Deck 14: Ancient Civilizations of the Americas

Question 1

Europeans were able to conquer the empires of the Americas relatively easily for all of the following reasons except (Global Perspective, pp. 336-337)

A) the rulers in the Americas lacked technology.
B) the peoples of the Americas were especially vulnerable to European diseases.
C) the centralized nature of the Aztec and Incan Empires.
D) many subject peoples within the empires aided European efforts.

Answer 1

the rulers in the Americas lacked technology.

Question 2

The most prominent of the early Formative period cultures was that of the

A) Olmecs.
B) Maya.
C) Toltecs.
D) Aztecs.

Answer 2

Olmecs.

Question 3

Carved images found at Monte Alban in the Oaxaca valley suggest

A) that warfare played a role in establishing Monte Alban's authority.
B) that the practice of ritual human sacrifice evolved very late in the history of Monte Alban.
C) the art of the culture was rather sophisticated.
D) None of these answers are correct.

Answer 3

that warfare played a role in establishing Monte Alban's authority.

Question 4

The Maya were primarily located in the

A) Andes mountains.
B) Yucatan rain forests.
C) central Mexican plains.
D) Brazilian rain forests.

Question 5

The Pyramid of the Sun is closely associated with which civilization?

A) Teotihuacán
B) Inca
C) Aztec
D) Maya

Question 6

The name of modern-day Mexico comes from the term used by which of the following people to refer to themselves?

A) Aztec
B) Toltec
C) Inca
D) Tlascala

Question 7

The capitol of the Aztec Empire was

A) Teotihuacán.
B) Tenochtitlán.
C) Cuzco.
D) Chavín.

Question 8

Which statement is most accurate about how urban life in the Classic period of Mesoamerica compared with that of Europe north of the Alps during the same period?

A) Urban life in Mesoamerica was very similar to that of Europe.
B) Unlike European cities, urban life in Mesoamerica was free from the stresses of warfare.
C) Classic urban life in Mesoamerica was richer and on a larger scale.
D) Cities in Mesoamerica were often larger than those of Europe, with strictly secular ruling authorities at their centers.

Question 9

After a conquest, the Aztecs

A) destroyed their enemy's cities.
B) did not demand tribute in goods or labor.
C) left the local elite in power and ruled indirectly.
D) compelled them to worship Aztec gods.

Question 10

A central feature of Aztec religion and political ideology was the belief in

A) the death of the river god.
B) the resurrection of four sun goddesses.
C) human sacrifice.
D) flowers that signified the birth of civilization.

Question 11

Many peoples subject to the Aztecs were willing to support Cortés because of

A) the heavy burden of Aztec sacrifices.
B) the heavy burden of Aztec tribute.
C) their belief that the Aztecs were weak and ineffective rulers.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 12

All of the following were early Andean cultures except

A) Chavín de Huantar.
B) Oaxaca.
C) Moche.
D) Nazca.

Question 13

How did the development of civilization in Mesoamerica differ from the development of Andean civilizations? What were some of the advantages and disadvantages of the geographical settings? Refer specifically to the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations.
Conceptual

Question 14

Discuss the importance of the Mesoamerican calendar. How did it work, why was it important, and what does this say about Mesoamerican civilization? How does it compare with the Long Count of the Maya?
Conceptual

Question 15

Why did Teotihuacán rise to power around 500 C.E.? Discuss Teotihuacán's influence throughout Mesoamerica and refer specifically to their art and religious contributions.
Conceptual

Question 16

Discuss the importance of the Maya culture and its influence in southern Mesoamerica. What was life like in such Maya centers as Tikal and Chichén Itzá? What were the greatest contributions of the Maya?
Conceptual

Question 17

Who were the Toltecs and in what specific ways did their culture influence the Aztecs?
Conceptual

Question 18

The text notes that the Aztecs had an "extractive empire." What does this mean? How did the organization of the Aztec Empire and the treatment of subject peoples differ from that of the Incas?
Conceptual

Question 19

Discuss the Andean civilizations of Tiwanaku, Huari, and Chimu. What were some of the problems posed by their geographical setting? How was the Inca Empire administered? What was the system known as the mita?
Conceptual

Question 20

Both the Aztec and Inca empires fell in the early sixteenth century when confronted with Spanish forces of a few hundred men. What were the primary reasons for their defeat? Do you think that their defeat was inevitable? Why or why not?
Conceptual

Question 21

Compare and contrast the ancient civilizations of the Americas with the ancient civilizations of the European continent. How would you explain their differences and similarities?
Conceptual

Question 22

What role did geography play in the political, economic, and social development of the civilizations in the Americas? How does geography explain the patterns of settlement that emerged?
Conceptual

Question 23

What was the role of monumental architecture along the Peruvian coast? To what extent was it tied to a hierarchical agricultural society?
Conceptual

Question 24

What was the role of monumental building projects in the Mesoamerican cultures? How did these structures differ in their uses from those of ancient Egypt?
Conceptual

Question 25

What was the role of trade in Mesoamerica? How did trade impact the development of the various cultures there? Were some civilizations more influential than others in this region?
Conceptual

Question 26

What factors explain the rise and development of the Inca Empire? How did the structure of the Inca Empire differ from that of the Aztecs?
Conceptual

Question 27

What were some of the possible factors that led to the decline of the Maya? How does this pattern compare to the decline of the Toltecs and other Mesoamerican cultures?
Conceptual