Olmec Overview and Contributions
The Olmec thrived along Mexico’s Gulf Coast mainly in what present-day states?
A. Vercruz and Tabasco
B. Veracruz and Tabaco
C. Veracruz and Tabasco
D. Verascruz and Tabacso
C. Veracruz and Tabasco
What was the name of the religious complex located in the Royal compound at La Venta?
A. Complex C
B. Complex A
C. Complex D
D. Complex B
B. Complex A
Fill in the blank:
The Maya civilization occupied an almost continuous territory in ______________.
A. South America
B. Central America
C. North America’s
D. North Korea
B. Central America
In the Social Hierarchy Pyramid of the Mayans, the King stuff at the very top. He was the Supreme ruler who had undivided rule and authority. What other term is used to refer to the king?
A. Ajaw
B. Ahaw
C. Araw
D. Ayaw
A. Ajaw
How many glyphs or symbols did the Mayan Hieroglyphic writing system have?
A. 700
B. 820
C. 780
D. 800
D. 800
What were the two major Olmec cities?
San Lorenzo and La Venta
What were the crops that the Olmecs manly grew? Give at least 1.
maize(corn), beans, squash, manioc, sweet potatoes, and cotton
What did the Mayans use as a form of currency?
Cacao beans
The Maya civilization was deeply religious , with a belief in a variety of deities who could be ….
A. Good
B. Evil
C. Both
D. All of the above
D. All of the Above
What was the name of the Mayan version of the Olmec snake god?
Kukulkan
The Olmecs were among the first to manipulate what material?
Rubber
Who was the Archaeologist who identified five elements of the Olmec religion?
Richard Diehl
What were the independent principal cities of the Maya Civilization? Give at least two examples.
Tikal, Copán, Palenque, Uxmal, and Chichén Itzá
What did the Mayans use to record important historical events?
codex
The Olmec civilization would eventually collapse for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Which among the options is part of the reasons that some scholars believe led to the downfall of the Olmec civilization?
A. The food wasn’t delicious.
B. Environmental depletion due to rapid population expansion, over-cultivation, famine and diseases.
C. Natural calamities or over-farming.
D. Violence and infighting may have erupted among the Olmec.
C. Natural calamities or over-farming.
Fill in the blanks:
The oldest known Olmec site is found in San Lorenzo, one of the ancient cities in Mexico, where archeologists discovered extraordinary stone monuments and sculptures, especially the colossal stone heads that may have served as portraits of their rulers. These monuments measure up to _ feet in height and _ tons in weight.
9 feet, 8 tons
To the Olmec, there were three parts of the known universe. What creature/s were home to the three parts namely the Earth, The watery underworld and The Skies?
Olmec Dragon, Fish Monster, Bird Monster
What were the two calendars that the Mayans devised from their Sun, Moon and planet observations?
260-day religious calendar and a 365-day solar calendar
Or
The Sacred 260-day year and The 365-day secular year
Fill in the blanks:
The Mayans also tossed captives into the deep sinkhole lake known as ___________ during ceremonies mostly at ______________.
Cenote, Chichen Itza
Archaeologist Richard Diehl has identified five elements of the Olmec religion. State at least two of the five elements.
a particular cosmos
a set of gods who interacted with mortals
a shaman class
specific rituals
sacred sites
Generally, what were the six pristine cultures that are thought to exist?
Ancient India, Egypt, China, Sumeria, Olmec, and the Chavin Culture of Peru.
In addition to the three gods, researchers have identified five more. Give at least two of these five gods.
the Maize God, the Water God, the Feathered Serpent, the Banded-eye God, and the were-jaguar
The long count calendar was developed by a Mayan Priest in 236 BC. It divided time into different cycles namely Baktun, K’atun, Tun, Uinal/Winal and Kin. What was the date that became the start point of this system?
August 11 or 13, 3114 BC
What were the ways in which commoners could rise up the ranks to personally be part of the elite class? Give at least two.
Noble titles could be granted to extraordinary warriors.
Wealth and fame could be achieved by skilled artisans and merchants.
Some commoners could be accepted into the priestly caste.
Just like the Olmec, the fall of the Maya civilization is also a mystery. Give at least two of what some specialists speculate to be the cause of their downfall.
Violence may have erupted among numerous Maya city-states disrupting trade and ultimately leading to economic disaster.
Environmental depletion due to rapid population expansion, over-cultivation, famine and diseases.