Ch.1.2. Mesoamerican Civilizations practice questions

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?

• A. the development of quipu 

• B. the development of the calendar 

• C. the development of wheat farming 

• D. the development of cattle ranching 

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

What role did war prisoners take in Aztec society? 

• A. War prisoners were sacrificed to the sun god. 

• B. War prisoners were held for ransom from Aztec enemies. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What was the primary purpose for the building of the Inca road system? 

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

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

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

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

 What conclusion can be drawn from the evidence about the Maya and Inca record-keeping systems? 

• A. The Incas were better mathematicians than the Maya. 

• B. Both the Maya and Inca developed effective record-keeping systems.  

• C. The Maya record-keeping system was more reliable than the Inca record-keeping system. 

• D. The Maya had a written record-keeping system, but the Inca were unable to keep any records.

The map shows Aztec city-states in the Mexico Valley around the year 1519 CE.

Which Aztec ruler is credited with uniting Tlacopan and Texcoco with Tenochtitlan to form the Triple Alliance in order to increase Aztec military power? 

• A. Moctezuma I 

• B. Hernan Cortes 

• C. Huayna Capac 

• D. Pascal the Great

What is an example of the changes caused by the Columbian Exchange?

• A. world population declined 

• B. European power quickly declined 

• C. American diseases spread to Europe and China 

• D. American foods like corn and potatoes were introduced to European diets.

The illustration of Aztec people was produced by a Spanish priest in Mexico, circa 1585.

What was the effect of the Columbian Exchange on the Native American population?

• A. an increase in the average global temperature 

• B. an increase in oral storytelling to pass down Native American history 

• C. the spread of higher calorie food that allowed Native Americans to rest more

• D. the spread of Old World diseases to which the Native Americans had no immunity 

What is an example of a belief system that was spread to the Americas as a result of the Columbian Exchange? 

• A. Islam 

• B. Hinduism 

• C. Buddhism 

• D. Christianity 

Which statement describes an impact that the Columbian Exchange had on the lives of Africans? 

• A. Cross-cultural trade between Africa and Asia declined. 

• B. New diseases were brought to Africa and resulted in massive deaths caused by a plague. 

• C. The transfer of Africans to Europe supported the developments that led to the Industrial Revolution. 

• D. The forced enslavement and transportation of Africans to the Americas by Europeans resulted in a captive labor force for more than 200 years.