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Worksheets

Mesoamerica

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is Mesoamerica?

a)

A region in Africa

b)

A region extending across southern Mexico and most of Central America that was the home of the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Mayans, and Aztecs

c)

A country in South America

d)

An island in the Pacific Ocean

2.

Two civilizations that lived in Mesoamerica are:

a)

Romans and Greeks

b)

Olmecs and Mayans

c)

Chinese and Egyptians

d)

Vikings and Celts

3.

What is the term for corn that was originally grown in Mesoamerica?

a)

Maize

b)

Wheat

c)

Barley

d)

Rice

4.

The Olmec civilization was known for a large trading network and what type of sculptures?

a)

Colossal head sculptures

b)

Terracotta warrior statues

c)

Marble busts of emperors

d)

Bronze animal figurines

5.

What is the farming technique called in which plants in a given area are cut down and burned to fertilize the soil for future use?

a)

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

b)

Crop Rotation

c)

Hydroponics

d)

Terrace Farming

6.

The Zapotec civilization may have developed the first ______ system in the Americas.

a)

writing

b)

farming

c)

calendar

d)

trade

7.

The Maya civilization is known for their architecture and layout of their _____?

a)

cities

b)

forests

c)

rivers

d)

mountains

8.

The Maya civilization had a 365-day calendar.

a)

True

b)

False

9.

What is obsidian?

a)

A type of metal used by the Romans

b)

Black and sharp volcanic rock that was traded throughout the Mayan civilization

c)

A kind of plant found in the rainforest

d)

A type of animal hunted by the Mayans

10.

What is the Yucatán Peninsula?

a)

A mountain range in South America

b)

A piece of land occupied by the Mayans, located in parts of present-day Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, and separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico

c)

An island in the Pacific Ocean

d)

A desert in Africa

11.

A(n) ________ is a building designed to study the sky and outer space.

a)

Observatory

b)

Library

c)

Museum

d)

Aquarium

12.

Who was Pacal?

a)

A Roman emperor

b)

A Mayan king of Palenque

c)

An Egyptian pharaoh

d)

A Greek philosopher

13.

What is the Popol Vuh?

a)

A Mayan sacred text with legends and history passed down for generations

b)

An Aztec calendar

c)

An Incan city

d)

A Spanish explorer's diary

14.

What is Chichén Itzá?

a)

A modern city

b)

A former Mayan city and archeological site

c)

A river

d)

A mountain

15.

The famous pyramid at Chichén Itzá is known as ________.

a)

El Castillo

b)

La Sagrada Familia

c)

Machu Picchu

d)

Tikal

16.

What is the Aztec civilization known for?

a)

Building the Great Wall of China

b)

Transforming the landscape of Lake Texcoco, conquering nearby groups, and creating a successful economy

c)

Inventing the printing press

d)

Colonizing North America

17.

Tenochtitlan was the ________ city and religious headquarters of the Aztec civilization.

a)

capital

b)

port

c)

rural

d)

suburban

18.

What is a 'Codex'?

a)

An ancient book, manuscript, or scroll, which was used by the Aztecs to explain their history

b)

A modern printed novel

c)

A type of Aztec weapon

d)

A kind of food eaten by the Aztecs

19.

What are Chinampas?

a)

Aztecs

b)

Mayans

c)

Incas

d)

Olmecs

20.

Who was Moctezuma?

a)

Spanish explorer

b)

Aztec emperor who increased the power of the government and ruled over much of Mexico at the time of the Spanish arrival

c)

Inca king

d)

Mayan priest

21.

Moctezuma was eventually imprisoned and killed by the _______.

a)

Spanish

b)

Aztecs

c)

Portuguese

d)

French

22.

Who was Huitzilopochtli?

a)

Aztec

b)

Mayan

c)

Inca

d)

Olmec

23.

________ were Spanish soldiers who tried to conquer as much land as possible for Spain to spread Christianity, become wealthy, and achieve fame.

a)

Conquistadors

b)

Samurais

c)

Vikings

d)

Mamluks

24.

What is the Andes Mountains?

a)

A river in Africa

b)

A rocky and steep mountain range located along the western part of South America

c)

A desert in Asia

d)

A forest in Europe

25.

The Andes Mountains were home to which ancient civilizations?

a)

Chavin and Inca

b)

Olmec and Maya

c)

Aztec and Toltec

d)

Moche and Zapotec