide variety of herbs to cure sickness.
One of the main cures doctors suggested was steam baths. They thought that by
sweating, the poisons making the person sick would leave their body.
 UNIDAD EDUCATIVA PARTICULAR “SAN JOSÉ DE CALASANZ”
Name:………………………………………………………………… Date: ……….…………………………….
Grade: 1ro bachillerato Subject: History and Social Sciences

PART I: AMERICAN CULTURES – AZTEC WORKSHEET #6-1

1. When and where did the Aztec Civilization take place ?

a. It took place between 1300 A.C. - 1521 A.C. in Mesoamerica.
b. It took place between 1900 A.C. - 1999 A.C. in South America.
c. It took place between 1500 A.C. - 1521 A.C. in Mesoamerica.
2. What was the capital of the Aztec empire?
a. Tenochtitlán
b. Machu Picchu
c. Tegucigalpa
d. Quito
3. Who was NOT an Aztec god?
a. Huitzilopochtli
b. Quetzalcoatl
c. Isis
4. How many calendar systems did the Aztecs use?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 10
d. 3
5. How did this empire fall?
a. English people conquered the empire in 1900.
b. Spanish people conquered the empire in 1521.
c. French people conquered the empire in 1600.
6. Who was NOT a leader of the Aztec Empire?
a. Itzcoatl
b. Montezuma
c. Cuauhtémoc
d. Pedro de Alvarado
7. What was the native language of the Aztecs?
________________________________________________________________
8. Which explorer captured Montezuma, the Aztec leader?
________________________________________________________________
9. The ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan were found under this present day
city.
a. Mexico City
 b. Cancun
c. Acapulco
d. Tijuana
10.How many moths did the Aztec calendar have?
a. 50 months
b. 30 months
c. 18 months
11.What is the name of the unique and interesting agricultural system of the
Aztec?
a. Pochtecas
b. Chinampas
c. Maguey
12.What did the Aztecs wear for clothes?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
13.What did the Aztecs eat?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

14.Why is it said that the Aztecs had a fairly sophisticated code of law?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK
Short essays:
 What obstacles did the Aztecs overcome in building their capital city?
Possible answers: The Aztecs built their capital on a swampy island in the middle
of a lake. It was hard to get to and from the city. Another problem was the lack of
good farmland.
 List and describe at least two of the art/cultural achievements of the Aztecs.
Possible answers: Architects and painters created fine stone pyramids. Artisans
made decorative jewelry, masks, and embroidered cloth. The Aztecs valued
learning and devised a calendar.
 How were a small number of Spanish soldiers able to destroy the Aztec
empire? Explain at least two reasons.
Possible answers: They made allies among the Aztecs' enemies, they had better
weapons, Aztecs were terrified of the Spanish horses, and the empire had been
greatly weakened by diseases that the Spanish had unknowingly brought.
Maya
The Maya civilization began as early as 2000
BC and continued to have a strong presence
in Mesoamerica for over 3000 years until the
Spanish arrived in 1519 B.C. The Maya were
located in Central America in a region that is
today made up of southern Mexico, the
Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and
northern El Salvador. They built hundreds of
cities filled with large stone structures. The
Maya are perhaps best known today for their
many pyramids. They built pyramids to their gods that towered hundreds of feet tall
above the jungle. The Maya were the only American civilization to develop an
advanced written language. They also excelled in mathematics, art, architecture, and
astronomy. The golden age of the Maya civilization occurred during what is called the
Classic Period from 250 B.C. to 900 B.C.
Daily Life
Life as a Maya Noble
The Maya king and his nobles lived an easy life. They had their every need provided
for by the commoners. They were even carried from place to place in litters by slaves.
Life as a Maya Commoner
Life as a Maya commoner was full of hard work. The typical peasant worked as a
farmer. At the start of the day, the wife would get up early and start a fire for
cooking. Then the husband would leave to go work at the fields. After a hard day
working at the fields, the farmer would come home and bathe. Bathing was an
important part of the day for all the Maya people. The men spent evenings working
on crafts such as tools, while the women wove cloth to make clothing.
What were their clothes like?
The clothing worn by the Maya depended on the region they lived in
and their social status. The wealthy wore colorful clothing made from
animal skins. They also wore feather headdresses and fancy jewelry.
Commoners wore simpler clothing. The men often wore loincloths
while the women wore long skirts. Both men and women would use a
blanket called a manta to wrap around their shoulders when it was cold.
What did the Maya eat?
The most important food that the Maya ate was maize. They made all types of food
from maize including tortillas, porridge, and even drinks. Other staple crops included
beans, squash, and chilies. For meat the Maya ate fish, deer, ducks, and turkey. The
Maya considered chocolate to be a gift from the gods and used cacao seeds as
money. Other foods included tomatoes, sweet potatoes, black beans, and papaya.
What were their homes like?
The nobles and kings lived inside the city in large palaces made from stone. The
commoners lived in huts outside the city near their farms. The huts were usually
made from mud, but were sometimes made from stone. They were single room
homes with thatched roofs.
City-states
The Maya civilization consisted of a large number of city-states. Each city-state had
its own independent government. A city-state was made up of a major city and the
surrounding areas which sometimes included some smaller settlements and cities.
Laws
Crimes such as murder, arson, and acts against the gods were often punished with
death. The punishment was much reduced, however, if it was determined that the
crime was an accident. If you broke a law you appeared in court where the local
leaders or nobles served as judge. In some cases the king would serve as judge. At
the trial the judge would review evidence and listen to witnesses. If the person was
found guilty, the punishment was carried out immediately. The Maya did not have
prisons. Punishment for crimes included death, slavery, and fines. Sometimes they
would shave the person's head as this was considered a sign of shame.
Maya Gods
The Maya believed in a large number of nature gods. Some gods were considered
more important and powerful than others.
 Itzamna - The most important Maya god was Itzamna. Itzamna was the god of
fire who created the Earth. He was ruler of heaven as well as day and night.
 Kukulcan - Kukulkan was a powerful snake god whose name means "feathered
serpent". He was the primary god of the Itza people in the latter part of the
Maya civilization. He is often drawn to look like a dragon.
 BolonTzacab - Also known by the name Huracan (similar to our word for
hurricane), BolonTzacab was the god of storms, wind, and fire.
 Chaac - Chaac was the god of rain and lightning. He had a lighting axe that he
used to strike the clouds and produce rain and storms.
Afterlife
The Maya believed in a scary afterlife where most people had to travel through a
dark underworld where mean gods would torment them. The only people who
started out the afterlife in heaven were women who died in childbirth and people
who had been sacrificed to the gods.
Maya Calendar
The ancient Maya were accomplished observers of the sky. Using their knowledge of
astronomy and mathematics, the ancient Maya developed one of the most accurate
calendar systems in human history. The ancient Maya had a fascination with cycles of
time. The most commonly known Maya cyclical calendars are the Haab, the Tzolk’in,
and the Calendar Round. Aside from these, the Maya also developed the Long Count
calendar to chronologically date mythical and historical events. The 13 baktun cycle
of the Maya Long Count calendar measures 1,872,000 days or 5,125.366 tropical
years. This is one of the longest cycles found in the Maya calendar system. This cycle
ends on the winter solstice, December 21, 2012.
Pyramids
The Maya are perhaps most known for their many
majestic pyramids. They made temple-pyramids the
glorious centers of their great stone cities. They built
two kinds of pyramids. Both types of pyramids were
similar in many ways. They each had the familiar
pyramid shape and steep steps up the side that would
allow someone to climb to the top. They each were built for religious purposes and
for the gods. However, they had their differences as well. The first type of pyramid
had a temple on the top and was meant to be climbed by the priests to make
sacrifices to the gods. The most important religious ceremonies were held at the top
of these pyramids. The second type of pyramid was a sacred pyramid built to a god.
These pyramids were not to be climbed or touched by humans. These pyramids were
sometimes built with secret doors, tunnels, and traps.
Art
Sculpture
The Maya are perhaps most famous for their work in stone. They
made a lot of sculptures out of stone. One popular type of Maya
sculpture was the stela. A stela was a large tall stone slab covered
with carvings and writing. Stela were often located near altars.
Carving
The Maya also created detailed carvings in other materials such as wood and jade.
Painting
The Maya painted murals on the walls of their buildings including their houses,
temples, and public buildings. The subjects of the murals varied widely including
scenes from daily life, mythology, battles, and religious ceremonies.
Ceramics
Maya ceramics are an important art form. The Maya created their pottery without
the use of a potter's wheel. They decorated their pottery with elaborate designs and
scenes.
Writing
Maya art can also be viewed in their books or codices. These books are made from
long folded sheets of leather or bark paper. The writing uses a number of symbols
and pictures.
Maya Culture – Facts
 This area included highland and lowland settlements and a variety of climate
zones. Crops grown in the lowlands were traded for mineral ores and rocks
from the mountainous areas.
 Although the Mayans had metal-working skills, metal ores were scarce.
Mayans used stone tools to carve the limestone that they used for their
buildings.
 The Mayans did not use wheels or pulleys for their building projects.They did
not have draught animals capable of heavy labor. Building materials were
transported by human porters or canoes.
 Mayan religion was extremely bloodthirsty, demanding human sacrifices and
blood-letting rituals. The Mayans believed in an afterlife and that those who
were sacrificed, as well as those killed in war and women who died in
childbirth, went to ‘the place of misty sky’.
 Mayan society was formed of a number of city states each with their own
ruler. Each city was surrounded by rural settlements.
 At the top of Mayan society was the King and Royal family who were believed
to be closely linked to the gods. An educated elite of scribes, priests and nobles
formed the ruling class. They occupied the finest buildings in the city.
 The Mayans were sophisticated mathematicians who made use of the number
zero. They used base 20 in their calculations. They were keen astronomers who
were able to predict solar eclipses. Their complex calendar system was one of
the most accurate of the ancient world.
 No one knows for sure why the Mayan civilization went into decline. Possible
explanations involve the overuse and exhaustion of farming land, prolonged
drought, misrule, warfare and disease.
 UNIDAD EDUCATIVA PARTICULAR “SAN JOSÉ DE CALASANZ”
Name:………………………………………………………………… Date: ……….…………………………….
Grade: 1ro bachillerato Subject: History and Social Sciences

PART I: AMERICAN CULTURES - MAYA WORKSHEET #6-2

1. The Maya were located in Central America in a region that is today made up of
southern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and ________.
a. Ecuador
b. Peru
c. El Salvador
2. How was the Ancient Mayan daily life?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. What kind of clothes do Mayans wear?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. Complete:
The most important food that the Maya ate was ______. They made all types
of food from ________ including ________, ________, and ________. Other
staple crops included ________, ________, and ________. For meat the Maya
ate ________, ________, ________, and ________. The Maya considered
________ to be a gift from the gods and used ________ seeds as money. Other
foods included ________, ________, ________, and ________.

5. What is a City-State?Was it dependent or independent?

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. What are the most commonly known Maya cyclical calendars and how they
developed them?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. According to the Mayan Calendar what was meant to happen on December
21, 2012?
a. The end of the world
b. The end of a cycle
c. The Dallas Cowboys would win the Superbowl
 8. Mayans made two kinds of pyramids. Describe them.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
9. What is a stella?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
10.The Maya painted ___________ on the ___________________________
including their ___________, ___________, and ______________________.
The subjects of the murals varied widely including scenes from:
_______________________________________________________.
11.Describe the Mayan pottery:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12.Maya art can also be viewed in their ___________ or ___________. These
books are made from ______________________ or ___________.The writing
uses a number of ______________________.

HOMEWORK
 Give at least two reasons the Maya prospered as a civilization.
 Explain possible reasons for the decline of the Mayan empire.
Inca
The Inca Empire was centered in Peru and ruled over much
of the west coast of South America, a 2500 mile (4000km)
territory along the Andes Mountains, from the 1400s to the
time of the Spanish arrival in 1532. This wide ranging
empire did not have the wheel, iron tools, or a writing
system, but its complex government and system of roads
created a society where everyone had a job, a home, and
something to eat. The emperor of the Inca was known as
the Sapa Inca. The first Sapa Inca was Manco Capac. He
founded the Kingdom of Cuzco around 1200 B.C. The city
of Cuzco would remain the capital of the empire as it expanded in the coming years.
The Inca expanded into a great empire under the reign of Pachacuti. He created the
Inca Empire which the Inca called the Tawantinsuyu. At its height, the Inca Empire
had an estimated population of over 10 million people. The Inca were conquered by
the Spanish and conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1533. The empire was already
severely weakened by civil war and diseases such as smallpox when Pizarro arrived.
Daily Life
The Ayllu
One of the most important aspects of the Inca daily life was the ayllu. The ayllu was a
group of families that worked a portion of land together. They shared most of their
belongings with each other just like a larger family. Once a person was born into an
ayllu, they remained part of that ayllu their entire life. Land was assigned by the
government to each ayllu based on the number of people in the group.
Daily Life of a Peasant
The daily life of a peasant in the Inca Empire was full of hard work. The only time
peasants were allowed not to work was during religious festivals. Most of the
peasant men worked as farmers. They didn't own their own farms, but worked land
owned by the government. The women worked hard at the home during the day.
They cooked, made clothes, and took care of the children.
Daily Life of a Noble
The Inca nobles lived a much easier lifestyle. They still had to work, but had
important jobs in the government. They could own land and didn't have to pay taxes.
What type of clothes did they wear?
The men wore long sleeveless shirts or tunics. The women wore long dresses. Both
men and women would wear capes or ponchos to keep them warm during the
winter. The peasants and the nobles wore similar fashions. Of course the clothing of
the rich was made from finer cloth and was more decorated.
Hairstyles were an important part of Inca fashion. The type of hairstyle you wore told
people your social status as well as what group, or ayllu, you were from.
In what kind of houses did they live?
Most of the people lived in adobe brick homes with thatched roofs. The homes were
mostly single story with one room. There was typically very little furniture in the
homes, just some baskets for storing things, thin mats to sleep on, and a stove.
What did they eat?
What people ate depended a lot on where they lived. Corn, squash, and beans were
the main staples of their diet, but they ate other things as well including tomatoes,
peppers, fish, and ducks. If someone couldn't work or was too old to work on the
fields, the government took care of them and made sure they had enough food.
Government
Dividing up the Empire
The Empire was divided up into quarters called "suyu". The four suyu were
ChinchaySuyu, Anti Suyu, QullaSuyu, and KuntiSuyu. At the center of the four
quarters was the capital city of Cuzco. Each suyu was then further divided into
provinces called "wamani". A lot of times each wamani was made up of a tribe that
had been conquered by the Inca. There were also smaller divisions within each
wamani. The smallest, and maybe the most important, division of government was
the ayllu.
Inca Taxes
In order to run the government, the Inca needed food and resources which they
acquired through taxes. The Inca had tax inspectors that watched over the people to
make sure that they paid all their taxes. There were two main taxes. The first tax was
a portion of the ayllu's crops. The crops were divided up three ways with the first
third going to the government, the second third to the priests, and the final third was
for the people. The second type of tax was called the mit'a. It was a labor tax that
each man between the ages of 16 and 60 had to pay by working for the government
for a portion of the year. They worked various jobs such as laborers on government
buildings and roads, mining for gold, or even as warriors in the army.
Laws and Punishment
The laws were made by the Sapa Inca and passed down to the people through the tax
collectors. Murder, stealing, cheating on taxes, and cursing the gods was all against
the law. However, there wasn't a lot of crime in the Inca Empire, mostly because the
punishments were very harsh. For example, people were often executed for cursing
the gods. If they were caught stealing, they would have their hands cut off.
Inca Gods and Goddesses
 Inti - Inti was the most important of the gods to the Inca. He
was the god of the sun. The emperor, or Inca Sapa, was said to
be a descendent of Inti. Inti was married to the Goddess of the
Moon, Mama Quilla.
  Mama Quilla - Mama Quilla was the goddess of the Moon. She was also the
goddess of marriage and the defender of women.
 Pachamama - Pachamama was the goddess of Earth or "Mother Earth". She
was responsible for farming and the harvest.
 Viracocha - Viracocha was the first god who created the Earth, the sky, the
other gods, and humans.
 Supay - Supay was the god of death and ruler of the Inca underworld called the
UcaPacha. Inca god Viracocha
Inca Temples
The Inca built many beautiful temples to their gods. The most important temple
was the Coricancha built in the heart of the city of Cuzco to the sun god, Inti. The
walls and floors were covered with sheets of gold. There were also gold statues and
a huge gold disc that represented Inti. Corichancha means "Golden Temple".
The Inca Afterlife
The Inca believed strongly in an afterlife. They took great care in embalming and
mummifying the bodies of the dead before burial. They brought gifts to the dead
that they thought the dead could use in the afterlife.
What were Huacas?
Huacas were sacred places or objects to the Inca. A huaca could be manmade or
natural such as a rock, a statue, a cave, waterfall, mountain, or even a dead body.
The Inca prayed and offered sacrifices to their huacas believing that they were
inhabited by spirits that could help them. The most sacred huacas in the Inca Empire
were the mummies of the dead emperors.
Roads and Communication
The Incas built a large system of roads that went throughout their
empire. The Inca's engineering of roadways and agricultural
terraces in mountainous terrain was one key to the expansion of
the empire. The roads were usually paved with stone. They also built bridges where
the roads needed to cross rivers. The main purpose for the roads was for
communication, moving army troops, and to transport goods. Communication was
accomplished by runners on the roads. Fast young men called "chaskis" would run
from one relay station to the next. At each station they would pass the message on
to the next runner. Messages were either passed verbally or by using a quipu.
Messages traveled quickly this way at the rate of around 250 miles per day.
Quipus
A quipu was a series of strings with knots. The number of knots, the
size of the knots, and the distance between knots conveyed
meaning to the Inca, sort of like writing. Only specially trained
officials knew how to use quipus.
Calendar and Astronomy
The Inca used their calendar to mark religious festivals as well as the seasons so they
could plant their crops at the correct time of the year. They studied the sun and the
stars to calculate their calendar. The Inca calendar was made up of 12 months. Each
month had three weeks of ten days each. When the calendar and the sun got off
track, the Inca would add a day or two to bring them back into alignment.
Social
 Sapa Inca - The emperor or king was called the Sapa Inca. He was at the top of
the Inca social class and was considered a god in many ways.
 VillacUmu - The high priest was just behind the Sapa Inca in social status.
 Royal Family - The direct relatives of Sapa Inca were next in line. They received
high positions in the government. The primary wife of the emperor was the
queen called the coya.
 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 lived
lives of luxury and held the best positions in the Inca government.
 Inca-by-privilege - As the empire grew, the emperor needed more people he
could trust in high positions in the government. So a new class was created
called Inca-by-privilege.
 Public Administrators - Below the Inca or noble class was the class of public
administrators. These people ran the government at the low level.
 Curacas - The Curacas were the leaders from the tribes that were conquered.
They were often left as leaders of their tribes.
 Tax collectors - Each group of families, or ayllu, had a tax collector who kept
watch over them. He made sure that they paid all of their taxes.
 Record keepers - In order to track who had paid their taxes and where the
supplies were stored, there were many record keepers in the government.
 Commoners Artisans - Artisans were commoners, but were also considered a
higher social class than the farmers. They worked on crafts such as pottery or
gold jewelry for the nobles.
 Farmers - At the bottom of the social class were the farmers. The Inca Empire
relied on the production of the farmers for its wealth and success.
Pyramids &Machu Picchu
Some 80 years before the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in the
Andes, the Inca ruler PachacutiYupanqui (A.D. 1438 to 1471) began the construction
of a great temple-pyramid, Sascahuamán, in the capital city of Cuzco. It took 20,000
workers 50 years to build the pyramid, constructed from huge stones fitted together
without mortar. They used the same building techniques to construct their
marvelous stone city, Machu Picchu, high in the Andes.
Machu Picchu was a city of the Inca Empire. It is sometimes called the "lost city"
because the Spanish never discovered the city when they conquered the Inca in the
1500s. Today the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was voted one of the New
Seven Wonders of the World.
UNIDAD EDUCATIVA PARTICULAR “SAN JOSÉ DE CALASANZ”
Name:………………………………………………………………… Date: ……….…………………………….
Grade: 1ro bachillerato Subject: History and Social Sciences

PART I: AMERICAN CULTURES - INCAWORKSHEET #6-3

1. What were the Incan gods linked to?

 Inti - __________________________________________
 Mama Quilla- __________________________________________
 Pachamama – __________________________________________
 Viracocha - __________________________________________
 Supay - __________________________________________

2. What were the "chaskis"?

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3. Did Incans write and keep records?
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4. What is the name of the greatest temple-pyramid of the Inca Empire? Describe
it.
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5. The Incas had many social classes. Name them and describe them briefly.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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6. Describe the two main Inca taxes.
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 ________________________________________________________________
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7. What did they wear?
________________________________________________________________
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8. What is a quipu?
a. A measuring device
b. A necklace
c. A recording device
9. The Empire was divided up into ________ called "________":
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10.What was the “ayllu”?
________________________________________________________________
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11.Why Machu Picchu is called the “lost city”?
________________________________________________________________
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12.The Inca calendar was made up of ________ months. Each month had
________ weeks of ________ days each. When the calendar and the sun got
off track, the Inca would ___________________________________________.
13.What was the main purpose for the roads?
________________________________________________________________
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14.What were Huacas?
________________________________________________________________
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HOMEWORK
You have read information about the Maya, Aztecs, and Inca. Write an informative
essay that discusses why these societies were influential in both the past and the
present.