Chapter 1: The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492

Question 1

What was Beringia, and why was it important?

Answer 1

Beringia was a land bridge between Asia and North America that early humans crossed around 9,000–15,000 years ago in search of food, leading to the settlement of the Americas.

Question 2

Which civilization is considered the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, and what are they known for?

Answer 2

The Olmec civilization; they are known for their giant head sculptures, advanced aqueducts, and contributions to later cultures like the Maya and Aztecs.

Question 3

What role did agriculture play in the development of early American civilizations?

Answer 3

The agricultural revolution allowed for reliable food supplies, population growth, and the establishment of permanent settlements, particularly in Mesoamerica.

Question 4

How did the Aztec use their floating gardens (chinampas)?

Answer 4

Chinampas were reed rafts filled with soil used for farming on Lake Texcoco, which provided irrigation and increased agricultural yields.

Question 5

Name two significant achievements of the Maya civilization.

Answer 5

The Maya developed an advanced calendar system and the only known written language in the Western Hemisphere before European contact.

Question 6

Describe the city of Tenochtitlán.

Answer 6

Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, was a well-planned city on an island with aqueducts, floating gardens, and a population of over 200,000, larger than any European city at the time.

Question 7

What was unique about the Inca’s road system?

Answer 7

The Inca built an extensive, well-maintained road system through the Andes, enabling rapid military and communication movements.

Question 8

What characterized the Pueblo cultures of the American Southwest?

Answer 8

The Pueblo built permanent stone-and-mud structures, developed irrigation systems, and were skilled in pottery and jewelry-making.

Question 9

What was Cahokia, and why was it significant?

Answer 9

Cahokia was a major Indigenous city near the Mississippi River, with over 10,000 residents and large earthen mounds, serving as a political and trading hub.

Question 10

How did the Iroquois and other Eastern Woodland tribes organize their societies?

Answer 10

They lived in small clans, practiced matriarchal governance, and adapted to their environments by hunting, fishing, and farming.

Question 11

What was the role of slavery in West African societies before European contact?

Answer 11

Slavery in West Africa often involved war captives and was a part of their economies, but enslaved individuals retained some rights and opportunities for integration.

Question 12

How did the Crusades impact European exploration?

Answer 12

The Crusades increased European desire for Eastern goods, leading to expanded trade routes and motivating the search for water routes to Asia.

Question 13

What technological advancements did the Portuguese develop for exploration?

Answer 13

The Portuguese built caravels with triangular sails and created detailed maps, which enabled them to explore Africa’s coast and beyond.

Question 14

How did Native American and European views on land ownership differ?

Answer 14

Native Americans generally saw land as communal, while Europeans viewed land as a source of wealth and private property.

Question 15

What were the consequences of European diseases on Native populations?

Answer 15

Diseases like smallpox, brought by Europeans, decimated Native populations who lacked immunity, leading to massive societal disruptions.

Question 16

Describe the Geography of the North American Indigenous Tribes.

Answer 16

Question 17

Olmecs

Answer 17

Time Period: 1500 BCE - 400 BCE (earliest of the four).
Location: Southern Mexico (Gulf Coast – present-day Veracruz and Tabasco).
Key Features:
Known as the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica, influencing later civilizations.
Famous for colossal stone heads (massive stone sculptures of human heads).
Developed early forms of writing and a calendar.
Had significant religious influence (e.g., worship of the jaguar deity).

Question 18

Maya

Answer 18

Time Period: 2000 BCE - 1500 CE (classical period peaked 250 CE - 900 CE).
Location: Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras).
Key Features:
Advanced in astronomy, mathematics, and hieroglyphic writing.
Built city-states like Tikal and Chichen Itza, often ruled by kings.
Known for their step pyramids and ball games.
Sophisticated calendar systems, including the Long Count.
Declined before the Spanish arrived (around 9th-10th century), but some cities persisted.

Question 19

Aztecs

Answer 19

Time Period: 1300 CE - 1521 CE.
Location: Central Mexico (Tenochtitlán – modern-day Mexico City).
Key Features:
Built an empire based on conquest and tribute systems.
Famous for their capital city Tenochtitlán, built on Lake Texcoco with floating gardens (chinampas).
Practiced human sacrifice as a key religious ritual.
Collapsed after Hernán Cortés and the Spanish conquest.

Question 20

Inca

Answer 20

Time Period: 1400 CE - 1533 CE.
Location: South America (Andes Mountains – modern-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Chile).
Key Features:
Built the largest empire in the Americas.
Known for Machu Picchu and advanced engineering (e.g., roads, terraces).
Used quipu (knotted cords) for record-keeping instead of writing.
Highly organized society with a centralized economy.
Conquered by Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish.