The Early Americas
What was one major military advantage of Tenochtitlan’s location on an island in Lake Texcoco?
A It had abundant farmland for growing crops.
B The surrounding water made it hard for enemies to attack.
C It was close to other cities for easy communication.
D It provided large flat area for training soldiers.
B The surrounding water made it hard for enemies to attack.
What farming technique did the Hohokam use to manage water in the desert environment?
A Terracing
B Crop rotation
C Irrigation canals
D Slash-and-burn agriculture
C Irrigation canals
What was one of the most significant effects of the Crusades on Europe?
A Decreased influence of the Catholic Church
B Opening of new trade routes that boosted economic growth
C Decreased military technology and strategies
D A decline in cultural exchange with the Middle East
B Opening of new trade routes that boosted economic growth
In what way might Spain’s decision to claim land in North America be considered controversial?
A Spanish explorers promised to free the slaves of North America.
B Spanish explorers failed to convert native people to Christianity.
C Spanish explorers seized territory already inhabited by American Indians.
D Spanish explorers laid claim to land that was already controlled by Portugal.
C Spanish explorers seized territory already inhabited by American Indians.
What effect did the glaciers have on ancient humans during the last ice age?
A They caused the destruction of several civilizations due to rising sea levels.
B They forced ancient humans to abandon North America and migrate to South America.
C They influenced the cultures that developed in portions of North America.
D They created a land bridge that allowed humans to travel from Asia to the Americas.
D They created a land bridge that allowed humans to travel from Asia to the Americas.
How did farming improve the lives of ancient civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca?
A It allowed them to travel long distances more easily.
B It provided a stable food supply that supported population growth.
C It made it possible to build large pyramids quickly.
D It helped them develop better hunting techniques.
B It provided a stable food supply that supported population growth.
Which crops were primarily grown by the Hohokam?
A Wheat and barley
B Corn, beans, squash
C Rice and oats
D Potatoes and yams
B Corn, beans, squash
In what way did the use of the astrolabe revolutionize sea travel?
A It helped sailors determine the depths of different seas.
B It helped ships stay on course by always pointing north.
C It helped sailors predict the weather and prepare for storms.
D It helped ships maintain course by determining latitude.
D It helped ships maintain course by determining latitude.
Which of the following was a negative effect of the Columbian Exchange?
A The introduction of horses to the Americas
B The spread of diseases that harmed Indigenous populations
C The cultivation of new crops like tomatoes in Europe
D The increase in trade between continents
B The spread of diseases that harmed Indigenous populations
What Chinese inventions greatly changed ships and sea travel?
A Fortune cookies
B Silk and paper
C New advanced ships
D The compass and astrolabe
D The compass and astrolabe
Why did the Ice Age lead to the arrival of the first people in North America?
A It created a land bridge between Asia and North America.
B It caused large animals to migrate away from the continent.
C It made it possible for people to travel.
D It increased the temperature, making travel easier.
A It created a land bridge between Asia and North America.
What is one characteristic of the farming practices of the Mound Builders?
A They relied solely on hunting and gathering.
B They practiced nomadic herding.
C They used only dry farming techniques.
D They settled in areas with fertile soils along river valleys.
D They settled in areas with fertile soils along river valleys.
How did merchants affect the spread of Islam?
A They built mosques in every city they visited.
B They engaged in trade and shared Islamic beliefs with their customers.
C They only focused on selling goods without interacting with local cultures.
D They wrote books that discouraged the practice of Islam.
B They engaged in trade and shared Islamic beliefs with their customers.
What was one major consequence of the Columbian Exchange?
A The introduction of new crops improved diets in Europe.
B The end of all trade between Europe and Asia.
C A decrease in the population of Europe.
D The discovery of new continents.
A The introduction of new crops improved diets in Europe.
How do scholars know that the Vikings had traveled to North America prior to Columbus’s voyage?
A Scholars have located ancient Viking maps of North America’s northeast coast.
B The Vikings left written records and archaeological evidence.
C The Inuit have passed down oral histories about their battles with the Vikings.
D Archaeologists have found the ruins of Viking ships along the west coast.
B The Vikings left written records and archaeological evidence.
While sometimes quite diverse, one common theme of many American Indian religious beliefs was
A the acceptance of only one major god.
B a predetermined existence that lacked free will.
C a reliance on rigorous prayer and worship rituals.
D the importance of one’s connection with the physical environment.
D the importance of one’s connection with the physical environment.
What conclusion can be drawn about why the lifestyle of the Inuit in the Arctic differed from that of the Natchez in the Southeast?
A The Inuit had a vast empire that assimilated the cultures of other groups.
B The contrasting environments in which they lived greatly influenced their ways of life.
C The Natchez were more isolated and had less contact with other groups.
D The Inuit had access to fertile soil while the land of the Natchez was more arid.
B The contrasting environments in which they lived greatly influenced their ways of life.
What was one of the main goals of Christopher Columbus’s voyages in the late 15th century?
A To find a new trade route to Asia
B To explore the Arctic regions
C To map the African coast
D To establish colonies in Australia
A To find a new trade route to Asia
Which of the following statements BEST describes the importance of the voyage around the world led by Magellan?
A The voyage proved that there was a westward all-water route to Asia.
B The voyage proved that sailing west to reach Asia was a shorter and less dangerous route than traveling east.
C The voyage proved the theory that the world was round.
D The voyage proved that circumnavigating the globe was nearly impossible with current navigation tools.
A The voyage proved that there was a westward all-water route to Asia.
C The voyage proved the theory that the world was round.
What are the human and physical characteristics of different regions in North America?
Northeast & Southeast: Tribes like the Iroquois and Cherokee; known for agriculture, longhouses, and a diverse climate with four seasons.
Great Plains & Southwest: Tribes such as the Lakota and Hopi; nomadic bison hunters and agricultural communities in arid landscapes with tipis and adobe homes.
Northwest Coast & California: Tribes like the Kwakiutl and Chumash; rich cultural traditions, plank houses, and diverse natural resources in coastal and forested areas.
Arctic: Inuit and Yupik tribes; adapted to extreme cold with igloos and animal-skin clothing in tundra environments.
Which of the following is an example of an effect of cultural diffusion in early North America?
A American Indian groups created their first trade networks.
B Climates became more hospitable for American Indian groups.
C Many American Indian groups learned how to farm.
D American Indian groups often used different materials to create similar tools.
C Many American Indian groups learned how to farm.
What was the role of a woman in Iroquoian society?
A They chose clan leaders with their political power.
B They owned all the household property.
C They were in charge of planting and harvesting.
D ALL OF THE ABOVE
D ALL OF THE ABOVE
How did the printing press contribute to bringing Europe out of the Middle Ages?
A It allowed for the mass production of books, increasing access to knowledge.
B It made handwritten manuscripts more popular and exclusive.
C It focused primarily on religious texts, limiting the spread of new ideas.
D It decreased literacy rates among the general population.
A It allowed for the mass production of books, increasing access to knowledge.
What were some of the positive and negative consequences of the Columbian Exchange in North America?
Positives
- Some American Indians learned to use and ride horses
- Europeans learned new skills, gained great wealth, were introduced to new customs and ideas
- Europeans spread Christianity
Negatives
- American Indians lost their way of life & lands
- American Indians were forced into labor by Europeans
- Disease spread to the Americas from Europe
How does geography affect people’s lives?
Natural Resource, Climate, Shelter, Transportation, Farming, Food Sources, Culture, Etc.