The Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations are often taught in conjunction with each other, though each has their own unique culture and contributions to the world. Engage and educate students with Storyboard That premade activities!
Create a spider map that illustrates different aspects of Inca civilization and culture!
Storyboard Text
ENVIRONMENT
NATURAL RESOURCES
AGRICULTURE
LOCATION AND TIME PERIODS
The Incan Empire was located in the high plateaus and rugged mountains of the Andes, which run north to south. There are also coastline deserts and the Amazon. The climate varies greatly.
Incas had mines full of precious metals like gold, silver, and copper; fresh water for drinking and fish; soil to grow crops; stones, reeds, and clay for building; animals like llamas, alpacas, jaguars, sloths, and birds. The mountains limited farmland.
The Incas had sophisticated farming methods, including terrace farms for the steep mountains. They grew potatoes, maize, beans, grains, pepper, tomatoes, nuts, squash, cucumber, quinoa, avocado, and cotton. They herded llamas and alpacas and raised guinea pigs.
CLOTHING
The Incan Empire was in South America, in modern day Peru, and at its height (1400-1533 CE), it extended to western and south central Bolivia, southwest Ecuador, and Chile, north of the Maule River.
CULTURAL PRACTICES
THE INCAN CIVILIZATION
ACHIEVEMENTS
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Nobility (Wealthy leaders) and Public Administrators (engineers, architects, tax collectors)
Sapa Inca (Emperor)and the High Priest
Royalty (Family of the Sapa Inca)
Men wore long tunics and women wore long dresses. They also wore capes for warmth. Cloth was dyed in many colors and patterns. They also wore jewelry, like disc earrings, and decorated clothing with embroidery and feathers. The most colorful clothing was worn by the Sapa Inca.
They believed in many gods that represented different parts of nature, like Inti the Sun God. The emperor was believed to be descended from Inti and so was worshipped as a god. At religious ceremonies, they made offerings like gold carvings, but also practiced human sacrifice.
The Inca spoke Quechua but had no writing system. They kept records with a system of knots called Quipu. Some temples and cities were created using a method where stones fit without mortar. They built roads, aqueducts, and suspension bridges, and created art from clay, stone, and gold.
The Incas’ strict social hierarchy put the Sapa Inca or emperor at the top, and the High Priest as his advisor. The royal family was followed by the nobility. The working class were farmers, merchants, artisans, and servants. Enslaved people were at the bottom.