Memorization
Understanding
Analysis
Critical thinking
100
What is the location of the Mayan civilization?
The Yucatan Peninsula and Northern Central America
100
Explain the difference between the two types of pyramids the Mayans built.
1) The first was meant to be climbed by priests for human sacrifices to take place. 2) The other was built in devotion to a god, etc, or ONLY for the priest-king rituals
100
Cortes writes, "I came... to protect their lives as well as their property." Based on what you have learned, would you say he accomplished these objectives?
Obviously NO, because what he did was kill and wipe out out the entire civilization. He then conquered their land and benefitted from its resources.
100
How did the Mayan Civilization influence the Aztecs?
Possible Answers: - The Aztecs based their calendar on the Mayan one. - The Aztecs used hieroglyphics similar to the Mayan ones to keep records. - Like the Mayans, the Aztecs worshipped multiple gods and practiced human sacrifice
200
Which of the below is a commonly bartered item in Mayan economy? a) coco beans b) Melon Seeds c) All of the above d) maize
Answer: "C"
200
How are Aztec pyramids different from Mayan ones and give a reason for that difference.
The main difference was that the Aztec would sometimes build more than one temple on the top of a pyramid. This is also mainly because the Aztecs were more concerned with Human Sacrifice rituals.
200
Explain why no civilization or clan wanted to be neighbors with the Aztecs or even interact with them?
Because they went crazy about human sacrifice and juicing hearts, and no one ever wants to experience this of course :)
200
Why would the Aztec sun god be associated with their calendar?
The sun was an important element in determining their calendar. Used the sun to help them determine when eclipses would take place and the movement of the planets. The people depend on the sun for their crops to grow.
300
Who was Pacal the Great and what did he do?
He was one of the greatest Mayan Kings who ordered the construction of one of the most complicated Mayan tombs.
300
What connection did astronomy have with the Mayans' polytheistic religion?
Solar structures like the "sun" and "moon" were in fact their gods!
300
Why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice?
Because they believed that if the gods were not fed the sun god wouldn't bring up the son and they would die.
300
“Some of the soldiers among us who had been in many parts of the world, in Constantinople, and all over Italy, and in Rome, said that so large a market place and so full of people…they had never beheld before.” – Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of the first Spaniards to see Tenochtitlan. What can you conclude about the population of the Aztec capital from this eyewitness account? How do you think the Spanish might have felt when they first saw the city of Tenochtitlan?
The population must have been very large. The Spanish might have been in awe of the city, impressed by its wealth, or might have felt intimidated by so many people. Anxious, knowing they were there to conquer the Aztecs and that their cities were so well organized and populated
400
True or False: (justify your answer) King Montezuma II of the Aztecs sacrificed himself to the gods and let a priest juice his heart after the Spanish had taken control over Aztec territory.
False: The King was killed by the Aztecs
400
Who are the Tlaxcalans and what role did they play in the Aztecs' defeat by conquistador Cortes?
The Tlaxcalans are one of the Aztec enemies who were under Aztec rule. They played a role in the Aztec defeat by creating an alliance with Cortes to wage war against the Aztecs because they wanted to be freed and not lose anymore people because of Aztec sacrifices.
400
At a certain point, the Aztec civilization experienced overpopulation with a population exceeding a million. List at least one technology the Aztecs created in response to this problem, then explain its role in helping with the problem of overpopulated land.
- Chinampas
500
Re-list the social structure of the Mayan civilization in the correct order, then do the same for the Aztecs.
Mayans: King - priests & nobles - commoners - serfs - slaves Aztecs: Ruler - Nobles - commoners - serfs - slaves
500
True or False: (Justify your answer) The strongest factor that played a role in the Aztec defeat was the alliance between the Spanish and the Tlaxcalans.
False: it is the spread of a disease the Spanish unintentionally brought with them called "small-pox"
500
How are the Aztecs' goals behind war differ from that of the Spanish or even European's in general?
- The Aztecs' greatest motive and goal was to have a larger amount of people to do sacrifice rituals on while the Spanish's goals behind war is to exploit the resources of other land and enslave their people, etc.
500
List some of the advantages the Spanish had over the Aztecs when they fought with them.
- The Spread of the Disease - Advanced weaponry (cannons, cavalry, sharp steel swords and war dogs) - The Alliance of Aztec enemies with the Spanish (Tlaxcalans)
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