Mesoamerica Quiz

According to the excerpt above, why were European explorers amazed by the Aztec civilization?

It was greatly urbanized with complex cities under the control of a central ruler

All of the following are associated with the Maya civilization EXCEPT

equal status of women in society

All of the following are associated with the Maya civilization EXCEPT

equal status of women in society.

All of the following are characteristics of Aztec Civilization EXCEPT

implementation of a democracy to govern its conquered territories

At the time of the Spaniards' arrival in the New World, Aztec society was

highly centralized and militaristic with complex cities throughout its territory.

Basic Mayan political organization was based around

City-states

Before the arrival of the Portuguese on the East Coast of Africa,

East African culture was a mixture of African /and Arab customs.

Contact with the Ottoman Empire and Arabia was limited during the European "Age of Exploration." Which of these individuals is most responsible?

Vasco da Gama

How did the geographic location of the Maya promote trade?

The area was abundant in volcanic glass obsidian and cacao trees.

How was slavery in the Maya civilization similar to that of the classical Roman and Chinese civilizations?

Slaves were mostly war captives used for agricultural production and large-scale building projects.

How was slavery in the Maya civilization similar to that of the classical Roman and Chinese civilizations?

Slaves were mostly war captives used for agricultural production and large-scale building projects.

How was the Aztec religion connected to the military?

War captives were used for religious sacrifices to the deities

How was the Aztec religion connected to the military?

War captives were used for religious sacrifices to the deities.

How were serfs similarly treated in the Aztec Empire and medieval Europe

They were used for agriculture and large-scale building projects

Immediately following the Olmec era, New World civilization was based in the

high valley of central Mexico and the tropical lowlands of the Yucatan and Guatemala

In ancient Mayan society, the ball court, as shown above, was believed to be

site where religious rituals and sacrifices occurred.

In contrast to Sumer, ancient Egypt, and the Indus Valley civilizations, the Olmec civilizations

did not develop in river valleys

In spite of its huge size, the Aztec civilization utilized what form of government to administer its territories?

A tribute system where the conquered territories paid taxes in exchange for self-rule

In spite of its huge size, the Aztec civilization utilized what form of government to administer its territories?

A tribute system where the conquered territories pain in exchange for self rule

In what sense was the ancient Mayan civilization similar to the early Indus valley civilizations?

both practiced urban planning

In what sense was the ancient Mayan civilization similar to the early Indus valley civilizations?

Both practiced urban planning.

In what way was the demographic profile of the Mayan civilization similar to that of other contemporary civilizations in Europe and Asia?

Most of the population were peasants or slaves.

In what way was the demographic profile of the Mayan civilization similar to that of other contemporary civilizations in Europe and Asia?

Most of the population were peasants or slaves.

In what way were the Mayan city-states similar to those of ancient Sumer?

Elaborate irrigation systems were essential to the economy.

Knowledge about Aztec society and its economy mainly comes from which of the following sources?

Interviews of priests and elders conducted by Spanish missionaries

Many of the intellectual achievements of the Mayans were in which field

astronomy

Many of the intellectual achievements of the Mayans were in which field?

astronomy

Mathematicians of both the Mayan civilization and Gupta India developed

The concept of zero

Mayan achievements include

I. Advanced agricultural techniques

II. The construction of elaborate temples

III. A zero-based number system

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Mayan warfare was conducted primarily to

acquire slaves

Mesoamerican pyramids like the one depicted in the diagram above suggests which of the following about the New World civilizations?

Rulers had access to abundant raw materials and a large labor supply.

One similarity of the Aztec, Maya, and Incan empires is that they

developed complex cities prior to the arrival of Europeans

Parallels between women in Aztec society and ancient Sparta are evidenced by which of the following?

I. They had great influence in the domestic sphere.

II. They were prohibited from owning property.

III. They received honors as mothers of warriors.

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Territorial expansion was critical to the Incan Empire because

the Incan ruler had to ensure that he provided for his afterlife.

The major administrative and economic center of the Aztec Empire was the twin metropolis of

Tenochtitlan

The major administrative and economic center of the Aztec Empire was the twin metropolis of

Tenochtitlan

The Maya were the only Mesoamerican people to

devise a complete written language

The Maya were the only Mesoamerican people to

devise a complete written language.

The most important Mayan political center was called

Tikal

The priest class played an important role in Mayan society because

they were responsible for transmitting knowledge of writing, astronomy, and math

The priest class played an important role in Mayan society because

they were responsible for transmitting knowledge of writing, astronomy, and math

The social structure of the Aztec civilization is best described as being

hierarchical, since the military warriors occupied the elite classes of society.

The statements above describe an economic system that was practiced by which of the following?

Spain and Portugal during the sixteenth century

What does the fact that Mayan priests calculated the length of the solar year at approximately 365 days suggest about their civilization?

they had an advanced understanding of astronomy

What does the fact that Mayan priests calculated the length of the solar year at approximately 365 days suggest about their civilization?

They had an advanced understanding of astronomy.

What does the picture above indicate about their civilization?

Similar to the Mayans, the Aztecs were skilled astronomers.

What evidence is there for social hierarchy in the Olmec civilization?

a separation of the elite and commoner groups in the residential districts

What role did religion play in reinforcing Aztec values?

helped justified their warlike philosophy.

What was a primary reason for the Portuguese seeking a direct trade route with Asia?

They wanted to eliminate the "middle-man"

/ Arab traders.

What was a quipu?

A math system of knotted strings

What was the first European nation to establish trade with China?

Portugal

What was the Mayan long count?

A calendar system using five cycles

What was the Mayan long count?

A calendar system using five cycles

What was the Mesoamerican geography like where the early civilizations developed?

It was a complex patchwork of cool highlands, tropical lowlands and coasts, and intermediate temperate zones.

What was the Mesoamerican geography like where the early civilizations developed?

It was a complex patchwork of cool highlands, tropical lowlands and coasts, and intermediate temperate zones.

What was the purpose of the Olmec heads as shown below?

They glorified Olmec rulers.

Where was the Olmec civilization located

Mesoamerica

Where was the Olmec civilization located?

Mesoamerica

Which conclusion about Incan society could be drawn from the map below?

An extensive road system connected all parts of the Empire.

Which of the following are examples of ancient Mayan architecture?

Pyramids, ball courts, and palaces.

Which of the following best describes how

Europeans acquired the magnetic compass and the stempost rudder?

They originated in China and came to Europe through trade

Which of the following best describes the economic relationship between the Ottoman Empire and Europe?

the ottomans profited much more from their economic relationship with Europe than the Europeans did

Which of the following characterized the Olmec civilization?

intensive agriculture and the carving of stone ornaments, tools, and monuments

Which of the following cities was an important political center for the Mayan Civilization

Tikal

Which of the following contributed the most to the instigation of the European Renaissance?

European trade with the civilizations of the Middle East

Which of the following events was at least partially responsible for European disinterest in the Middle East during the Age of Exploration?

I. European defeat in the Crusades

II. Vasco da Gama's voyage around Africa

III. Tokugawa Japan's negativity toward the West

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Which of the following goods most likely would have been found at an Aztec market?

Obsidian, cotton cloths, and tropical bird feathers

Which of the following is a true statement about Olmec art?

the jaguar was a common motif

Which of the following is NOT believed to have led to the decline of classic Mayan civilization

Spanish conquest

Which of the following nations established settlements on the East African Coast to ease trade wing the Far East?

Portugal

Which of the following proved to be essential to the Aztecs' rise to power?

I. They had a powerful army.

II. The civilization established a strong policy of expansionism.

III. Aztec leaders did not enforce a rigid social hierarchy.

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Which of the following provides an accurate description of religion in Mayan civilization

It combined various elements from the human and natural world.

Which of the following provides an accurate description of religion in Mayan civilization?

It combined elements from the human and natural world

Which of the following statements is true about the ancient Mayan civilization?

many of its features were inherited from the preceding olmec civilization

Which of the following suggests the Olmecs had contacts with other cultures

Presence of products like jade,cacao and rubber

Which of the following suggests the Olmecs had contacts with other cultures?

the presence of products like jade, cacao, and rubber

Which of the following was a component of Aztec, Egyptian, and early Japanese religions?

A sun deity was one of the chief deities of the religion.

Which of the following was a religious belief of the Aztecs?

Ritual bloodletting symbolizes the moisture that the land needs for agriculture.

Which of the following was a result of global explosation by Europeans?

The shift in trading power from the Mediterranean to the European Atlantic coast

Which of the following was an idea shared by the ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations

Practicing rituals that would satisfy the gods

Which of the following was an idea shared by the ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations?

Practicing rituals that would satisfy the gods

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of Mayan society?

A dependence on the llama for pastoralism

Which of the following was NOT a primary role of the hereditary nobility in the Aztec Civilization?

Serving as artisans, physicians, and teacher

Why did Arab and Indian trade routes lose importance during the fifteenth and sixteenth century?

Europeans began to establish more direct trade routes to Asia.

Why were the Portuguese able to gain control of the Asian spice trade in the sixteenth century?

Portugal used its greater firepower to destroy Arab and Indian trading vessels.