Understanding the Mesoamerican Ball Game

What ancient civilizations are known to have played the Mesoamerican ball game?

• Romans and Greeks

• Aztecs and Mayans

• Vikings and Celts

• Egyptians and Sumerians

What was the primary material used to make the heavy balls used in the Mesoamerican ball game?

• Stone

• Wood

• Leather

• Rubber

Which tree was primarily used for extracting latex for the ball game balls?

• Maple tree

• Rubber tree

• Pine tree

• Oak tree

What was a common injury from playing the Mesoamerican ball game?

• Sprained ankles

• Severe bruises

• Concussions

• Broken fingers

How were points scored in the Mesoamerican ball game?

• Throwing the ball out of bounds

• Hitting targets around the court

• Passing the ball through hoops

• Kicking the ball into a net

What was the significance of the ball game in Mesoamerican political disputes?

• It was used to train soldiers

• It was a form of entertainment for rulers

• It was played to resolve conflicts

• It was used to elect leaders

What mythological significance did the ball game hold in Mayan culture?

• It symbolized battles between gods

• It was a celebration of the new year

• It represented the change of seasons

• It was a representation of harvest seasons

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What led to the decline of the Mesoamerican ball game post-Spanish conquest?

• Lack of players

• Disinterest in sports

• Natural disasters destroyed courts

• Viewed as barbaric by the conquerors

The game where players could not use their feet or hands to hit a rubber ball into a hoop? The losers were often sacrificed to the gods.

• Tenochtitlan

• Tok-A-Pok

• Pok-A-Tok

• Tikal

Which game did the Aztecs play that involved a rubber ball?

• Ullamalitzli

• Soccer

• Chess

• Patolli