Mesoamerican Civilizations

Who were the FIRST major civilization in Mesoamerica?

• Olmec

• Maya

• Aztec

• Inca

The Aztecs came up with the name "Olmec," which means __________ people.

• Latex

• Straw

• Jade

• Rubber

Answer explanation

The Olmecs may have been the first people to convert the latex of a rubber tree into something that could be shaped (like a ball for sports on their ball-courts)

This semi-precious green stone was one of the main things the Olmec traded

• Quartz

• Obsidian

• Jade

• Granite

This glassy, black volcanic rock was another major trade item of the Olmec.

• Quartz

• Jade

• Obsidian

• Granite

Olmec trade items could be found all over, even outside the Gulf of Mexico. This indicated that:

• The Olmec had extensive trade routes

• The Olmec loves traveling

• The Olmec had a great transit system

• The Olmec could throw really far

The Olmec would burn down forests, grow crops there, and then when the soil's nutrients were used up they found a new forest to destroy. This is called:

• Burn and Churn

• Slash and Burn

• Destroy and Employ

• Clear and Grow

True or False: The Olmec had no written record of their religious belief.

• True

• False

The Olmec believed in many gods. This is called:

• Unitheistic

• Multitheistic

• Polytheistic

• Monotheistic

The Olmec gave specific significance to:

• plants

• crops

• animals at the top of the food chain

• water

Another term for god

• deity

• ruler

• leader

• noble