Mesoamerica Game Project

​Maya Achievements in science and math were very important. The Maya built observatories to study astronomy. Mayan astronomers figured out a year is about 365 days long. Based on their discovery, Maya developed a calendar that was more accurate than the calendar used in Europe at the time. To go along with their calendars, the Maya created a number system that included some new concepts in math. Like the Gupta empire in India, the Maya were among the first people with a symbol for zero. They used their number system to record important dates in their history.

Multiple Choice

   What accomplishments in math did both the Indians and the Maya create?

• Created geometry to improve building techniques

• Created a symbol for nothing, zero

• Created the pythagorean theorem used to find angles in triangles

• Developed algebraic equations.

Multiple Choice

What did the Inca system of roads and bridges accomplish?

• It helped the empire spread onto new continents

• It prevented cultural diffusion from taking place

• It kept the Inca people isolated from others.

• It allowed the government to control a large territory.

Multiple Choice

 One way in which the ancient Inca Empire and the Roman Empire are similar is that both

• Fought rivals for control of the sea

• Adopted Christianity as the state religion

• Traded with other civilizations along the Silk Road

• Built a system of roadways throughout their empires 

The ancient Aztecs believed in many gods, and each god had a job. For example, the sun god brought up the sun. If the sun god was unhappy, he would refuse to bring out the sun and all the crops would die. The Aztecs spent an enormous amount of time making sure that all their gods were happy; time they could have spent gathering food or making needed goods. The priests believed the only way to keep so many gods happy all at once was to offer the gods human sacrifice. Aztec warriors spent their time capturing people from neighboring tribes to be sacrificed.

​Appeasing the gods

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, what connection was there between Aztec ceremonial sacrifice and agriculture?

• Human sacrifice was not practiced for fear of famine

• Aztecs believed human sacrifice would lead to high crop growth

• The Aztecs did not believe in any gods

• Conquistadors forced the Aztecs to sacrifice humans for high crop growth

As the Inca gained wealth and power they began to build a vast network of roads.   Only government officials and the military were allowed to use the roads.  As the network of roads expanded, it made movement of armies more efficient.  The roads connected all parts of the empire and gave the Incas easier access to neighboring regions they sought to conquer. 

Multiple Choice

 How was the Inca government affected by the system of roads that were built?

• The government was able to gain more power and expand as they could move their army to conquer neighboring regions.

• The government lost power and declined as neighboring armies used the roads to invade.

• The roads were only used by citizens to travel the empire and buy and sell goods.

• The roads were only used by the armies to travel the empire and buy and sell goods

Multiple Choice

 How were Mayan kings similar to Egyptian pharaohs? 

• The rulers were believed to be gods.

• The rulers were elected to lead by the people.

• The rulers were selected by the Senate to control the territory.

• The rulers inherited their power from their mother’s side of the family.

In the Mayan civilization kings held the highest position in society.  Like the Greeks, each of the major city-states, or political units, had its own ruling elite that held all political, religious, and economic power.  This was different from both the Incas and Aztecs who had unified empires.  

Multiple Choice

How were the Mayan city-states similar to the Greek city-states?

• They fought with Persia to gain their independence

• They had no centralized government or single ruler.  

• They valued philosophers and education

• They were run as a direct democracy

Multiple Choice

How was the structure of the Maya government different from the structure of the Inca Government? 

• The Maya had a strong central government, while the Inca had no central government and were run by different kings.

• The Inca had a strong central government, while the Maya had no central government and were run by different kings.

• The Inca and the Maya governments were both run by kings

• They were both direct democracies where everyone had a vote.

Multiple Choice

 Based on the graph and details provided, how did the Conquistadors impact the export of gold and silver from the New World to Spain?   

• Sending gold and silver to Spain from the New World decreased once conquistadors conquered the natives' land.

• Sending gold and silver to Spain from the New World increased once conquistadors conquered the natives' land.

• Exporting gold and silver stayed the same after the conquistadors conquered the natives' land.

• The conquistadors did not find any Gold or silver in the New World

Multiple Choice

How did the mita impact the economic development in the Inca empire?

• All Incas were expected to contribute to the empire through the labor tax and the government distributed goods based on need.

• The mita was the currency used in the Inca empire and helped them to buy and sell goods.

• All Incas were expected to contribute to the empire through the labor tax and the king kept all of the goods to benefit himself.

• Only farmers were expected to contribute to the empire through the labor tax and the government would distribute their food.

With a core population recently estimated at 5 to 6 million people, the Aztec Empire was a loosely structured and unstable conquest state that witnessed frequent rebellions by its subject peoples. Conquered peoples and cities were required to regularly deliver to their Aztec rulers impressive quantities of textiles and clothing, military supplies, jewelry, and other luxuries, various foodstuffs, animal products, building materials, rubber balls, paper, and more. The process was overseen by local imperial tribute collectors, who sent the required goods on to Tenochtitlan, a metropolis of 150,000 to 200,000 people, where they were meticulously recorded.” Secondary

Multiple Choice

According to this passage, how did the Aztecs strengthen their economy?

• Invented new weapons

• Produced luxury goods

• Conflict among neighbors

• Collected goods (tax collection) 

Multiple Choice

. How did Tenochtitlan’s geography allow them to protect their territory?

• Tenochtitlan is surrounded by deserts to prevent invasion

• Tenochtitlan is surrounded by a lake that makes it difficult to reach

• Tenochtitlan is surrounded by a sea with access to other civilizations

• Tenochtitlan is surrounded by mountains that provide easy access to other civilizations

Multiple Choice

According to the images above, how did the Inca adapt to their environment in order to farm?

• Used basins to hold rainwater for farming

• Used irrigation systems to bring water from nearby rivers

• Built terraces into mountains to create more usable farmland

• Built chinampas to create more farmland in a swamp

Multiple Choice

According to the map, what can you determine about the Incan Empire from 1230 CE to 1525 CE

• The Inca Empire was able to expand due to a large network of roads

• The Inca Empire collapsed because each city was isolated.

• The Inca Empire was the smallest between 1471-1493.

• The Inca Empire was the largest in 1230 CE

Multiple Choice

What type of architecture from the Maya was similar to the Mesopotamians and the Sumerians? 

• They built step pyramids as a place to honor their gods.

• They built terraces for farming

• They built castles surrounded by walls for protection

• They built an extensive network of roads

​The Maya civilization developed in Mesoamerica.  Thick forest covered most of the land, so the Maya had to clear wooded areas for farmland.  They used slash and burn techniques to clear the forest to clear out trees and create farmable land.  Although the thick forest made farming hard, they provided valuable resources.  Forest animals such as deer and monkeys were a source of food.  Also, trees and plants made good building materials.  For example, the Maya used wood poles and vines, along with mud, to build their houses.

Multiple Choice

. How did the Maya successfully adapt to their environment?

• The forest provided animals such as deer and monkeys as a source of food.

• They cleared wooded areas for farmland using innovative techniques.

• They used wood poles and vines, along with mud, to build their houses.

• They hunted exclusively as fertile farmland could not be created.

When Atahualpa ruled the Inca empire a group of Spaniards, led by Francisco Pizzarro came to Peru.  Atahualpa agreed to meet Pizarro.  At that meeting, Spaniards told Atahualpa to convert to Christianity.  When he refused, they attacked.  They captured Atahualpa and killed thousands of Inca soldiers.  To win his freedom, Atahualpa asked his people to fill a room with gold and silver for Pizzaro.  The people rushed to bring the Spaniards gold, but they killed Atahualpa anyway.   Even though some Incas fought back, the Spaniards finally defeated the last of the Incas in 1537 and gained control over the region.   

Multiple Choice

 How did the arrival of the Spanish affect the Inca civilization?

• The arrival of the Inca brought an end to the Spanish Empire.

• The arrival of the Spanish brought an end to the Inca Empire.

• The Spanish were able to live peacefully with the Inca Empire.

• The arrival of the Spanish brought an end to the Mayan Empire.

Multiple Choice

 What belief shaped who had power and authority in the Maya civilization?

• The Mayan rulers were equal to all others in society

• Mayan rulers had less power than most citizens in society

• Rulers in Mayan society were expected to do everyday tasks

• Mayan rulers had divine right and were viewed as gods

At Tenochtitlán, the Aztecs perfected an unusual method of farming. They built huge rafts, covered them with earth, and floated them on the lake. On these chinampas, or “floating islands,” they grew enough maize and vegetables to feed their expanding population comfortably. Eventually, roots from the tree rafts attached themselves to the bottom of the shallow lake to become permanent foundations for buildings — Lois Athey

Multiple Choice

How did the Aztecs adapt to their environment? 

• Terrace farming was used by the Aztecs

• Large plantations were used to grow crops by the Aztecs

• The Aztecs were limited to subsistence farming

• They used chinampas to create more farmable land 

Multiple Choice

How was the Mayan social structure similar to other civilizations you have studied? 

•  It was a pyramid hierarchy where people at the top had more power and wealth

•  It was a pyramid hierarchy where people at the bottom had more power and wealth

•  All people in the merchant class collected taxes and revenue for the King

•  Everyone had one vote and people