The Early Americas

The Early Americas

Test Review

The Olmec

1200-400 B.C.

• Often considered the 1st culture to advance in Mesoamerica

• Left behind 17 stone heads that were sculpted from circular boulders

• Cultural ancestors of the Maya and are believed to have influenced them greatly

Multiple Choice

The Olmec are believed to be the earliest civilization in the Mesoamerica.

• True

• False

The Maya

1000 B.C. - A.D. 1521

• Credited with innovations in the areas of math, art, astronomy and language
  

• Maya cities included many large stone pyramids and temples

•  Some historians believe that a drought contributed to the collapse of Mayan cities and a lack of food sources

Maya Social Structure

Kings held the highest position. Priests, warriors, &  merchants made up the upper class. Most Maya belonged to lower class farming families. Farmers had to give rulers some of their crops & goods, such as cloth and salt. They also had to help build temples and other buildings.

Multiple Choice

Which factor in the decline of Maya civilization was completely beyond the control of the Maya?

• Drought made it difficult for farmers to grow crops.

• The increasing warfare destroyed crops.

• Demanding kings caused rebellions.

• Competition for land caused more warfare.

Multiple Choice

Which is the best summary of Maya society?

• The upper class included farming families and priests and the lower classes included warriors

• The lower classes provided food and labor and the upper class led religious ceremonies

• The lower classes provided religious ceremonies and the upper class controlled the economy

Multiple Choice

The Maya civilization was a group of connected city-states.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Where did the Maya live?

• Central Mexico

• Yucatan Peninsula

• South America mainly Peru

The Aztec

• modern-day central Mexico It consisted of tribes that formed a Triple Alliance.

  
  

• The Aztecs believed that gods ruled all parts of life and sacrifice was necessary to keep the gods happy. In rituals priests cut themselves to give blood to the gods and sacrificed prisoners

Multiple Choice

The Aztecs had a capital named what?

• Mexico City

• Manchu Picchu

• Tikal

• Tenochtitlan

The Spanish Arrive in the Americas

• Spanish explorers seeking new lands, looking for gold, and spreading the Catholic religion

• Cortés to conquers Aztecs in 1521.

• Pizzaro conquers Incans in 1537.

Multiple Choice

Hernán Cortés is credited with conquering the Incas.

• True

• False

Hernán Cortés &

The Aztecs

Aztec emperor, Montezuma, thought Cortés was the god, Quetzalcoatl.

The Spanish easily defeated the Aztecs because of the deadly diseases, like smallpox, they brought with them to the Americas.

Multiple Choice

Which god did Montezuma think Hernan Cortés was?

• Tenochtitlan

• Chinampa

• Quetzalcoatl

• Octli

Multiple Choice

What did the Spaniards unknowingly bring with them that helped them conquer the Aztecs?

• small insects

• deadly diseases, such as smallpox

• stowaway slaves that helped Spaniards in battle

• horses

The Inca

1438 -1533

• Began as a small tribe in the Andes Mountains

• Official language is Quechua

• Paid taxes in the form of labor

• Had a strong central government

• Built an extensive road system to connect all parts of the empire.

Multiple Choice

Why was the Inca road system so important?

• The roads formed a ring

• All roads led to Machu Picchu

• The roads were used as part of religious ceremonies

• The roads connected all parts of the empire

Multiple Choice

The Incas believed their rulers were related to whom?

• sun god

• water god

• priests

• Montezuma

Multiple Choice

They had no writing system and used knotted strings known as quipu.

• Inca

• Aztec

• Maya

• Olmec

Multiple Choice

What is the royal retreat nestled high in the Andes for the Incan rulers?

• quipus

• Machu Picchu

• Quechua

• Cuzco