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Worksheets

Ancient Civilizations

Total questions: 31

Worksheet time: 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

These characteristics describe which of the following civilizations?

-Developed a number system based on 20

-Existed from 300 - 900 AD

-Located on the Yucatan Peninsula

-First in the Americas to develop writing

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

2.

These characteristics describe which of the following civilizations?

-Existed from 1200 - 1500 AD

-Located in central Mexico

-Capital was Tenochtitlan on an island in a lake

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

3.

These characteristics describe which of the following civilizations?

-Carved huge heads out of stone

-Existed from 1200 - 300 BC

-Located on the south coast of the Gulf of Mexico

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

4.

These characteristics describe which of the following civilizations?

-At its peak from 1200-1533

-Located in the Andes Mountains

-Capital was Cuzco

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

5.

Why did the Aztecs settle in the Valley of Mexico?

a)

No enemies lived nearby

b)

There was an abundance of resources

c)

They were isolated because of poor weather

d)

They saw a sign from the gods

6.

What was the language of the Aztecs?

a)

Nahuatl

b)

Hieroglyphics

c)

Spanish

d)

They had no language

7.

What type of writing did the Aztecs use?

a)

Nahuatl

b)

Hieroglyphics

c)

Spanish

d)

They had no writing system

8.

What did many Aztec festivals include?

a)

Prayers

b)

Bible Verses

c)

Human sacrifices

d)

Dancing girls

9.

What type of government system did the Maya civilization have?

a)

Empire

b)

Republic

c)

City-State

d)

Democracy

10.

What is slash-and-burn farming?

a)

Floating Gardens

b)

Cutting down trees and burning the fields

c)

Farms on the side of a hill

d)

Greenhouse farming

11.

What are chinampas?

a)

Members of the highest Aztec society

b)

A variety of tomato plant

c)

Wild animals living near Tenochtitlan

d)

Artificial islands/floating gardens

12.

What Inca invention helped with counting?

a)

Abacas

b)

Quipu

c)

Capac

d)

Inti

13.

How did language help unify the Incan people?

4 lines
14.

Who were the Sapa Incas?

a)

Common people

b)

Religious leaders

c)

Warrior kings

d)

Enemies of the empire

15.

What tied the Inca Empire together providing communication, trade, and troop movement?

a)

Llamas

b)

Andes Mountains

c)

Roads

d)

Gold

16.

Which of the following people would NOT be found living in the Incan cities?

a)

Metalworker

b)

Farmer

c)

Weaver

d)

Crafter

17.

Why was trade important to the Maya?

4 lines
18.

Of the following cities which one was the largest of the Mayan?

a)

Tenochtitlan

b)

Tikal

c)

New Spain

d)

Mexico City

19.

Which food crop did Mayan nobles control?

a)

Corn

b)

Cotton

c)

Fish

d)

Goats

20.

Which of the following did NOT weaken the Mayan civilization?

a)

Droughts

b)

Civil Wars

c)

Hurricanes

d)

Gold

21.

Which of the following was NOT a major accomplishment of the Maya?

a)

Calendar

b)

Agriculture

c)

Sophisticated art and architecture

d)

Monotheism

22.

Give at least 2 reasons as to why the Inca civilization lasted less than 500 years.

4 lines
23.

Olmec beliefs and practices helped shape the cultures of other Mesoamerican peoples.

a)

True

b)

False

24.

Describe at least 2 ways the people in one ancient civilization adapted to their environment. Think about what they lacked and what surrounded them.

4 lines
25.

What civilization lived in location 1?

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

26.

What civilization lived in location 2?

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

27.

What civilization lived in location 3?

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

28.

What civilization lived in location 4?

a)

Olmec

b)

Maya

c)

Aztec

d)

Inca

29.

Identify 2 differences and 2 similarities between 2 or more of the ancient civilizations (Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca).

4 lines
30.

The Inca used quipus to write.

a)

True

b)

False

31.

Describe one theory that led to the fall of the Mayan civilization. Explain why experts believe this may have been what happened. (This should be a paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details.)

4 lines