~Ancient Civilizations~

The Incas
Answer Key
Inca Map Skills
Directions: Locate the area of the Inca civilization on the map below. Shade in the area
with a colored pencil. Label at least one major city with a dot and its name. Also, label any
natural features (bodies of water, mountains, rivers, etc.) that are around the area.

The Andes Mountains stretch along

the western coast of South America.
The Inca Empire stretched for most
of the western part of current day
South America. Lake Titicaca was also
part of the empire. Cuzco was the capital city

Inca Vocabulary Words

Directions: Write the definition to each vocabulary word. If possible, draw a picture to go
along with your definition.

Important Word

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Definition

Picture (if possible)

People and lands ruled

Pictures may vary

Empire

by one ruler/king

Pictures may vary

Pizarro

Spanish man who helped conquer

the Inca in 1521

Land used for farming that was

along the sides of hills/mountains

Pictures may vary

Terrace Farming

The language of the Incas

Pictures may vary

A network of pipes and

canals to bring water from springs,
lakes, or rivers to fields

Pictures may vary

Chasquis were runners were used

to pass messages from one city to
the next along the long system of
roads of the Andes

Pictures may vary

Colored knotted strings used

to record information

Pictures may vary

Quechua

Irrigation

Chasquis

Quipu

Location
Directions: Fill in the table below about the Inca civilization. Try to include as much detail
as you can.

Important Word

Definition

Continent civilization
is located on

South America

Country/Countries today
where civilization lived

Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile

Important city/cities
of civilization

Cuzco (capital) and Machu Picchu

Overall landscape of
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Andes Mountains

civilization (mountains,
rivers, lakes, etc.)

Inca Achievements
Category

Picture (with caption)

Buildings/Cities
Stone homes
temples
stone buildings
central square
palaces
Machu Picchu
Transportation/Roads
Long system of roads throughout the
empire, even through mountains

Pictures will vary.

Pictures will vary.

Long suspension bridges

Agriculture
Grew potatoes, maize, beans
and peppers

Pictures will vary.

Used terraces to farm on mountains and

adapted crops to high altitude. Used
stone to keep them from eroding.

European Influences
Directions: Your job is to research and answer the questions below on how European
explorers influenced and the lives of the Inca civilization.
1. What was the name of any famous European explorer who came in contact with the
Inca civilization? When did this person arrive in The New World? What country did
the person come from?
Francisco Pizarro was the European explorer who arrived in South America in 1531.
He came from Spain.
2. What were the effects on the people when this explorer came in contact with them?
What happened to the Inca civilization?
They massacred many of the people and took their ruler prisoner. The ruler offered
gold to the conquistadors which only made them hungrier for the wealth of the Incan
Empire. They conquered the people and murdered the ruler. They overtook the
capital city of Cuzco and forced the Inca to either move or work for them.
3. What advantages did the European explorers have over the Inca people?
The Spaniards had many advantages over the Incas. They had superior weapons
such as steel armor and swords. The Spaniards also had horses which were an
advantage to have in battles. They also had an unfair advantage of the diseases
they brought to the area that killed many of the people.
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Copyright Wise Guys 2013