Technology
Beliefs
Trade/Economy
Geography/Environ.
Miscellaneous
100
What structures were the Olmecs most famous for?
Stone heads
100
The Olmecs had ______________ gods. (about type not number)
anthropomorphous
100
What popular item today could be used as a form of currency in Olmec society?
Cacao beans/Chocolate
100
What modern day country are the Olmecs located?
Mexico
100
What does the term "Olmec" mean? Why were the Olmecs descrbibed as this?
Rubber people. They lived in an area of abundant rubber trees
200
In what branch of architecture were the Olmecs advanced in?
Masonry/carving to exact proportions
200
What activity was performed to provide ceremonial sacrifices for the gods?
The Mesoamerican/Olmec ballgame
200
What was the staple crop in Olmec society, and other Mesoamerican ones to follow?
Maize
200
How did the Olmecs continue to migrate towards South America?
Little by little, as small groups left bigger areas and gradually moved because of population pressures
200
Which three large cities were part of the Olmec heartland?
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes
300
What were Olmec tools made out of? Why?
Obsidian, since metal was not abundant
300
What was Olmec shamanism?
The shamans believed that they could transform and take an nahuale's powers.
300
Where was basaltic rock imported from?
The Tuxtlas Moutains
300
How did the Olmecs migrate from the Eastern Hemisphere?
Through a land bridge to Alaska, then south.
300
Name a civilization that adopted Olmec customs and how they used it.
Answer will be judged.
400
What was the largest step pyramid still in existance?
The Great Pyramid in La Venta that is 110 ft tall
400
Why was the Jaguar of such high prestige?
The Olmecs believed that they were descendants of the Jaguar and it was closely related to the human spirit.
400
Name four things the Olmecs traded.
Obsidian, jade, animal skins, ceramics, others may be accepted
400
Why were the Olmecs forced to create flood diversion systems?
They had abundant rainfall which was uncontrollable, so diversion systems were used to stop floods from destroying sites.
400
How were women treated in Olmec society?
In the upper classes, the society was patriarchal, and the men had more rights/opportunity. In the lower classes, they were pretty much equal to men because peasants were forced to do labor for the elites.
500
What did the stone heads portray? What did it show about Olmec ethnicity? (250 if one question is answered correctly)
Stone heads are thought to have portrayed famous rulers playing the Mesoamerican ballgame because they are very fat and only elites would have access to excess food. They allow historians to conclude that Olmecs were most likely African/Asian.
500
Why did the Elites perform ritual bloodletting? Why did the prisoners of war? (250 if one questions is answered correctly)
The Elites used it to show that they were willing to give up something, and to keep their social position. The prisoners of war were forced to shed blood so the Olmecs could please the gods.
500
Name 3 places the Olmecs traded with.
The people of ancient Guatemala, Puebla, Oaxaca
500
How did the Olmec civilization decline?
It is believed that the Olmecs abandoned and destroyed their cities.
500
Name a few ways in which the Olmecs were unique.
Answers determined as correct
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