Mesoamerican Civilizations and Their Innovations

What happened to most of the written records of Mesoamerican civilizations after CE 1500?

• They were preserved in underground vaults.

• They were translated into Spanish and then destroyed.

• Spanish imperialists destroyed them.

• They naturally disintegrated over time.

Which of the following was an invention or development of the Olmec civilization?

• The printing press

• A mathematics system including the number zero

• The concept of democracy

• Advanced iron smelting techniques

What was the primary purpose of the Caracol observatory at Chichen Itza for the Maya?

• To store agricultural surplus.

• To serve as a royal residence.

• To align with the rising and setting extremes of Venus.

• To host sporting events.

What two primary calendars did the Maya combine to create the "Calendar Round," which repeated every 52 years?

• The Gregorian calendar and the lunar calendar.

• The Tzolkin and the Vague Year solar calendar.

• The Julian calendar and the Long Count.

• The harvest calendar and the ceremonial calendar.

Which of the following were cultivated or domesticated by the Maya?

• Wheat, barley, horses, cattle

• Maize, sunflower, cotton, chiles, chocolate, vanilla, dogs, ducks, turkeys, deer

• Rice, millet, pigs, chickens

• Potatoes, quinoa, llamas, alpacas

What did recent archaeological evidence, uncovered using LIDAR, reveal about the Maya civilization?

• It was less populated than previously thought.

• It was primarily a nomadic society.

• It was perhaps three times as populous as previously thought.

• It had no significant urban centers.

How did the Aztecs manage to build and sustain their large capital city, Tenochtitlan, on a lake?

• They imported all their food and building materials from distant lands.

• They relied on advanced wind-powered machinery for construction and irrigation.

• They developed extensive hydraulic engineering, including canals, floodgates, aqueducts, and dikes for intensive lake-marsh agriculture.

• They used a system of floating gardens that were constantly moved to new locations.

What unique system did the Inca use for record-keeping and sharing data related to taxes, censuses, and military organization?

• Hieroglyphic writing on stone tablets.

• A system of knotted strings called Khipu/Quipu.

• Pictographs painted on animal hides.

• Oral traditions passed down through generations.