Mesoamerica and the Age of Exploration

The Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica pre-dated the Maya and Aztec civilizations in the same region. What contribution did the Olmec people make to the Maya and Aztec civilizations?

• the development of quipu

• the development of the calendar

• the development of wheat farming

• the development of cattle ranching

The map shows the territory of an ancient civilization in the Andean region of South America where the modern countries Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are located.

• Inca

• Maya

• Aztec

• Olmec

This 16th-century illustration shows an Aztec taking a prisoner of war after a battle.

What role did war prisoners take in Aztec society?

• War prisoners were sacrificed to the sun god.

• War prisoners were held for ransom from Aztec enemies.

• War prisoners were used to carry messages along the extensive network of Aztec roads.

• War prisoners were encouraged to become Aztec warriors to fight other Aztec enemies.

Which statement correctly describes the architecture and/or environment the Maya lived in compared to the Inca?

• The Incas built complex structures, but the Maya did not.

• The Mayas used much smaller stones for construction than the Incas did.

• The Mayas built pyramids, temples and palaces and the Incas lived high in the mountain surrounded by terrace style farming

• The Inca structures were better built than the Mayas based upon the existing ruins.

How did both the Aztec and Inca adapt to their physical environments in order to successfully develop agriculture?

• The Aztecs built chinampas for farming and the Incas built terraces for farming.

• The Incas built chinampas for farming and the Mayas built terraces for farming.

• The Mayas built chinampas for farming and the Incas used crop rotation for farming.

• The Incas used slash and burn and the Mayas built terraces for farming.

This photo of quipu was taken at the Machu Picchu Museum in Cusco, Peru.

How was quipu used by the Inca?

• to symbolize the sun god

• to clean the floors of public buildings and spaces

• as a three-dimensional art form to beautify religious temples

• to keep records of tax collections, census records, and other data

This map shows the location of the main Inca roads with the locations of modern states and cities.

• to allow for easy trade into and out of the empire

• to allow armies and news to move quickly through the empire

• to allow farmers to move their products to the market before they spoil

• to increase the speed of travel to religious festivals in the northern part of the empire

Which of the societies listed below created these large stone heads?

• Zapotec

• Olmec

• Maya

• Aztec

Who was the Aztec leader when the Spanish arrived?

• Moctezuma I

• Hernan Cortes

• Huayna Capac

• Pascal the Great

The map shows Indian Ocean trade routes from circa 600 - 1450 CE.

What motivated European maritime exploration of the Indian Ocean?

• to colonize Madagascar

• to find a route east to the Americas

• to trade directly with Asian merchants in order to sell European goods like wool

• to trade directly with Asian merchants in order to buy highly valued items like spices