WorksheetsEarly Civilizations of Latin America
Total questions: 70
Worksheet time: 41mins
The main contribution of this civilization was the creation of large stone heads
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incas
This Latin American civilization built their capital city in the middle of a lake.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This Latin American civilization made a number of mathematical contributions and came up with the concept of zero.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This Latin American civilization built a mountain city called Machu Picchu.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This Latin American civilization created a large alphabet and a very accurate solar calendar.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This was the most militaristic of all the Latin American civilizations and they conquered up to 15 million people.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This civilization was the first to come up with the Mesoamerican Ball Game.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
This civilization was the first to introduce the potato to people outside of Latin America.
Olmec
Mayans
Aztecs
Incans
What is an isthmus?
Which of the following civilizations were rediscovered when a giant stone head was found?
What was the only Mesoamerica civilization to develop a fully complete written language?
In Aztec & Mayan culture, what was the most sacred thing that could be offered to the gods?
Blood
Food
What was the staple crop of the Mayan & Aztec Civilizations?
Maize
Which Mesoamerican civilization were made up of independent city-states run by local rulers
Toltecs
Maya
Inca
Aztecs
The Maya developed an advanced understanding of:
Electricity
Astronomy
Genetics
Chemistry
Which of these was not a reason why Europeans began to explore during the Age of Exploration?
Desire for riches through trade & conquest
Desire for fame and glory through their adventures
Desire to escape overpopulation in Europe
Desire to spread their religion to new peoples
What Native American tribe did Columbus first encounter?
The Cherokee
The Iroquois
The Sioux
The Taino
Roughly how many people are thought to have died as a result of Christopher Columbus' rule of the Spanish Caribbean?
1,000,000
500,000
3,000,000
250,000
An arrangement of knotted strings on a cord, used by the Inca to record numerical information.
tributary state
ayllu
quipu
chinampas
Which ancient civilization was founded on the Yucatán Peninsula?
Egypt
Inca
Maya
Songhai
The Mayans and Aztecs were similar in that they built their civilizations on swamp land. To which unique geographic feature did the Incans adapt?
Andes Mountains
lakes
sinkholes
Valley of Mexico
Mexico City is associated with which ancient civilization?
Aztec
Egyptian
Inca
Maya
How did Mayan civilization adapt to the unique geography of Central America?
It developed slash and burn farming techniques to improve food production in swampy lands.
It developed terraced farming techniques to improve food production in mountainous lands.
It developed large canal systems to improve travel across mountainous lands.
It developed arched bridges to improve travel across swampy lands.
Why did the Aztec civilization create floating farms called chinampas?
to increase the impact of irrigation in the arid regions of the Sonoran Desert
to make the best use of the swampy lands of the Yucatán Peninsula
to decrease the risk of seasonal flooding along the Mississippi River
to protect crops from hurricanes along the Atlantic coast
This is a map of Native American civilizations in North and South America. Which number correctly identifies the location of the Incan civilization?
1
2
3
4
This is a photograph of Machu Picchu. Based on the photograph, which statement about Incan culture is true?
Incans lived near the sea.
Incans built complex cities.
Incans lived on plain lands.
Incans built wooden structures.
Terrace farming by the Inca and the use of chinampas by the Aztec are examples of what advancement?
development of complex religions
creation of a simple government structure
agricultural adaptation to the environment
policies for conquering new land
This temple (built by the Aztecs) would most likely be found in which modern-day Latin American country?
Mexico
Peru
Chile
Nicaragua
Use the picture to the left to answer the question. What impact did chinampas have on the environment of the Aztecs?
depletion of the rainforest
increase in air pollution
depletion of natural minerals
increase in farmable land
Which ancient civilization most likely created this terraced farm?
***Bonus points if you can name the mountain range!...
Aztec
Egypt
Gupta
Inca
Which term accurately describes Ancient Incan religion?
Buddhist
Confucian
monotheistic
polytheistic
This is a photograph of the Aztec calendar. This calendar is evidence of what aspect of Aztec civilization?
Aztec civilization stole sculptures from civilizations they conquered.
Aztec civilization had a detailed understanding of time and astronomy.
Aztec civilization created few cultural advancements.
Aztec civilization did not believe in the traditional concepts of time and aging.
How did the Mayan civilization maintain order over a large empire?
It divided its population into city-states.
It created democratic assemblies.
It forced the monarch to move the capital every year.
It allowed religious leaders to create new states.
The role of Sapa Inca ("the only Inca") in Incan culture is most similar to which role in European culture?
emperor
farmer
merchant
professor
This is a quote from an Aztec priest: "Life is because of the gods; with their sacrifice, they gave us life.... They produce our sustenance...which nourishes life." Based on this quote, which statement is true?
Religious practices controlled many aspects of Aztec culture.
Religion played a small role in Aztec culture.
Religious leaders had little power in Aztec culture.
Religion was introduced from interactions between Europe and Aztec culture.
This is a quote from an article written by the Peru Cultural Society. Based on the quote, how did the Inca government impact the regional economy?
It allowed citizens to buy and sell goods in closed markets.
It controlled most aspects of trade and production.
It prevented the creation of government jobs.
It forced citizens to trade with foreign explorers.
This is a map of the Incan Empire. It provides evidence for which statement?
Incan civilization depended on a complex system of roads to connect settlements.
Incan civilization was dependent on trade with Europe.
Incan civilization allowed settlements to be isolated from one another.
Incan civilization was influenced by the structure of the Aztec Empire.
Which culture created sophisticated network of city-states with a king and a great military out of the Yucatan Peninsula?
Aztec
Hutu
Inca
Maya
Which statement is true in regards to the relationship between the early civilizations of Latin America and the Europeans?
Both civilizations needed to help each other out
The Europeans protected many of the Latin American civilizations against each other
The Latin American civilizations developed advanced societies before the arrival of the Europeans
The Europeans accepted the cultural differences of the natives
Which statement is true about the various Native American groups living in North America hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans?
They were small civilizations with limited knowledge of farming techniques.
Poor climate prevented them from building permanent farming settlements.
They lived in isolation and had little contact with each other.
Their culture and customs were closely tied to their environments.
Maya achievements in mathematics were closely related to what other area?
music
astronomy
road building
military power
How did Francisco Pizarro gain control of the Incan Empire in 1533?
He convinced the Incan leader to give his land to Spain.
He captured the Incan leader and executed him.
He went to war and conquered the Incan lands.
He bought the land from the Incans.
How were the declines of the Aztec and Incan Empires similar?
They were both caused by decreases in trade with Asia.
They were both caused by European invasions.
They were both caused by rapid changes in climate.
They were both caused by natural disasters.
Why were Europeans able to conquer Native Americans in the New World despite being outnumbered?
Europeans brought food and helped grow crops during a period of famine.
Europeans possessed advanced technology and weapons.
Europeans converted many Native Americans to Catholicism.
Europeans adapted their cultures to become more like the Native Americans.
What caused the decline of the Incan and Aztec civilizations?
diseases brought by the Europeans
new foods brought by the Europeans
warfare between the Aztecs and Incas
flooding caused by a long rainy season
The Aztec empire was conquered in 1521 by Spanish forces led by conquistador ________.
Nicolaus Copernicus
Ferdinand Magellan
Leonardo da Vinci
Hernan Cortes
The capital of the Aztecs was which city?
La Paz
Cuzco
Tikal
Tenochtitlan
The capital of the Incas was which city?
Tenochtitlan
Cuzco
Tikal
La Paz
The capital of the Maya was which city?
Tikal
Cuzco
Tenochtitlan
La Paz
Which civilization practiced human sacrifice?
Aztec
Maya
Olmec
Inca
Which civilization were considered master stone masons?
Aztec
Inca
Olmec
Maya
Which civilization was conquered by Hernando Cortes?
Inca
Maya
Aztec
Roman
Which civilization was conquered by Francisco Pizarro?
Maya
Aztec
Egyptian
Inca
Who were the European conquerors who came to Latin America?
Pirates
Pilgrims
Americans
Conquistadors
Which civilization made education compulsory?
Mesopotamian
Aztec
Maya
Inca
Which civilization used the concept of zero?
Indus Valley
Maya
Aztec
Inca
Which civilization farmed by using floating gardens?
Maya
Inca
Britain
Aztec
Which civilization farmed by terrace farming?
Maya
Aztec
Inca
Germans
Which civilization just disappeared?
Ancient Aliens
Maya
Aztec
Inca
Which civilization was polytheistic?
Romans
Maya
Aztec
Inca
Which civilization used hieroglyphics?
Egyptian
Aztec
Inca
Maya
This is a term for "Middle America" refers to what is now Mexico and parts of northern countries of central America.
Sub Sahara
Mesoamerica
Sahel
Peru
(Click to hide text)
This civilization developed in Mexico and built their capital, Tenochtitlan, on a swapy island in a lake.
Aztec
Inca
Maya
ALL
What is the legend of El Dorado?
A city of silver
A city of gold
A city of copper
A city of coal
