The Maya

What does pre-columbian mean?

• Before Columbus came to America.

• After Columbus came to America.

When did the first people start coming to the Americas?

• between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago

• between 6,000 and 12,000 years ago

• between 1,000 and 5,000 years ago

What was obsidian used for?

• sharp blades for spears and arrowheads

• farming large plots of land

• cooking and building houses

What is a farming method that cuts down and burns plants and trees?

• prune-and-nurture agriculture

• cut-and-fertilize agriculture

• slash-and-burn agriculture

What culture is known for making huge stone heads?

• The Olmec

• The Maya

• The Aztec

• The Inca

Why would the Maya or anyone build a causeway?

• because they wanted to keep the gods happy

• to allow for safer swimming in lakes

• raised roads allowed passage over wet or marshland

Name the three main groups in the complex Mayan society.

• Warriors/Middle Class/Slaves

• Nobles/Middle Class/Commoners

• King/Nobles/Middle Class

Were the Maya polytheistic or monotheistic?

• monotheistic

• polytheistic

Why were the commoners afraid of their priests and kings?

• They believed their leaders disliked them.

• They believed their leaders could call on their gods and punish them.

• They believed the priests and kings were demons.

Why did Maya priests and kings use human sacrifice and bloodletting?

• They believed it was part of the natural cycle of death and rebirth.

• They thought it would keep the gods satisfied.

• They thought it would keep the universe in balance.

• All of the above