STATION ACTIVITY Geography of the Americas NAME: Directions: Using each station s text and maps, complete this graphic organizer. Olmec Mayans Aztecs Incas Where was this people group located? (include bodies of water, landforms, and climate) What is the present-day location of this ancient civilization? PER: How did this civilization adapt their geographical environment to meet their needs? What food sources did this civilization use in order to survive?
STATION 1 The Olmecs 1200 B.C. - 400 B.C. The mysterious Olmec civilization prospered [succeeded] in Mesoamerica from 1200BC to 400BC. The Olmecs are considered the first of all Mesoamerican cultures including the Maya and Aztecs. Centered in the Gulf of Mexico in presentday Mexico, their influence and trade activity spread from 1200BC, even reaching as far south as present-day Nicaragua in central America. The Olmecs used a code to record their gods and religious practices using symbols. These practices, including details of priesthood, sacrifice, cave rituals, offerings, and pyramids, were passed onto other civilizations in Mesoamerica until the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. The geography of the Olmec civilization allowed these people to prosper. They benefited from the fertile soil and well-watered coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico and planted many crops including corn and beans which provided a surplus of food. No doubt, the Olmecs probably also survived on the local supply of plant food, palm nuts, and sea-life, including turtles and clams. While we don t even know what the Olmecs called themselves ( Olmec was their Aztec name and means rubber people ) and we are not sure of their ethnic origins or the location of many of their settlements, the Olmecs did leave behind many clues about their culture so that we can learn about them today.
S T A T I O N 2 The Mayans 1 8 0 0 B. C. - 2 5 0 A. D. T h e M a y a c o n s i s t o f g r o u p s o f M e s o a m e r i c a n p e o p l e s w h o s p e a k v a r i o u s f o r m s o f t h e M a y a n l a n g u a g e. T h e i r c u l t u r e c a n b e t r a c e d a s f a r b a c k a s 2 0 0 0 B C. A r o u n d 1 5 0 0 B C, t h e M a y a b e g a n t o e s t a b l i s h v i l l a g e s i n t h e h i g h l a n d s a n d l o w l a n d s o f M e s o a m e r i c a. M o s t o f t h e i r h i g h l a n d v i l l a g e s w e r e l o c a t e d i n w h a t i s n o w s o u t h e r n G u a t e m a l a. T h i s m o u n t a i n o u s r e g i o n c o n t a i n e d m a n y m i n e r a l s. I n g e n e r a l, t h i s a r e a h a d a c o o l, d r y c l i m a t e. T h e l o w l a n d v i l l a g e s o f t h e M a y a w e r e l o c a t e d i n w h a t i s n o w n o r t h e r n G u a t e m a l a, B e l i z e, a n d t h e Y u c a t a n P e n i n s u l a i n s o u t h e r n M e x i c o. T h e Y u c a t a n l o w l a n d s t e n d e d t o b e h o t a n d d r y. H o t, h u m i d r a i n f o r e s t s c o v e r e d t h e l o w l a n d s f a r t h e r t o t h e s o u t h. T h i s a r e a h a d f e r t i l e s o i l t h a t w a s g o o d f o r f a r m i n g. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f M a y a n s o c i e t y w a s s i m i l a r t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e O l m e c s. A s f a r m i n g t h r i v e d i n t h e M a y a n h o m e l a n d s, t h e M a y a w e r e a b l e t o g r o w m o r e f o o d. W i t h m o r e f o o d, t h e M a y a b e c a m e h e a l t h i e r a n d t h e i r p o p u l a t i o n g r e w. I n t i m e, s o m e M a y a n f a r m i n g v i l l a g e s g r e w i n t o g r e a t c i t i e s.
S T A T I O N 3 The Aztecs 1 3 4 5 C. E. - 1 5 2 1 C. E. T h e A z t e c s w e r e n o m a d i c h u n t e r - g a t h e r e r s w h o l i v e d i n w h a t i s n o w t h e n o r t h w e s t d e s e r t o f M e x i c o. I n t h e l a t e 1 2 0 0 s, t h e y b e g a n t o m o v e s o u t h. E v e n t u a l l y, t h e y c a m e u p o n t h e V a l l e y o f M e x i c o, a m o u n t a i n b a s i n a b o u t 7, 5 0 0 f e e t a b o v e s e a l e v e l. W h e n t h e A z t e c s a r r i v e d i n t h e V a l l e y o f M e x i c o, t h e r e w a s n o m a j o r p o w e r i n t h e r e g i o n, b u t i t c o n t a i n e d a n u m b e r o f s m a l l c i t y - s t a t e s r u l e d b y v a r i o u s p e o p l e s. T h e s e c i t y - s t a t e s h e l d t h e m o s t f e r t i l e l a n d, s o t h e A z t e c s h a d t o s e t t l e f o r w h a t w a s l e f t. A l e g e n d s a y s t h a t t h e A z t e c s u n a n d w a r g o d t o l d t h e m t h e y w o u l d f i n d a n e w h o m e w h e r e t h e y s a w a n e a g l e s i t t i n g o n a c a c t u s. I n 1 3 2 5, t h e y f o u n d s u c h a p l a c e. I t w a s a s m a l l i s l a n d i n a l a r g e l a k e ( l a t e r c a l l e d L a k e T e x c o c o ). T h e r e t h e y b u i l t t h e c i t y o f T e n o c h t i t l a n ( t e h - N O H C H - t e e - T L A H N ). T h i s i s t h e s i t e o f M e x i c o C i t y t o d a y. T h e A z t e c s a d a p t e d t h e i r s w a m p y e n v i r o n m e n t t o s u i t t h e i r n e e d s, b u i l d i n g r a i s e d g a r d e n b e d s o n t h e l a k e t o g r o w c r o p s. T h i s i n n o v a t i v e p e o p l e g r o u p w o u l d g r o w t o b o a s t a p o p u l a t i o n b e t w e e n 2 0 0, 0 0 0 t o 4 0 0, 0 0 0 p e o p l e.
STATION 4 The Incas 1438 A.D. - 1533 A.D. The Inca learned to live in the high and rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains in what is now Peru. They built their empire in South America around the same time the Aztecs were establishing themselves in Mesoamerica. The central Andes are a region of geographic extremes, from tropical rain forests and fertile valleys to some of the highest mountains in the world. The Inca settled in a fertile mountain valley about 11,000 feet above sea level sometime before 1200. There they founded their capital city of Cuzco (KOOZ-koh). The geography of the Andes made life challenging for the Inca people. Farming was difficult because much of the land was high and steep. Incan farmers had to cut flat terraces into the sides of mountains to get the most out of their land. They also developed irrigation systems to bring water to their fields. In fertile land areas, farmers grew crops such as corn and potatoes and raised animals. In land areas that were too cold and dry for crops, the Inca grazed llamas and alpacas, which are small animals related to the camel. They were an important source of wool and meat for the Inca civilization.