Pre-Columbian Vocabulary

2. A Spanish conquistador celebrated for his role in the conquest of the Inca Empire during the early 16th century.
6. The largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, situated in the Andes Mountains of South America. It is renowned for its advanced engineering feats, including an extensive road system and the awe-inspiring city of Machu Picchu.
8. A geographical region encompassing parts of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. It was the cradle of several advanced pre-Columbian civilizations.
10. The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located at the site of present-day Mexico City.
12. A writing system employed by specific pre-Columbian civilizations, such as the Maya. It employs pictorial symbols to convey meaning.

1. The ballgame, this was a team sport with cultural and ritual significance played by various ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Maya and Aztecs. It involved a solid rubber ball and a specially designed court.
3. The mountain range is situated in South America, which served as the homeland for numerous ancient cultures, most notably the Inca Empire.
4. A major pre-Columbian civilization noted for its sophisticated achievements in mathematics, astronomy, and the establishment of intricate city-states across present-day Mexico and Central America.
5. The Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that ultimately led to the fall of the Aztec Empire.
7. A formidable pre-Columbian civilization centralized in Central Mexico. It is famous for its martial prowess, as well as its capital city, Tenochtitlán.
9. The final Inca emperor, who was captured and eventually executed by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
11. A method of record-keeping and communication employed by the Inca, involving the use of knotted cords.