Six Themes, Six Words
OER PROJECT: WHAP / LESSON 1.4 OPENER SIX THEMES, SIX WORDSUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Six Themes, Six Words”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposePractice your critical thinking by writing six-word stories applying each theme to early American societies. This will help you deepen your understanding of the themes while previewing content for the upcoming lesson.Process1.Read the passage below and annotate anything that relates to each of the AP®themes (Think PIECES -Political, Innovation, Environment, Culture, Economy, and Social).Between 1200 and 1450, civilizations in the Americas, such as the Mexica (Aztecs), Inca, Maya, and Mississippians, developed complex societies with advanced political, economic, and cultural systems. The Mexica expanded their empire by demanding tribute from conquered peoples, while the Inca controlled a vast territory through a network of roads and state officials who managed resources and labor. In some regions, large cities flourished due to innovations in agriculture, such as the chinampas floating gardens in the Valley of Mexico and terracing in the Andean highlands, which allowed for more efficient food production. Societies also adapted to their surroundings in unique ways—Mississippian culture built massive earthen mounds for religious and political gatherings, and the Inca developed techniques to store and distribute surplus crops across their empire.Belief systems played a central role in shaping daily life and governance. The Mexica performed elaborate religious ceremonies, including human sacrifice, to maintain cosmic order. The Inca built temples dedicated to their sun god and incorporated local religious traditions into their empire. Hierarchies were also well defined, with warriors, priests, and rulers holding great power in some societies, while kinship groups and communal labor shaped daily life in others. Intellectual and technological achievements allowed these civilizations to thrive—the Inca used quipu, a system of knotted cords, for record-keeping, and the Maya made remarkable advancements in astronomy and mathematics. These civilizations built impressive cities, engineered agricultural systems to sustain large populations, and created lasting cultural traditions that would shape the Americas for centuries.2.For each of the themes, write a six-word story. Here’s an example for the political theme: “Inca Empire expands, unites diverse peoples.”ThemeSix-Word StoryPoliticalInnovationEnvironmentCultureEconomySocial