Archeology
the study of ancient peoples
Artifacts
An item left behind by early people that represents their culture
Ice Age
Began 100,00 years ago and ended 1200 years ago
Nomads
people who wander from place to place
Migration
a movement of large numbers of people into a new homeland
Sources
A supply
Maize
An early form of corn grown by Native Americans
Carbon dating
A scientific method used to determine the age of an artifact
Complex
Complicated, highly detailed
Olmec
Flourished between 1500 B.C. And 300 B.C.
Estimate
approximate number
Cultures
the way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs
Civilizations
a highly developed culture, usually with organized religions and laws
Maya
They built their civilization in the steamy rain forest
Theocracy
a form of government in which the society is ruled by religious leaders
Hieroglyphics
an ancient form of writing using symbols and pictures to represent words, sounds, and concepts
Aztec
A group of hunters
Tenochtitlán
Capital of the Aztec Empire
Inca
The largest empire of the early American civilizations
Pachacuti
The Inca Emperor
Quipas
A system of record keeping with string
Terraces
Broad platforms
Channels
Trenches
Structure
Building
Iroquois
Lived near Canada
Federations
governments that linked different groups
Clans
Groups of related families