March 2022

Question 1

What makes the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations?

Answer 1

All four are city-based societies dependent on farming

Question 2

What was the main crop of Mesoamerica and a secondary crop (after the potato) to the Incas?

Answer 2

maize (corn)

Question 3

What was the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica and which cultures did they influence?

Answer 3

The Olmec; influenced Maya, Toltecs, and Teotihuacanos

Question 4

Which Mesoamerican cultures had writing?

Answer 4

First the Olmec - basic pictographs
Then the Classic Maya - complete system
Then the Aztecs - back to pictographs

Question 5

Why didn’t Mesoamerican writing spread to the Inca?

Answer 5

There was no trade or communication between them due to the geography of the Americas

Question 6

What were the periods of Mayan civilization?

Answer 6

Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic

Question 7

What were the approximate time periods the three civilizations flourished and which two were concurrent to each other?

Answer 7

Maya: 250- 900 C.E.
Aztecs: 1325 - 1521 C.E.
Inca - 1200ish - 1532 C.E.
Aztec and Inca were concurrent

Question 8

How was agriculture in the New World different from agriculture form the Old World?

Answer 8

Different crops - and the New World had no draft animals to pull a plow

Question 9

How were the Maya able to farm in the rainforest?

Answer 9

They practiced slash and burn agriculture

Question 10

How were the Aztecs able to farm on Lake Texcoco?

Answer 10

They built chinampas (floating gardens)

Question 11

How were the Incas able to farm in the Andes?

Answer 11

They built terraces and complex irrigation systems

Question 12

What was common between the religions of the Americas?

Answer 12

They were polytheistic and rulers claimed descendency from gods (duh)

Question 13

How were their societies divided?

Answer 13

The elite at the top and commoners at the bottom (sometimes slaves)

Question 14

Why was astronomy so important to the Aztecs and Maya?

Answer 14

For accurate calendars to keep the gods happy, crops growing, and priests in power

Question 15

Unlike Egypt, what was the function of pyramids in the Americas?

Answer 15

Egypt used them as tombs, but in the Americas it was used it as temples

Question 16

What did “play ball” mean to the Maya and Aztecs?

Answer 16

Both sport and religious ritual (not good for the losers)

Question 17

What about its geography made Maya civilization unique?

Answer 17

cities developed and highland and lowland rainforest areas

Question 18

How did their geography affect Maya politically?

Answer 18

They remained independent city-states who fought each other over resources

Question 19

What about its geography in the Valley of Mexico made Aztec civilization unique?

Answer 19

Its capital city, Tenochtitlan, was on in island in a lake

Question 20

What legendary destiny brought the Aztecs to the island?

Answer 20

Seeing an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth

Question 21

What did the Aztecs have to do to make sure the Sun would rise everyday?

Answer 21

Human sacrifices - cutting out a lot of hearts

Question 22

What strategy for the empire did the Aztecs have?

Answer 22

Constantly going to war, collecting tribute, control by fear but not micro-managing

Question 23

How did the Inca hold their huge empire together?

Answer 23

Extensive roads, complex bureaucracy, foot messengers, and llamas as pack animals

Question 24

Who was the Sapa Inca and from where did he rule?

Answer 24

The “Son of the Sun” (Inti); Cuzco (the capital)

Question 25

What strategy for the empire did the Inca have?

Answer 25

Constantly going to war, imposing their rules and culture down to the local level (ayllu)

Question 26

Who was Machu Picchu?

Answer 26

Pachacuti’s royal palace complex that was abandoned and unknown to the Spanish

Question 27

What was incredible about Inca engineering?

Answer 27

They created earthquake-proof stone walls and amazing rope bridges

Question 28

What did the Inca have that replaced the need for writing?

Answer 28

quipus

Question 29

Why was the ability to read Mayan glyphs lost?

Answer 29

Spanish priests burned codices and actively persecuted those who could read Maya

Question 30

What led to the end of the Classic Maya?

Answer 30

Unknown; probably a combination of over-farming, environmental factors, and war

Question 31

What led to the end of the Aztecs and the Inca?

Answer 31

the Spanish conquistadors