Ancient America Vocabulary

Indigenous An original or native area where a person lives.

History of the Americas before significant European settlement. Pre-Columbian History of the Americas before significant European settlement.

Former ice age link between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska. Bering Land Bridge Former ice age link between Siberia (Russia) and Alaska.

Maya Central American civilization that began somewhere around 2,000 BC and declined around 900AD.

Aztec Groups of people from various ethnicities who created a powerful empire in Central America before the time of European conquest.

Inca South American civilization who dominated part of the continent in the time before European conquest.

Mesoamerica Also called Middle America, is an area from central Mexico, through Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. In ancient times it was home to many developed civilizations .

Polytheism The belief in many gods.

A Spanish conqueror in the Americas. Conquistadors A Spanish conqueror in the Americas.