Archeology Quiz 2

Ancient Mesoamerica

A cultural region in the Americas that includes parts of Mexico and Central America where pre-Columbian civilizations flourished before European contac

Shared Mesoamerican cultural traits

Common features among Mesoamerican cultures such as a 260-day ritual calendar, pyramid architecture, ball games, maize agriculture, and religious practices involving sacrifice.

Metate

A grinding stone slab

Mano

A handheld stone used with a metate

Comal

A flat griddle for cooking tortillas and other foods

The Olmec

One of the earliest complex civilizations in Mesoamerica (c. 1500–400 BCE), known for its art, colossal heads, and influence on later cultures.

Olmec stone monuments (colossal heads, altars)

Massive basalt heads (likely rulers) and altars used for ceremonial or ritual purposes; demonstrate advanced artistic and labor abilities.

Mother culture

originators of Mesoamerican civilization

Sister culture

one of many influential groups that developed together

Monte Alban

An ancient Zapotec city in Oaxaca, one of the earliest urban centers in Mesoamerica, with a strategic hilltop location.

Danzantes

Carvings at Monte Albán depicting bound or possibly sacrificed figures, interpreted as early depictions of war captives or leaders.

Conquest slabs

Stone monuments from Monte Albán that show the conquest of other communities, used to legitimize political power.

Leadership at Teotihuacán

Leadership structure is still debated—possibly a collective or theocratic rule rather than a singular king, unlike the Maya

Maya

refers to the people and culture

Mayan

refers only to the language or linguistic family

Maya writing

A complex hieroglyphic script used for recording history, calendar dates, and royal lineages—one of the most advanced writing systems in the Americas.

Maya cosmology

Beliefs about the structure of the universe, often depicted as a three-tiered cosmos (underworld, earthly plane, heavens), central to religion and art.

The Classic Maya “Collapse” and casual factors

Refers to the decline of many southern lowland Maya cities around 800–900 CE, due to drought, warfare, political instability, and environmental stress.

Maya agriculture

Included slash-and-burn (swidden) farming, terracing, raised fields, and water management systems to sustain large populations.

Aztec

A powerful Mesoamerican empire based in Tenochtitlán (modern Mexico City) known for military strength, tribute systems, and human sacrifice.

Founding myths

Myths such as the Mexica’s divine sign (an eagle on a cactus) that guided them to found Tenochtitlán and legitimized their rule.

Architecture style

Mesoamerican architecture often included pyramids, plazas, ball courts, and elaborate stone carvings, aligned with cosmological beliefs.

South America

Region with complex pre-Columbian civilizations, particularly in the Andes, such as the Inca, Moche, and Chavín.

Environment of Peru

Characterized by diverse zones: coast, highlands, and rainforest; each with unique resources and challenges influencing ancient societies.

The Paracas

A pre-Inca culture known for elaborate textiles, cranial modification, and desert coastal burial sites in southern Peru.

The Maritime Hypothesis

Theory that early Andean societies developed complex societies based on rich marine resources before agriculture took hold inland.

Chavin de Huantar

A religious and cultural center of the Chavín civilization (c. 900–200 BCE) in the Andes, known for stone art and underground temples.

The Nazca Lines

Large geoglyphs in southern Peru depicting animals and geometric shapes; created by removing topsoil, possibly for ritual or astronomical purposes.

The Moche

A northern coastal Peruvian civilization (c. 100–800 CE) known for impressive ceramics, irrigation systems, and elaborate burial sites.

Inca

The largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, centered in the Andes; known for its engineering, road systems, and administrative control.

Cuzco

The capital of the Inca Empire, designed in the shape of a puma; political, religious, and cultural heart of Inca civilization.

Machu Picchu

An Inca royal estate or ceremonial center located in the Andes, famous for its well-preserved architecture and stunning mountain setting.

Quipu

A system of knotted cords used by the Inca for record-keeping, accounting, and communication in the absence of writing.

Chuno

Freeze-dried potatoes produced by Andean peoples, allowing long-term storage and use in high-altitude environments.