Civilizations of the Americas Quiz

Which civilizations in Mexico, Central America, and South America were the largest and most advanced before the arrival of Europeans?

• Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca

• Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian

• Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Babylonian

• British, French, Spanish, and Portuguese

What did the Olmec civilization build along the Gulf Coast of what is now Mexico?

• Stone houses, monuments, and drainage systems

• Pyramids, temples, and aqueducts

• Castles, fortresses, and bridges

• Roads, canals, and railways

What methods did these civilizations develop for tracking time, counting, and writing?

• Complex methods

• Simple methods

• Random methods

• Unorganized methods

When did the Olmec civilization decline?

• Around 300 B.C.

• Around 500 A.D.

• Around 1000 B.C.

• Around 1500 A.D.

What type of government did the Maya civilization have?

• Democracy

• Monarchy

• Theocracy

• Oligarchy

What writing system did the Maya develop?

• Cuneiform

• Hieroglyphics

• Alphabet

• Pictographs

What were some of the goods the Maya traded?

• Gold and silver

• Cotton cloth and pottery

• Iron and steel

• Silk and spices

What is one theory for the decline of the Maya civilization?

• Invasion by foreign armies

• Exhausted soil unable to produce enough food

• Natural disasters

• Disease outbreak

What was the purpose of the temples on top of the Maya pyramids?

• Residential homes

• Religious and governmental centers

• Marketplaces

• Storage facilities

How tall could some of the Maya pyramids be?

• 50 feet (15 m)

• 100 feet (30 m)

• 200 feet (61 m)

• 300 feet (91 m)