1. SS6H1 Describe the impact of European contact on Latin America. a. Describe the encounter and consequences of the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs and Incas and the role of Cortes, Montezuma, Pizarro, and Atahualpa.

2. While the Aztec influence grew in Mexico, another powerful empire was taking shape in South America. By 1400, the Incas numbered almost 12 million people and stretched along the western coast of South America. Its capital was Cuzco, a majestic city known as the “City of the Sun. The sun god was the most important Inca god.

3. The Incas came up with creative methods to farm on the steep mountainsides of the Andes Mountains. They built stone terraces so they had flat land to farm, and irrigation canals to bring water to their crops They kept extra food in storehouses and distributed it to villages when crops failed.

4. The Inca were also incredible builders! They created a system of stone roads that are still used today. Since they did not have a written language, Inca runners carried messages in a relay system. When canyons or rivers got in the way, the Inca built swinging bridges made of rope. Messages could travel 150 miles in a day!

5. Inca stone buildings still amaze scientist today! Massive stones fit perfectly together without the use of mortar. One example is the city of Machu Picchu, a city 8,000 feet above sea level that many tourist visit today.

6. The Inca kept records by tying knots on colored strings called quipu. Knots stood for numbers, while colors represented people or items. A little extra info…

7. 1.The Inca Empire stretched along the western coast of South America. 2.The capital of the Inca Empire was Machu Picchu. 3.The Inca people farmed on flat, fertile grasslands. 4.The Inca used irrigation canals to water their crops 5.Inca runners carried messages over stone roads and rope bridges. 6.Inca buildings have crumbled because they were not built well. 7.The Inca kept records on colored strings called quipu. Label the following sentences true or false. 8. The Inca runners delivered messages throughout the empire. If five Inca messengers covered 125 miles in one day, how many miles did each runner run? 9. If eight Inca messengers ran for four hours each at five miles per hour, how many total miles did the group cover in one day?