In this Grade 5 World History and Geography lesson, students explore the early civilizations of South America, including the Nazca, Moche, and Inca cultures, learning how each society developed distinct characteristics such as the Nazca Lines, irrigated agriculture, and Inca political organization under Pachacuti. Students examine key vocabulary like maize and quipu while analyzing how geography influenced settlement patterns and how earlier cultures shaped the rise of the Inca Empire. The lesson is part of Chapter 14: Pre-Columbian America, 300–1550, and helps students understand the complexity of pre-Columbian South American societies.
Section 1
Nazca People Etched Mystery Lines into Landscapes
The Nazca culture created enormous ground drawings in Peru that are only visible from the air. These grooves, depicting animals and geometric shapes, remain mysterious in their purpose and significance.
Section 2
Inca Engineers Built Spectacular Mountain Cities
The Inca constructed impressive stone structures like Machu Picchu with tightly fitted stones requiring no mortar. Their engineering skills allowed them to build cities and terraced farms in high mountain environments.
Section 3
Inca Rulers Connected Their Empire with Roads
The Inca created nearly 25,000 miles of roads spanning their empire, complete with bridges, rest houses, and messenger stations. This network allowed information to travel up to 140 miles in a single day.
Section 4
Moche People Developed Advanced Irrigation Systems
The Moche civilization built sophisticated irrigation networks along the Moche River, enabling farmers to grow maize, peanuts, potatoes, and cotton in an otherwise arid region, supporting urban populations.
Section 5
Inca Leaders Organized Society through Forced Labor
Inca subjects performed several weeks of mandatory labor service annually. Entire communities were relocated to build monuments, roads and terraced farms, creating a highly regimented but productive society.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
Nazca People Etched Mystery Lines into Landscapes
The Nazca culture created enormous ground drawings in Peru that are only visible from the air. These grooves, depicting animals and geometric shapes, remain mysterious in their purpose and significance.
Section 2
Inca Engineers Built Spectacular Mountain Cities
The Inca constructed impressive stone structures like Machu Picchu with tightly fitted stones requiring no mortar. Their engineering skills allowed them to build cities and terraced farms in high mountain environments.
Section 3
Inca Rulers Connected Their Empire with Roads
The Inca created nearly 25,000 miles of roads spanning their empire, complete with bridges, rest houses, and messenger stations. This network allowed information to travel up to 140 miles in a single day.
Section 4
Moche People Developed Advanced Irrigation Systems
The Moche civilization built sophisticated irrigation networks along the Moche River, enabling farmers to grow maize, peanuts, potatoes, and cotton in an otherwise arid region, supporting urban populations.
Section 5
Inca Leaders Organized Society through Forced Labor
Inca subjects performed several weeks of mandatory labor service annually. Entire communities were relocated to build monuments, roads and terraced farms, creating a highly regimented but productive society.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter