Exploration and History of the Maya

Who were the two explorers who heard stories of mysterious ruins in the rainforests of Central America?

• John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood

• Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés

• Lewis and Clark

• Marco Polo and Ferdinand Magellan

What did John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood explore the remains of?

• The city of Copán

• The city of Tikal

• The city of Chichen Itza

• The city of Machu Picchu

What inspired world interest in the history of the Maya?

• A best-selling book about their findings

• A documentary film

• A series of lectures

• A museum exhibition

Who destroyed almost all Maya texts in the 1500s CE?

• The Spanish

• The French

• The British

• The Portuguese

Who was the Catholic missionary from Spain who studied the Mayan language and culture?

• Bishop Diego de Landa

• Father Junípero Serra

• Saint Ignatius of Loyola

• Pope Alexander VI

What are hieroglyphs compared to in the text?

• A code

• A puzzle

• A map

• A story

When did the Maya leave their cities according to archaeologists?

• Between 700 and 800 CE

• Between 800 and 900 CE

• Between 900 and 1000 CE

• Between 1000 and 1100 CE

What did the Maya use to carve names and dates on pyramids and temples?

• Paintings

• Sculptures

• Hieroglyphs

• Symbols

What is one theory about why the Maya population reduced?

• Increase in trade

• Rise in sea levels

• Desires reduced the population

• Expansion of cities

What natural event is thought to have caused famine among the Maya?

• Earthquake

• Heavy rainfall

• Drought

• Volcanic eruption