Native America - Cities of the Skies

Prior to Europeans arriving, what was the estimated population of the Americas?

• 1 million

• 100 million

• 335 million

• 1 billion

To get closer to the Creator and to get closer to the stars, from which some believed that humans had originated from, what did Native Americans do?

• Canoe down rivers

• Sail across oceans

• Build huge mounds/pyramids

• Establish schools and churches

Where is Cahokia?

• Near St. Louis

• Near Mexico City

• Near Lima, Peru

• On the Yucatan Peninsula

ALL the FOLLOWING is believed to be TRUE about Cahokia around 1000 AD EXCEPT

• It was a society that had a population of 30,000, more than London at the time.

• A great diversity of people lived in Cahokia and/or traveled to Cahokia.

• There was a main mound surrounded by many other mounds and a cedar time-keeping structure

• It was an isolated mound/pyramid with little development around it.

In comparing Teotihuacan and Cahokia, ALL ARE TRUE EXCEPT

• Teotihucan came almost 1000 years before Cahokia

• Teotihuacan had a population of about 125,000 people, about 4x more than Cahokia

• Teotihuacan was located much further north than Cahokia.

• Teotihuacan had 2 very large pyramids, not just 1.

Why was the "Fire Ceremony" practiced by the people of Teotihuacan?

• Symbolized the end of the world

• Symbolized the creation of the world and humans

• Emphasized the difference and disconnection between the skies and life on Earth

• Happened every month in sync with the cycles of the moon.

Describe the location of the Choctaw nation. ALL ARE TRUE EXCEPT

• Originally Choctaw lived in what is modern day Mississippi.

• In 1840, the Choctaw were forced to move to Oklahoma in the Trail of Tears.

• Some Choctaw recently have reclaimed their ancestral lands from the government of Mississippi

• Choctaw have lived their whole lives in Cahokia.

What did the shaman, the holy man, do each day atop the ceremonial mound?

• Raise his hands to help the sun rise and lower his hands to help the sun set.

• Perform human sacrifice.

• Burn an animal as an offering to the gods.

• Plant corn.

In Choctaw tradition, they believed warriors who offered their kill of a hawk to a goddess received WHAT in return?

• Potatoes

• Corn

• Cows

• Wheat

Woodhenge served as a _____________?

• Calendar to know when to plant and perform ceremonies

• Altar for sacrifice to appease the gods.

• Playing field for sports and games.

• Giant art sculpture for beauty and admiration.