The Mayans

What did the Olmec people do when the settled around the Mayas?

• Built grocery stores and schools

• Built cities of stone and brick

• They didn't build anything

• Built sand castles and tree houses

Answer explanation

When the Olmecs began settling around the Mayas, they began building cities of stone and brick. Many cultural aspects that we know today about the Maya culture came from those of the Olmec society.

What did the Olmec and Maya people trade in?

• coffee and tea and other drinks

• gems and rocks - like obsidian, jade and mica

• fruit and vegetables - like bananas and potatoes

• clothing and furniture - like robes and chairs

Answer explanation

During this time, the Olmec and Mayas learned to trade with other societies, and goods such as obsidian, jade, serpentine, mica, rubber, pottery, feathers and polished mirrors of ilmenite and magnetite.

What spiritual beliefs did the Mayas have?

• They believed that when you died that was it, no afterlife

• They believed that animals were gods and godesses

• They believed that nothing was ever "born" or "died" they believed in a cyclical nature of life

• They believed that there was one god who was all powerful

Answer explanation

The Maya believed in the cyclical nature of life. According to this belief, nothing was ever ‘born’ and nothing ever ‘died.’

What modern day game was "Poc a toc" similar to?

• Hockey

• Lacrosse

• Soccer

• Basketball

Answer explanation

Poc-a-Toc was a popular game among the Maya and it symbolized the human struggle and reflected the way the Maya viewed existence. Two opposing teams of seven men would face each other on a ball court and try to score a small rubber ball through a vertical hoop attached to a wall, while defending their own.

Locations of Mayan civilizations were known as ........

• city states

• villages

• towns

• hamlets

Answer explanation

The locations of the Maya civilization were known as city-states. Many city-states built large palaces, pyramids, and other public buildings that can still be seen today.

Mayan structures that are famous today are ............

• Condominiums

• Schools

• Pyramids

• Museums

Answer explanation

Many of the famous Mayan structures that are known today are pyramids. The Mayans built two kinds of pyramids which had a familiar pyramid shape. They each had steep steps up the side that would allow someone to climb to the top. The purpose of the pyramids were for religious purposes and for the gods.

There were two types of pyramids they built. One kind had a temple on the top and was meant to be used by Priests to offer sacrifices on. The other kind........

• were houses for the priests

• were museums for their artifacts

• was a palace for the kings and queens

• was a sacred pyramid built for a god and not to be touched by human beings.

Answer explanation

The second type of pyramid was a sacred pyramid built to a god. These pyramids were not to be climbed or touched by humans. There were still steps going up to the sides of the pyramids, but they were often too steep to climb without a lot of effort. These pyramids were sometimes built with secret doors, tunnels, and traps.

The Mayan society was based on the social status of individuals. It was known as ......

• The Caste system

• Family

• Rich and Poor

• Survival of the fittest

Answer explanation

A caste system is a rigid social system in

which you are born into a social position and

cannot leave that position. The upper caste was

made up of rulers, nobles, and priests. The middle caste was made up of businessmen, merchants and soldiers. The lower caste was made up of farmers and slaves.

The Upper Caste was made up of which people ?

• Farmers and Slaves

• Rulers, Nobles and Priests

• Businessmen, Merchants and Soldiers

• Nurses and Doctors

Answer explanation

The upper caste was

made up of rulers, nobles, and priests. The middle caste was made up of businessmen, merchants and soldiers. The lower caste was made up of farmers and slaves.

Tell me about the roles of men and women with regards to occupation choices

Answer explanation

Status came from the

family in which you were related to. Occupations for Maya men was limited to their father’s occupation. For example, if your father was a farmer, you would be a farmer. Women could be involved in government, economics, and religion, as well as being responsible for the home, and the children. Maya women could not marry outside of their social class.