The Olmec and Maya Civilizations

The first Mesoamerican civilization began

• Soon after people crossed the Bering Land Bridge.

• when people learned to mine obsidian.

• once people learned how to farm in poor rain forest soils.

• with the rise of the Maya.

Why did Olmec farmers move their farms from time to time?

• As their families grew, people needed larger farms

• Maya invaders took over their farmlands

• Heavy rains flooded their fields and forced them to find new land.

• The soil would wear out and could no longer support farming.

Which of these groups introduced the mathematical concept of zero in the Americas?

• the Zapotec

• the Olmec

• the Spanish

• the Maya

Which of the following achievements BEST illustrates Maya knowledge of astronomy?

• They used slash-and-burn agriculture

• They build temples and pyramids

• They developed a complex calendar system

• They developed a hieroglyphic writing system

Maya pyramids were topped by

• observations

• temples

• giant stone heads

• tombs

What does plot mean?

• a small area of planted land

• an evil plan

• building set on some acres

• a place where people go to school

A _______ is a tropical bird.

• pelican

• flamingo

• quetzal

• toucan

Symbol that stands for a word, idea, or sound

• hemisphere

• hieroglyphic

• height

• pyroglyphic

slash-and-burn agriculture is...

• farmers burn their crops to make more

• farming method in which trees and other plants on plot of land are cut down and burned and the ash is used for fertilizer

• farming method that is used to feed animals on a farm

• farming method used to show a sign of distress

What is an observatory?

• building used for observing the sky

• building used for growing and observing plants

• building used for observing animals during a storm

• building used to house plants and animals