Final answer:
The Anasazi set themselves apart through advanced agriculture, extensive trade networks, and migration to the south.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Anasazi, also known as Ancient Puebloans, set themselves apart from similar cultures in the region through various factors. One significant aspect was their advanced agricultural practices, specifically their cultivation of the Mesoamerican triad (maize, beans, and squash). This led them to build large, complex, and beautiful towns to support their agricultural activities.
Another key factor was the extensive trade networks the Anasazi established with outlying areas and other peoples. This allowed them to acquire luxury items such as macaw feathers, obsidian, and marine shells, which were not native to their region. The Anasazi also constructed a 180-mile road system to connect their towns and facilitate trade.
Furthermore, the Anasazi experienced social, environmental, and religious changes that set them apart. They became more insular and engaged in less trade during the Great Drought, practiced more intensive agriculture with new irrigation techniques, and faced religious turmoil evidenced by deliberate fires in ceremonial structures. Ultimately, the Anasazi migrated further south and joined groups that became the modern Pueblo cultures.