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Worksheets

Mesoamerican Civilizations

Total questions: 54

Worksheet time: 2hrs 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Match the following:

a)

chinampa

1.

an artificial island built by the Aztecs

b)

longhouse

2.

a rectangular type of home built by the Native Americans, built from wood and bark or mats made of r

c)

igloo

3.

domed house made from blocks of snow by Native Americans who lived in the Arctic

d)

wigwam

4.

formed by bending trunks of young trees, tying them together to make a round frame covered w/bark

e)

tepee

5.

a portable, cone-shaped home made by Native Americans who lived on the plains

2.

Match the following

a)

potlatch

1.

A feasting and gift-giving ceremony in NW Native American culture

b)

basin

2.

a bowl-shaped arena

c)

dike

3.

a wall to hold back water

d)

drought

4.

a long period of extremely dry weather

e)

slash-and-burn

5.

describing a process of cutting and burning something, such as vegetation, in place

3.

Match the following

a)

absolute monarchy

1.

system of government in which the monarch has unlimited power over the government

b)

ayllu

2.

in Incan society, a group of related families that pooled its resources to meet people's needs

c)

quipu

3.

a record-keeping device made of knotted strings, used by the Incas

d)

hierarchy

4.

a system for ranking members of a group according to their importance

e)

mita system

5.

an Incan system of payment of taxes with labor

4.

The (a)   was a group of families who worked a portion of land together.

5.

Which of the following was NOT a role that priests had?

a)

Rule the Maya people

b)

teach noble children

c)

decide when farmers would plant and harvest their crops

d)

track astronomical movements

6.

What was the main reason the Maya sacrificed humans?

a)

to get rid of their enemies

b)

to punish criminals

c)

to keep the gods happy

d)

to reduce the population

7.

Which is true about the Maya calendars?

a)

they were complex and tracked farming, religion and other events

b)

there was only one Maya calendar used

c)

the calendars only marked religious events

d)

The tzolk'in calendar lasted thousands of years

8.

Folding book that recorded the history, religions and culture of the Maya. (a)  

9.

In Ancient Maya, Most commoners had this job. (a)  

10.

In Ancient Maya, (a)   was the most important offering given to the gods

11.

(a)   was often used in Maya jewelry

12.

The Maya used a few complex (a)   to keep track of time.

13.

(a)   decided when farmers would plant and harvest.

14.

The Maya depended on this crop. (a)  

15.

They Maya believed the gods controlled (a)   .

16.

Half of this modern-day country's population is Maya.

a)

Panama

b)

Honduras

c)

Nicaragua

d)

Guatemala

17.

The Ancient Maya lived in an area called (a)   .

18.

The Ancient Maya started as these people who roamed the land in small family groups.

a)

codices

b)

nomads

c)

ayllu

d)

farmers

19.

The Maya were the first people to use this as a placeholder.

a)

ten

b)

twenty

c)

zero

d)

one

20.

Conquistadors from (a)   enslave the Maya

21.

Which material was NOT used by the ancient Maya to create tools?

a)

stone

b)

bone

c)

wood

d)

steel

22.

Why did the Maya dig reservoirs?

a)

To collect rainwater

b)

To channel water through cities

c)

To make the soil richer

d)

To prevent soil from washing away

23.

How did the Spanish treat the Maya when they arrived?

a)

They killed all of them

b)

They enslaved them

c)

They forced all of them off their land

d)

They were kind to them and left them alone

24.

Which is true about the Maya civilization?

a)

There was one single Maya empire.

b)

There were only two classes of people

c)

he Maya people no longer exist

d)

The Maya were an advanced civilization

25.

What did Aztecs who did not have much money usually eat?

a)

Turkey and Fish

b)

Vegetables and grain

c)

Insects and Frogs

d)

Honey and Eggs

26.

Which is true about Aztec fashion?

a)

Clothing and jewelry revealed a person's status

b)

All social classes were allowed to wear whatever they wanted

c)

Only the emperor was allowed to wear feathers

d)

All Aztecs dressed similar

27.

Aztec farmers usually lived in (a)   .

28.

Only nobles were allowed to wear (a)   .

29.

(a)   were tied together to symbolize an Aztec marriage.

30.

Aztec food was grown in a (a)   garden.

31.

Reorder the following Classes of Ancient Aztec society.

a)

Piplitin (Nobles)

b)

Macehualtin (Commoners)

c)

Mayeque (Serfs)

d)

Tlacotin (Slaves)

1)
2)
3)
4)
32.

The Inca were the first to grow this crop. (a)  

33.

In Ancient Inca, groups of families who worked Noble land together were called (a)   .

34.

In Ancient Inca, who lived in a palace, even in his afterlife.

(a)  

35.

In Ancient Inca, what is the main reason craftsmen were more respected than farmers?

a)

They were able to dress nicer

b)

They did not have to pay taxes

c)

They held festivals that nobles and royals enjoyed attending

d)

They provided goods desired by nobles and royals

36.

What happened to the Sapa Inca after he died?

a)

He was mummified and placed in a tomb.

b)

He was mummified and placed in a temple.

c)

He was mummified and left out in his palace.

d)

He was buried under the palace.

37.

How did the Inca store extra food?

a)

They buried it underground

b)

They dried it out and kept it in special buildings

c)

They cooked it and stored it in jars

d)

They traded it with other cultures for goods and services

38.

How was terrace farming mostly helpful for irrigation?

a)

It spread the water throughout the terraces.

b)

It allowed for more efficient use of land.

c)

It allowed water to run quickly down the mountainside.

d)

It provided a way to store water for future use.

39.

Which statement about Inca children is true?

a)

All Inca children attended school

b)

Parents did not clean or feed their children

c)

Children were watched over carefully, like today

d)

Only wealthy Inca children went to school

40.

Who is the Spaniard that led men to the Inca Empire? (a)  

41.

Which was true about the Inca when the Spanish arrived?

a)

They were healthy and thriving

b)

They were involved in a civil war

c)

They were strong and powerful

d)

Most people had moved away

42.

What is the main reason land was terraced by the Incas?

a)

They found this to be the most effective way to grow crops

b)

It allowed for the best irrigation

c)

There was very little flat land due to the mountains

d)

They could grow many types of crops

43.

In Ancient Inca, (a)   revealed social status and ayllu.

44.

Country where the Inca lived. (a)  

45.

How did the Spanish capture Atahualpa?

a)

They went to his house and took him

b)

They knocked him off his litter and took him

c)

They ambushed him in the town plaza

d)

They took him when he was traveling down the road to Cuzco

46.

How did Atahualpa try to get his freedom from the Spanish?

a)

He told them they could take over the Empire

b)

He promised them a room of gold and silver

c)

He promised them his army

d)

He told them they could live in his home

47.

What was the largest Aztec city?

a)

Cuzco

b)

Inti

c)

Tenochtitlan

d)

Peru

48.

Who was the Incan Sun God? (a)  

49.

Tenochtitlan was built on Lake (a)   .

50.

In 1525, the weakened (a)   Empire was conquered by an Army led by Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro.

51.

These are artificial islands that were made of dirt piled on top of reed mats and anchored to the bottom of a shallow lake were used by the Aztecs.

a)

chinampas

b)

islands

c)

floating gardens

d)

wigwams

52.

What was the largest Mayan city?

a)

Cuzco

b)

Lima

c)

Columbia

d)

Tikal

53.

What was the Incan capital?

a)

Cuzco

b)

Lima

c)

Pizarro

d)

Tikal

54.

What deadly disease killed 90 percent of the population in some areas of the Inca empire?

a)

Smallpox

b)

Black Death

c)

The Plague

d)

Measles