T.H. Mayan & Aztec Theatre

What were the four great civilizations of Latin and South America?

Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Inca.

When did the Mayan civilization peak?

Between 900-1200 AD.

What was a possible cause for the mysterious decline of the Mayan civilization?

Environmental degradation due to deforestation for the production of lime plaster for temples.

What is the significance of Papantla Voladores in Mayan culture?

It is a traditional rain ceremony dance performed since pre-Columbian times to invoke rain during drought.

What is the plot of the Rabinal Achi performance?

A rebel Queché warrior is captured, faces death, and makes requests to his captors, culminating in a dance with the virgin, Precious Emerald, before submitting to blood sacrifice.

What is the Aztec capital founded in 1325?

Tenochtitlan.

What was the primary religious belief of the Aztecs?

Human sacrifice to sustain the gods and prevent apocalypse.

Who was Diego Duran and why is he significant regarding Aztec rituals?

He was a Dominican friar who provided eyewitness accounts of Aztec rituals, including human sacrifices, and criticized the clergy for not learning the native language.

Name two of the gods from Aztec mythology.

Tezcatlipoca (God of night sky & conflict) and Tlaloc (God of rain & thunder).