Early Civilizations Review Worksheet
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep Student Practice Worksheet
Early American Civilizations Review
Maya • Aztec • Inca Content Mastery
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Geography & Pre-Columbian Origins
1. Why are these cultures called pre-Columbian?
A. Developed before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 B. Developed after South America's Republic of Colombia in 1885
2. Which two civilizations lived in Mesoamerica?
Maya & Aztec Inca & Aztec Maya & Inca
3. Map Match (Word Bank: Aztec • Inca • Maya)
Write the civilization that corresponds to each letter on the map:
Location A (Valley of Mexico):
Location B (Yucatán Peninsula):
Location C (Andes Mountains):
A
B
C
Locations: A, B, and C
Part 2: Vocabulary Matching
A. Epidemic B. Indigenous C. Sacred D. Tribute
1. Naturally living/existing in an area:
2. Sudden widespread fatal illness:
3. Holy, deserving deep respect:
4. Tax paid in goods by subjects:
Part 3: Capitals, Legends & Records
1. Capital Cities: Write the name of each capital city:
Aztec Capital (Mexico City today):
Inca Capital (in Andes Mountains):
2. Aztec Founding Myth:
What sign from their gods told the Aztec where to build?
A. A hawk circling over snowy peaks B. An eagle on a cactus, holding a snake C. A jaguar resting near an underwater well
3. Maya Writing System:
Glyphs and codices prove that the Maya had:
A. Metal tools and iron pulleys B. An advanced writing system C. Domesticated horses and wheeled carts
Unit 2: Early American Civilizations Page 1 of 3
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep Civilizations & Adaptations
Civilization Traits & Environmental Engineering
Page 2
Part 4: Defining Characteristics of a Civilization
Historians look for specific features that define a complex society. Place a checkmark () inside the box next to all items below that are key characteristics of a civilization:
A. Farming & Cities B. A Writing System C. A National Flag D. Government & Laws E. Technology F. Art & Architecture
Which item from the list above is NOT considered a required feature of ancient civilizations?
Part 5: Environmental Adaptations Investigation
Check All That Apply
Each civilization modified its environment to grow food and supply water. In the table below, mark a check () in every box that applies to that civilization:
| Agricultural & Engineering Technique | Maya | Aztec | Inca |
|---|
| | | |
| Chinampas | | | |
"Floating gardens" constructed on shallow lake beds
|
|
|
|
|
Step Terraces
Flat steps carved into steep hillsides to prevent erosion
|
|
|
|
|
Aqueducts
Built channels used to transport fresh water to cities
|
|
|
|
|
Slash-and-Burn Techniques
Clearing dense rainforest vegetation and fertilizing soil
|
|
|
|
1. Which two techniques were used by the Maya?
and
2. Which two techniques were engineered by the Aztec?
and
3. Which two techniques were engineered by the Inca?
and
Unit 2: Early American Civilizations Page 2 of 3
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep Beliefs, Empires & Spanish Arrival
Shared Beliefs, Expansion & Spanish Contact
Page 3
Part 6: Shared Beliefs & Imperial Power
1. What religious beliefs and traditions did all three early American civilizations have in common?
A. They believed in a single god and built identical temple designs across both continents. B. They believed in multiple gods, held religious ceremonies, and told creation myths about Earth and people.
2. How did the Aztec expand and maintain their vast empire throughout Mexico?
A. By forming peaceful trade partnerships with neighbors B. By constantly waging war against other city-states
3. In the tribute systems used by both the Aztec and Inca, citizens and conquered peoples were forced to:
A. Pay a tax of goods, crops, and crafts to rulers B. Give up their traditional languages completely
Part 7: Civilization Decline & Spanish Contact
1. The Fall of the Early Maya:
According to historians, what caused the end of the early classical Maya civilization?
A. Spanish conquest under Hernán Cortés B. A sudden disease epidemic in 1492 C. No one knows for sure, but probably a combination of factors (drought, warfare)
2. Spanish Conquistadors Match:
Write the letter of the Spanish explorer associated with the decline of each civilization:
A. Francisco Pizarro B. Hernán Cortés
Decline of the Aztec Empire:
Decline of the Inca Empire:
Part 8: Rapid-Fire Test Prep Practice
Fill in the missing word or term for each statement:
1. The Aztec & Inca built empires at the:
2. A sudden, widespread fatal disease is an:
3. Aztec floating garden plots on lakes were:
4. Carved steps on mountainsides are:
Self-Check: I can identify locations on a map, farming techniques, capitals, and Spanish explorers!
Student Signature:
Unit 2: Early American Civilizations Page 3 of 3
Early Civilizations Answer Key
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep TEACHER ANSWER KEY
Early American Civilizations Review • Key
Answer Key • Maya, Aztec, and Inca Unit 2
Master Answer Guide
Total Points: 23
Part 1: Geography & Pre-Columbian Origins
1. Why are these cultures called pre-Columbian?
A. Developed before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. [CORRECT]
B. Developed after South America's Republic of Colombia in 1885
2. Which two civilizations lived in Mesoamerica?
Maya & Aztec [CORRECT] Inca & Aztec Maya & Inca
3. Map Match (Word Bank: Aztec • Inca • Maya)
Write the civilization that corresponds to each letter on the map:
Location A (Valley of Mexico): Aztec
Location B (Yucatán Peninsula): Maya
Location C (Andes Mountains): Inca
A: Aztec
B: Maya
C: Inca
Map Key: A = Aztec, B = Maya, C = Inca
Part 2: Vocabulary Matching
A. Epidemic B. Indigenous C. Sacred D. Tribute
1. Naturally living/existing in an area: B (Indigenous)
2. Sudden widespread fatal illness: A (Epidemic)
3. Holy, deserving deep respect: C (Sacred)
4. Tax paid in goods by subjects: D (Tribute)
Part 3: Capitals, Legends & Records
1. Capital Cities: Write the name of each capital city:
Aztec Capital (Mexico City today): Tenochtitlán
Inca Capital (in Andes Mountains): Cuzco
2. Aztec Founding Myth:
What sign from their gods told the Aztec where to build?
A. A hawk circling over snowy peaks
B. Eagle on cactus with snake [CORRECT]
C. A jaguar resting near an underwater well
3. Maya Writing System:
Glyphs and codices prove that the Maya had:
A. Metal tools and iron pulleys
B. Advanced writing system [CORRECT]
C. Domesticated horses and wheeled carts
Teacher Answer Key • Early American Civilizations Page 1 of 3
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep TEACHER ANSWER KEY
Civilization Traits & Environmental Engineering • Key
Page 2
Part 4: Defining Characteristics of a Civilization
Key characteristics of complex civilizations (students should check all except C):
A. Farming & Cities [✓]
B. A Writing System [✓]
C. A National Flag [NO]
D. Government & Laws [✓]
E. Technology [✓]
F. Art & Architecture [✓]
Which item from the list above is NOT considered a required feature of ancient civilizations? C. A National Flag
Part 5: Environmental Adaptations Investigation
Answer Matrix
Completed adaptation table showing checked techniques (✓) for each civilization:
| Agricultural & Engineering Technique | Maya | Aztec | Inca |
|---|
| | | |
| Chinampas | | | |
"Floating gardens" constructed on shallow lake beds
| — | ✓ (USED) | — |
|
Step Terraces
Flat steps carved into steep hillsides to prevent erosion
| ✓ (USED) | — | ✓ (USED) |
|
Aqueducts
Built channels used to transport fresh water to cities
| — | ✓ (USED) | ✓ (USED) |
|
Slash-and-Burn Techniques
Clearing dense rainforest vegetation and fertilizing soil
| ✓ (USED) | — | — |
1. Which two techniques were used by the Maya?
Step terraces & Slash-and-burn
2. Which two techniques were engineered by the Aztec?
Chinampas & Aqueducts
3. Which two techniques were engineered by the Inca?
Step terraces & Aqueducts
Teacher Answer Key • Early American Civilizations Page 2 of 3
Grade 5 Social Studies • Unit 2 Assessment Prep TEACHER ANSWER KEY
Shared Beliefs, Expansion & Spanish Contact • Key
Page 3
Part 6: Shared Beliefs & Imperial Power
1. What religious beliefs and traditions did all three early American civilizations have in common?
A. They believed in a single god and built identical temple designs across both continents.
B. They believed in multiple gods, held religious ceremonies, and told creation myths about Earth and people. [CORRECT]
2. How did the Aztec expand and maintain their vast empire throughout Mexico?
A. By forming peaceful trade partnerships
B. Constantly waging war [CORRECT]
3. In the tribute systems used by both the Aztec and Inca, citizens and conquered peoples were forced to:
A. Pay a tax of goods & crops [CORRECT]
B. Give up traditional languages
Part 7: Civilization Decline & Spanish Contact
1. The Fall of the Early Maya:
What caused the end of early classical Maya civilization?
A. Spanish conquest under Cortés
B. A sudden disease epidemic in 1492
C. Combination of factors (drought, warfare) [CORRECT]
2. Spanish Conquistadors Match:
Explorer associated with the decline of each civilization:
A. Francisco Pizarro B. Hernán Cortés
Decline of Aztec Empire: B (Hernán Cortés)
Decline of Inca Empire: A (Francisco Pizarro)
Part 8: Rapid-Fire Test Prep Practice • Key
Completed statements for quick review:
1. Aztec & Inca built empires at the: Same Time Period
2. Sudden, widespread fatal disease is an: Epidemic
3. Aztec floating garden plots on lakes were: Chinampas
4. Carved steps on mountainsides are: Step Terraces
Instructional Assessment Note: Items align with Grade 5 Unit 2 Assessment PP.2 (23 total points).
Grading Scale: 23 Points Total
Teacher Answer Key • Early American Civilizations Page 3 of 3
