WorksheetsMesoamerican Geography & Earliest Civilizations
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 7mins
Where can lowlands be found in Mesoamerica?
between the mountains of the Sierra Madre
in the Jungles of the Yucatan
along the Pacific Ocean
around Monte Alban
Where are the highlands?
along the Atlantic Ocean
between the mountains of the Sierra Madre
in the jungles of the Yucatan
south of the Yucatan
How might the highlands be described?
poor soil that cannot be used for farming
rugged and rocky terrain
fairly flat with fertile soil
very hilly with little topsoil
What are the three main crops grown in the highlands?
maize, squash, and beans
cacao, barley, maize
cacao, corn, beans
palm, wheat, squash
How did the farmers who used slash-and burn agriculture fertilize their land?
They used seaweed from coastal areas.
They grew plants, such as maize and beans, and then chopped then up for fertilizer.
They used the ash left from burning the plants and trees on the land.
They used the manure from the animals they raised.
What was Mesoamerica's first civilization?
Aztec
Maya
Olmec
Zapotec
Which of the following correctly lists the Olmec social order?
rulers
farmers
priests
merchants
priests
rulers
farmers
merchants
rulers
priests
merchants
farmers
priests
merchants
rulers
farmers
Why is the Olmec culture thought of as the "mother civilization" of Mesoamerica?
The Olmec taught the Zapotec and Maya how to farm.
All later cultures used the Olmec's written language.
People from other cultures, such as the Zapotec and Maya, studied in Maya cities.
Later civilizations were influenced by Olmec art and religious practices.
Why did the Zapotec build terraces?
as a place to bury their dead
as locations for their pyramids
to use as ball courts
to create more land for farming
Where did the Zapotec Society start?
in the Oaxaca Valley
in San Jose Mogote
along Mexico's gulf coast
in the Yucatan
Why did the Zapotec civilization begin in the Oaxaca Valley?
The valley had fertile farmland.
The valley was near a sacred mountain.
The location gave them good protection from their enemies.
Gold and silver were located their.
Why was the Zapotec city of Monte Alban built on a mountaintop?
The people wanted to be closer to their gods.
The priests said the mountain was sacred.
There were gold mines in the mountain
It made the city easier to defend.
How did the Olmec and Zapotec civilizations end?
They were attacked by rival groups.
Major volcanic eruptions destroyed their villages.
There was a severe drought.
No one knows for sure.
