Q&A Hero

Q: If an Aztec woman died in childbirth, her fate was: A. determined by the sex of the baby B. to be given warrior status C. to be reborn to give birth again D. the same as her mother's

Q: The Basin of Mexico has a semi-arid landscape. One crop that helped settlers satisfy their need for water was: A. maguey B. the nopal cactus C. cotton D. maize

Q: The population of the Basin of Mexico increased throughout the Postclassic period from 200,000 in 1200 to _______ in 1519. A. 400,000 B. 750,000 C. 1,000,000 D. 10,000,000

Q: Many towns in modern Mexico and Central America have Nahuatl names because: A. the Aztecs conquered all of these places B. Aztec guides translated local names into Nahuatl when accompanying the Spanish conquerors C. modern historians changed local names into one language for easy reference D. local peoples adopted the Nahuatl language when they were conquered by the Aztecs

Q: The _______ family is the most widely spoken set of indigenous languages in the Americas. A. Chibchan B. Quechua C. Otomanguean D. Uto-Aztecan

Q: The first unifier of the Tarascan core region and the founder of the Late Postclassic dynasty was: A. the Xiu lineage B. Taracuri C. Ptzcuaro D. the Tenochca

Q: The Tarascan language is also known as: A. Purpecha B. Ptzcuaro C. Quechua D. Chibchan

Q: The fact that the Tarascan language is not related to other Mesoamerican languages may indicate that the Tarascans: A. came to Mesoamerica early in its prehistory B. married and integrated with other ethnic groups in the region C. remained isolated from some of the main influences in Mesoamerica D. came from the Old World

Q: We can conclude that tobacco was important to the Tarascans thanks to: A. the numerous tobacco fields that were noted by the conquering Spaniards B. the high quantity of cigarette butts recovered at Tarascan sites C. the high frequency of pipe fragments present at ceremonial sites D. plentiful remains of chewed wads of tobacco

Q: In the Middle Postclassic, the Tarascans developed their empire around: A. the Gulf Coast B. the Pacific Coast C. Lake Petn Itz D. Lake Ptzcuaro

Q: The Tarascans of West Mexico: A. settled around Lake Petn Itz B. became vassals of the Aztecs C. used metal weapons D. had extensive written records

Q: The region of Tehuantepec on the Pacific Coast flourished during the Middle Postclassic with a large population at: A. Saltillo B. Quich C. Tayasil D. Man

Q: During the Middle Postclassic, the highlands of Guatemala: A. suffered a collapse, similar to that of the lowland Classic Maya B. drastically declined in population C. contained hilltop sites for defense D. enjoyed a time of peace

Q: After Mayapn was destroyed around 1441, ________ was established, becoming the capital of the largest of the northern Yucatn's Late Postclassic kingdoms. A. Tula B. Uxmal C. Chichn Itz D. Man

Q: The rulers of Mayapn dealt with rival elites in the northern Yucatn by: A. resettling them further south B. adopting them as family members when they were toddlers C. taking them hostage through the guise of hospitality D. kidnapping them at birth

Q: The Postclassic Maya city of Mayapn was ruled by: A. the Toltecs B. the Cocom family C. Teotihuacanos D. the Xiu lineage

Q: After the decline of Chichn Itz, this center dominated northern Yucatn politics: A. Mayapn B. Man C. Tayasil D. Las Flores

Q: The Itz Maya had a stronghold in the Petn at their capital of ______, which was unconquered until 1697. A. Tenochca B. Tayasil C. Teozacoalco D. Tenochtitlan

Q: Segmentary states within an empire: A. are composed of various factions that are very different from one another B. are fragile because the empire needs each in order to survive C. are characterized by weak leaders D. can easily become independent

Q: The particular group of Mexica that established the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan were the: A. Tenochca B. Tepanec C. Tolucans D. Toltecs

Q: The term ________ refers to the Nahua dialect spoken in Mexico's Central Highlands in the Late Postclassic. A. Nahuatl B. Uto-Aztecan C. Mexica D. Tenochca

Q: The Mexica are commonly known as the: A. Nahua B. Acolhua C. Tepanecs D. Aztecs

Q: Chapultepec Hill in modern Mexico City holds great significance because: A. it was where the Aztecs originated B. it embodies the transformation of Mesoamerica C. many ancient trees survived in this modern park D. it was where Aztecs held out against the Spanish

Q: Mesoamerica's Middle Postclassic period dates from: A. ad 600 to 1000 B. ad 800 to 1200 C. ad 1200 to 1430 D. ad 1481 to 1519

Q: MATCHING 2 1) Snaketown 2) Ixtln del Ro 3) Guasave 4) Casas Grandes 5) Pueblo Bonito A. Mogollon site involved in trade with Mesoamerica B. Chaco Canyon site where chocolate was found C. Site with a huge circular pyramid at its center D. Hohokam site with ball courts E. Mexican Aztatln culture site on the Pacific Coast

Q: MATCHING 1 1) Xochiquetzal 2) Mayahuel 3) Cihuacoatl 4) Toci / Teteo Innan 5) Xilonen A. Maize goddess B. Maguey goddess C. Moon goddess and the patroness of women D. "Woman Snake" goddess and the patroness of midwives E. Grandmother goddess; the comforter

Q: During the reign of the Mixtec's most famous ruler, _______ was thought to have been a very important capital. A. Coixtlahuaca B. Teotenango C. Tilantongo D. Cholula

Q: A key feature of Mixtec society in the Early Postclassic period was its: A. rigid social stratification B. exogamous classes with regard to marriage C. rulers, who frequently mixed with the commoners D. egalitarian attitude to the distribution of resources

Q: The most famous of the Mixtec rulers was: A. 5 Alligator B. 18 Rabbit C. Pakal D. 8 Deer

Q: The bird that represents the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli is a: A. hummingbird B. macaw C. quetzal D. eagle

Q: The term "Aztec" that has been developed by modern scholars: A. is derived from the homeland of Aztln B. comes from the main river that runs through the highlands C. refers to the Aztatln D. is also the name for a mountain chain near Mexico City

Q: The "International Style" refers to: A. the types of houses at Tula B. the widespread Mixteca-Puebla style C. the way in which the Toltecs prepared their chocolate D. calendars found throughout Mesoamerica

Q: Located in the Toluca Valley, the highest alluvial plain in Mexico's Central Highlands, is the Classic/Postclassic site: A. Tula B. Tilantongo C. Xaltocan D. Teotenango

Q: The cultural region of Michoacn supplied Tula with: A. turquoise B. obsidian C. copper D. feathers

Q: Tula was well known for its _______ who became known as the "Tolteca" by other peoples (e.g. the Mexica). A. royalty B. large population of commoners C. skilled craftspeople D. tireless farmers

Q: The decline of Tula is attributed to: A. extensive flooding along the Tula River B. the fall of the ruler Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl C. excessive consumption of pulque D. overpopulation and environmental degradation

Q: Contact between the Mesoamerican peoples of the Early Postclassic and the Mississippian cultures of North America: A. was extensive and competitive, as evidenced by the remains of warfare B. occurred among their elites, who exchanged royal marriage partners C. has been difficult to detect in the archaeological record D. was nonexistent, since there is no evidence to document it

Q: Casas Grandes is well known for trading _______ to the south. A. coal, wood, maize, and maguey B. copper, turquoise, shell, and feathers C. turkeys, bronze, dried deer meat, and rabbits D. jade, cloth, dogs, and obsidian

Q: The evidence found at Pueblo Bonito, the largest Chaco Canyon site, for contact with Mesoamerica is: A. ball courts B. murals depicting the Feathered Serpent C. pottery from Tula D. chocolate

Q: Casas Grandes, an Early Postclassic site in northern Mexico, was the most important site of the ______ culture. A. Puebloan B. Hohokam C. Mogollon D. Teuchitln

Q: During the Early Postclassic, the extensive trade network along West Mexico's Pacific Coast and its interior was associated with the: A. Aztec culture B. Toltec culture C. Aztatln culture D. Hohokam culture

Q: Bronze is made by smelting together: A. copper and tin or arsenic B. tin with iron or arsenic C. iron and copper D. arsenic, tin, and gold

Q: During the Early Postclassic, metalworking: A. spread throughout Mesoamerica and dominated tool production B. began in Tula C. was advanced with the new technology of bronze-making D. was discontinued in Mesoamerica since it was too difficult to extract metals from their ores

Q: It is unsurprising that 80 percent of the obsidian worked in Tula came from the Pachuca because: A. the source of the stone was only 40 miles away B. extensive trade networks allowed merchants to purchase it in bulk C. long-distance travel was common in this part of Mexico D. the Tula River allowed for the quick transportation of goods from all parts of Mexico

Q: The majority of the population in the Tula region was engaged in: A. obsidian-blade production B. pottery making C. farming D. designing feather headdresses

Q: Lapidaries at Tula were skilled at: A. digging effective irrigation ditches B. carving hieroglyphics into stone monuments C. long-distance trading relations with northern Mexico D. incorporating precious stones into jewelry and artwork

Q: How has archaeology answer:ed the question of whether tuberculosis was endemic or introduced to the Americas?

Q: What are the characteristics of an empire?

Q: Today Tula is a shadow of its former self because: A. the Aztecs removed valuable items from the site for their own use B. it was ransacked by its rivals C. several earthquakes have caused irreparable damage D. the Tula River has changed course numerous times, wiping out parts of the site

Q: How did the Inca conduct warfare?

Q: Tula's Palacio Quemado is said to have been administrative rather than residential in function because of: A. the hieroglyphs on its interior walls B. the statues in front of the building C. its layout and iconography D. experiments undertaken by archaeologists

Q: Tula's "Canal Locality" refers to: A. the boats on the Tula River B. a set of three house groups that have been excavated C. the place where fishermen spent time together D. the area with the most irrigation canals

Q: If you were from Tula, you most likely lived in: A. an apartment compound B. a residence in a house group with lots of room around it C. a small individual house D. a gender-segregated compound

Q: What happened to Inca rulers after their deaths?

Q: In Mesoamerican religion: A. there were only male deities B. there were many female deities C. there was only one major female and one major male deity D. female deities were worshipped in round temples

Q: Explain why research into raised field agriculture is important.

Q: Temples dedicated to the wind god Ehcatl: A. have a unique shape in the form of an "X" B. were the only temples built at Tula C. are thought to have originated with the Olmecs D. are usually round

Q: Describe the Inca Empire.

Q: After the collapse of El Tajn in the Gulf lowlands, migrants to Huasteca caused ______ to be renamed. A. Toluca B. Xochicalcoan C. Teotihuacan II D. Totonacapan

Q: What is the importance of the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna?

Q: What was the Moche state?

Q: The most famous sculptures at Tula are: A. statues of female deities B. gigantic cacao pods carved from granite C. the Atlantean warriors D. the large jaguars in the Palacio Quemado

Q: What was the Nasca culture, and why was it important?

Q: Tula and the northern Maya city of ______ have many features in common, including the layout of the Temple of the Warriors. A. Mayapn B. Uxmal C. Tulum D. Chichn Itz

Q: Tula was at its most powerful during the Tollan phase, which dates from: A. ad 600 to 900 B. ad 900 to 1150 C. ad 800 to 1200 D. ad 1430 to 1521

Q: What is Chavn de Huntar?

Q: The hallucinogenic substance of peyote comes from: A. maize B. a toad C. a cactus D. maguey

Q: Soft tissue does not preserve well at Andean archaeological sites.

Q: The Inca kept track of commercial transactions by a pictographic writing known as khipu.

Q: Tula's environmental setting can be described as: A. semi-arid B. tropical rainforest C. arid D. desert

Q: Puuc-style architecture: A. began during the Formative period B. originated at Edzn and Oxkintok C. spread northward from the southern lowlands D. evolved, with some influence from Teotihuacan

Q: Inca roads could be up to 4 meters wide, and involved ingenious bridges for people and animals to use.

Q: The Puuc style of architecture showcases: A. large asymmetrical buildings B. portraits of individual rulers C. many Mayan hieroglyphs D. elaborate facades

Q: Even when rulers were dead, their mummified bodies exerted power.

Q: Feasting and exchanging goods played a central role in Inca society.

Q: The Puuc water god is known as: A. chultun B. the Feathered Serpent C. Chac D. chacmool

Q: Machu Picchu was a royal estate of the Inca elite.

Q: The bottle-shaped, subterranean, plastered chamber that was constructed as part of residential house groups is known as a: A. cenote B. chultun C. sinkhole D. sacbe

Q: "Puuc" is the Mayan word for: A. palace B. peninsula C. water god D. ridge

Q: The son, who became the new ruler after the emperor died, inherited all of his father's property.