Question 1

The most flexible and sophisticated system of writing found in the ancient Americas was created by the

Accepted Answer

The Maya civilization developed a complex writing system using hieroglyphs, which was the most sophisticated system of writing in the ancient Americas. This writing system was both flexible and versatile, allowing the Maya to record their history, religion, and societal organization. No other civilization in the Americas developed a writing system as advanced as the Maya.

Question 2

Which of the following mathematical concepts,essential for positional notation and the manipulation of large numbers,was invented by Maya mathematicians?

Accepted Answer

The concept of zero was invented by Maya mathematicians, which is essential for positional notation and the manipulation of large numbers. It allowed for a more concise representation of numbers and greatly simplified mathematical operations. The other options were not invented by Maya mathematicians. Infinity is a theoretical concept that has existed since ancient times, long division is a technique that predates the Maya civilization, exponential notation was developed later in history, and negative numerals were not used by the Maya.

Question 3

The Maya calendar interwove a solar year of 365 days and a ritual calendar of ________ days.

Accepted Answer

The Maya calendar interwove a solar year of 365 days and a ritual calendar of 260 days. This combination of calendars created a cycle of 52 years.

Question 4

Later Mesoamerican societies used calendars derived ultimately from the model created by the

Accepted Answer

The Olmecs are considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica and developed the earliest known calendar system in the region, which influenced later Mesoamerican societies.

Question 5

Ritual bloodletting was crucial to Maya rituals because

Accepted Answer

Ritual bloodletting was associated with rain and agriculture in Maya culture. Blood was seen as a vital substance that could bring fertility to the land and ensure a successful harvest. By offering blood to their gods, the Maya believed they were ensuring the continuity of life and the prosperity of their communities.

Question 6

The Maya attributed great significance to the amount of time it took the solar and ritual calendars to simultaneously return to their respective starting points.This event took place every ________ solar years.

Accepted Answer

The simultaneous return of the solar and ritual calendars is known as a "Calendar Round" and it takes 52 solar years (18,980 days) for this event to occur. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer. Choices A, B, D, and E do not fit this description.

Question 7

The term Olmec means

Accepted Answer

The term Olmec comes from the Aztec language and means "rubber people" because the Olmec civilization was known for their production and use of rubber.

Question 8

The first society of Mesoamerica,which founded traditions followed by all later societies,was the

Accepted Answer

The Olmec civilization, which emerged around 1400 BCE in what is now Mexico, is considered the first Mesoamerican civilization. They established traditions and practices that were later adopted by other societies in the region, such as the Maya and Aztec. The Olmec are known for their impressive art, architecture, and complex religious beliefs.

Question 9

The Popol Vuh was the

Accepted Answer

The Popol Vuh is a Maya creation myth, detailing the origins of the universe, gods, and humans. It is considered one of the most important sources of knowledge about ancient Maya culture and religion.

Question 10

The most important political center of the Maya realm at its height was

Accepted Answer

Tikal was the most important political center of the Maya realm during the Classic period, from approximately 250 CE to 900 CE. It was a metropolis with a population of up to 60,000 people and had a complex system of government and religion. Kaminaljuyú was a major city in the highlands of Guatemala, but its importance declined before the rise of the Maya civilization. Teotihuacan was a major city in central Mexico and had political and economic ties with the Maya, but it was not the center of Maya politics. Chavín was a major civilization in ancient Peru, predating the Maya, and San Lorenzo was a major Olmec site in ancient Mexico, also predating the Maya.

Question 11

According to the Popol Vuh,the gods created the first successful version of humans out of

Accepted Answer

According to the Popol Vuh, the first successful version of humans was created out of maize (corn). This is because maize was considered a sacred crop in the Mayan culture and was believed to have a divine origin. The gods created humans by shaping masa (dough made from maize) into the form of humans and then breathed life into them.

Question 12

The Pyramid of the Sun was located in

Accepted Answer

The Pyramid of the Sun was located in Teotihuacan, an ancient Mesoamerican city in Mexico.

Question 13

How much written material survives from the Maya?

Accepted Answer

Only four books written in Maya hieroglyphics have been preserved, known as the Maya codices. These are the Dresden Codex, Madrid Codex, Paris Codex, and Grolier Codex. Other texts, such as inscriptions on monuments and buildings, have also survived.

Question 14

Which of the following devices did the ancient Maya build in order to trap silt carried by the numerous rivers passing through the Mesoamerican lowlands?

Accepted Answer

The ancient Maya built terraces to trap silt and manage water flow, which helped in agriculture by preventing soil erosion and maintaining fertile land.

Question 15

The most prominent early ceremonial center of the Maya was

Accepted Answer

Kaminaljuyú was a significant early ceremonial center for the Maya civilization, known for its complex society and early developments in Maya culture.

Question 16

The Olmecs traded extensively in all of the following items EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Horses were not present in the Americas during the time of the Olmecs, so they could not have traded in them.

Question 17

The Olmec common people

Accepted Answer

The Olmec common people were responsible for performing labor such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing on behalf of the elite. They were not exclusively subject to human sacrifice, did not live alongside the elite in major ceremonial centers, did not have a more privileged life than their European counterparts, and did not enjoy a basic democracy.

Question 18

The first ceremonial center of the Olmecs was

Accepted Answer

The Olmec civilization's first ceremonial center was San Lorenzo, located in the present-day state of Veracruz, Mexico. This site was a major Olmec center between 1400 BCE and 800 BCE, and it is believed to have been home to around 10,000 people. La Venta was another significant ceremonial center of the Olmecs, located in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Teotihuacan, Kaminaljuyú, and Tikal were all important centers of other pre-Columbian civilizations.

Question 19

The Olmec ceremonial centers of San Lorenzo and La Venta were destroyed by

Accepted Answer

The Olmec ceremonial centers of San Lorenzo and La Venta were ultimately abandoned and destroyed by the Olmecs themselves, although the specific reasons for this self-destruction are not entirely clear and are subject to scholarly debate.

Question 20

The most characteristic artistic creations of the Olmecs were

Accepted Answer

The Olmec civilization is best known for their colossal human heads sculpted from basalt. These heads, which are over 3 meters tall and weigh up to 20 tons, are considered to be one of the most iconic examples of Olmec art. The Olmecs did build pyramids and temples, but their most distinctive artistic creations were the colossal heads. There is no evidence of elaborate murals or ziggurats covered with a limestone finish in Olmec art.

Quiz 6: Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania