Unit 6 Topic 2

Use the following excerpt to answer questions 1 and 2. “Archaeologists believe that the Maya left their cities sometime between 800 and 900 CE. It’s possible this event happened over just a few decades. Until the 900s, the Maya kept careful historical records. They used their hieroglyphs to carve names and dates on pyramids and temples. Then in the 900s, the writing mysteriously stopped. The temples and pyramids began to fall into disrepair.” What is the claim in this paragraph?

• The Maya left their cities sometime between 800 and 900 CE.

• It’s possible this event happened over just a few decades.

• The temples and pyramids began to fall into disrepair.

• The Maya kept careful historical records.

Which sentence is evidence that supports the claim?

• The Maya left their cities sometime between 800 and 900 CE.

• They used their hieroglyphs to carve names and dates.

• Then in the 900s, the writing mysteriously stopped.

• The Maya kept careful historical records.

What was the effect of Stephens and Catherwood’s work?

• Scholars immediately decoded Mayan writings and hieroglyphs.

• People around the world became interested in Maya history.

• The Maya civilization rebuilt its cities.

• Maya artifacts were created.

What type of geographic environment was the ancient city of Copán built in?

• rainforest

• highlands

• terrace

• desert

Who was Bishop Diego de Landa?

• a Spanish warrior who conquered the Maya people

• a scholar who translated the Popol Vuh into Spanish

• a Maya religious leader who befriended a Spanish priest

• a Catholic missionary who burned all but four Maya books

What helped researchers decipher Mayan glyphs like these in the 1960s?

• Catherwood’s illustrations

• Egyptian hieroglyphics

• de Landa’s notes

• early computers

According to this map, which modern-day countries have large populations of Maya people today?

• Texas, Mexico, and Florida

• Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala

• Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador

• the Caribbean, Central America, and Belize

What are archaeologists’ theories about why the Maya left their cities? Select two correct answers.

• They wanted to be safer away from conflicts.

• The Popol Vuh predicted that they should leave.

• Maya rulers cast out their subjects for being disloyal.

• Diseases brought by the Spanish killed many people.

• The Maya cut down too many trees, which decreased rainfall.

Why do historians think the Maya may have moved toward the coast? (

• There was a much smaller chance of foreign invasion along the coast.

• The risk of earthquakes and other natural disasters was less near the sea.

• Shipping routes were starting to become sea-based instead of land-based.

• The farming and fishing opportunities were much greater than in the lowlands.

Why do historians think the Maya left their cities around 900 CE and not later?

• The dirt surrounding the ruins of Maya pyramids dates back to 900 CE.

• Archaeologists did not find any dates later than 900 CE carved into Maya buildings.

• There is evidence that other people were living in Maya territory after 900 CE.

• Archaeologists located a dated pillar that describes a Maya family’s departure.