Virtual History 360: Ancient Mesoamerican Ball Game

What is the ancient Mesoamerican ball game also known as?

• Volleyball

• Pocket sock

• Soccer

• Basketball

What material was the ball typically made of in the ancient Mesoamerican ball game?

• Leather

• Rubber

• Wood

• Stone

How many players were typically on each team in the early versions of the game?

• Two to four

• Five to seven

• Eight to ten

• Eleven to thirteen

What was one of the purposes of playing the ancient Mesoamerican ball game?

• To celebrate harvest

• To choose a new king

• To decide human sacrifices

• To train soldiers

In the context of the game, what did the ball symbolize?

• The moon

• The stars

• The sun

• The earth