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Social Studies > Mesoamerica > Flashcards

Mesoamerica Flashcards

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1
Q

How did the people of mesoamerica use basalt and obsidian?

A

basalt- to make huge statues

obsidian- to make arrowheads and knives

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2
Q

Why was obstidian used to make arrowheads and knives?

A

obsidian was good material to make weapons because it is brittle like glass and is easy to chip into sharp pieces.

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3
Q

Why did it take so long for archioligists to learn about the civilizations of Mesoamerica?

A

forests and trees hid the ruins of the ancient civilization.

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4
Q

What bodies of water surround Mesoamerica?

A

Gulf of MExico, Pacific ocean, Caribbean Sea

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5
Q

Why might people from the mountains traveled to the coasts in early MEsoamerica?

A

They may have traveled to trade and they may have foung life in the mountains were too rough.

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6
Q

How are cenotes, or natural wells, created in the Yucatan Peninsula?

A

Rainwater dissolves limestone forming underground sreams and caves, the rooves of these steams collapse over time.

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7
Q

WHy do you think the people considered the natural wells sacred gifts?

A

In a land with few rivers these wells provided much needed drinking water.

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8
Q

How do Mesoamerica’s nothern and southern coasts differ?

A

The land near the northern coast is low with rainforests, grasslands, pineforests, and swamplands. The southern coast is made of mountains.

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9
Q

WHy were there differences among the cultures in Mesoamerica?

A

different cultures lived in different enviroments and they made different choices of how to adapt in their surroundings.

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10
Q

How were the people of Mesoamerica alike?

A

They grew similar crops, they knew astronomy, and they had a system of heiroglyphics.

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11
Q

What different distortions might a map projection have?

A

Distance, direction, size, and shape.

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12
Q

Why must every flat map contain distortions?

A

All flat maps alter Earth’s curved surface.

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13
Q

What are the three basic types of map projections?

A

Equal area, robinson. mercater.

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14
Q

What projection would you prefer if you needed information about the U.S.? Why?

A

A robinson projection because it is most accurate along the line where the U.S. is located.

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15
Q

What are the differences among the social classes in the Olmec civilization?

A

People in different social classes have different jobs, money, and power

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16
Q

Why were farmers the lowest social clas of the Olmec?

A

Farmrs had the least amount of power.

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17
Q

What role did roads play in the development of the Olmec civilization?

A

Roads enabled the Olmec to travel to different communties and trade with other people.

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18
Q

How did the Olmec provide for their needs?

A

Through trade and agriculture

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19
Q

What did the Olmec develop that would be used by later Mesoamerican civilizations?

A

They developed a number system, a calender, and a form of writing.

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20
Q

Why do you think the Olmec were fimiliar with jaguars, eagles, snakes, and sharks?

A

These animals were native to the part of Mesoamerica where the Olmec.

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21
Q

The city of Tikal is located in what present-day country?

A

Guatamala

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22
Q

Did the Olmec or the Mayan civilization cover more land?

A

The Mayan civilization covers more land.

23
Q

When did the Mayan civilization flourish?

A

About 2,500 a.d. - 900a.d.

About 650 years

24
Q

How did the Maya bring water to places that needed it?

A

They built resivoirs and aquaducts

25
Q

Why were so many artifacts found at the bottom of the cenotoes?

A

Mayan priests would bring valuables to the centoes as sacrafices to their gods.

26
Q

What were some of the natural recources availible to the Mayan culture?

A

Gold, wood, copper, rubber, and jade

27
Q

What does the Popol Vuh tell the reader about the Mayan?

A

It tells the Mayan how he believed the world was created.

28
Q
A
29
Q

Why were the Maya so intrested in telling time?

A

They used time in their everday life and for religious reasons.

30
Q

How are the ways that the Maya used calenders similar to the way people used calenders today?

A

The Mayan used calendars to keep track of important dates just like we do.

31
Q

Why is it surpriding that the Maya were able to keep such accurate records of the lenghth of the year and movements of the months and planets?

A

The didn’t know about the Earth’s orbit unti lcenturies later. The Maya did not use telescopes yet they were still able to divide the year into 365 days based on Earth’s orbit.

32
Q

What was the purpose of the protective layer on the Codex Trocortesianus?

A

To keep the ink from smudging and to keep it safe and clean

33
Q

What contributions did the Maya make to mathmatics?

A

They created a unique number system bosed on the unit of 20. They are beleived to have been the first people in the world to have used the idea of 0 in calculations.

34
Q

How were daily chores divided among members of Mayan families?

A

Men- farmed, hunted, fished

Women-made clothes, supplied water and firewood, cared for children, did housekeeping

Children- Learned about arming and chores but spent most of thier time playing

35
Q

How did the Maya adapt to their enviroment?

A

They buuilt houses using availible material, mud, palm leaves, and grass

36
Q

What is one important way the Aztecs differed from other Mesoamerican civilizations?

A

The Aztecs built an Empire

37
Q

How was the Aztec civilization similsr to other Mesoamerican civilizations?

A

They were farmers, they built structures and monuments from stone,and worshiped many gods. They were astronomers, priensts, mathamaticians, and farmers.

38
Q

What did the Mexica decide to do in order to improve their living conditions? Do you think this was a good decision? Explain.

A

They built more islamds witch made more room for peopl eto live but it was also dangerous becuase they islands eroded over time.

39
Q

Why do you think the Mexica Built their city on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco?

A

Other people had already settled on the good land.

40
Q

How did the forming of alliences affect the Mexica?

A

It expanded their power and helped them conquer other city-states.

41
Q

Where was Aztlan located? How do you know?

A

Aztlan is located north of where the Aztects finnaly settled. We know this because the Aztecs migrated from the north.

42
Q

How did the Aztects build a larges empire?

A

The Aztecs conquered many city-states and collected their gold to help build the Aztect empire.

43
Q

How many years did Moctezuma I rule?

A

29 years

44
Q

Compare and contrast Columbus’ and Dias’ exploration to find a sea route to Asia.

A
  • They both set sail from Europe
  • Columbus sailed west
  • Dias sailed Southeast
45
Q

How do you think European explorers might affect the Aztec empire? Explain.

A

They might try to reach the Aztec empire, conquer it, and destroy it.

46
Q

Why did the Aztecs believe that they needed to practice human sacrafice?

A

to honor their gods and to power the sun.

47
Q

How were agriculture and religion related to Aztec culture?

A

Many religeous ceremonies were based on agricultural events like planting and harvesting, they worshiped gods that represented crops and seasons.

48
Q

What knoledge did the Aztecs most likely have about the Sun?nHow can you tell?

A

They understood the importance of the sun and how it affected crops and seasons. They made human sacrafices to the Sun so that it would continue to move across they sky.

49
Q

Why do you think the Aztecs believed the human heart was the most precious gift theu could offer the gods?

A

The heart is what keeps us alive, so the Aztecs believed it was like giving someones life force to the gods.

50
Q

Tell the sequence of events in the early history of the Aztec civilization.

A
  • The Mexica migrated from the north in the 1200s to the valley of mexico
  • In the 1300s they built the city of Tecatolan on the island of lake texcoco
  • They built more islandscalled chinampas to make more room.
  • Their power grew as they formed alliences and conquered city-states
51
Q

Explain the process the Aztecs used to build the Chinampas.

A
  • The Mexica started by anchoring wichor baskets to the shallow bottom of Lake Texcoco
  • They filled the baskets with cut plants and mud from the lake
  • The mud and plants were piled layer apon layer untill they broke the surface of the water.
52
Q

What are map projections?

A

Different ways that the curved surface of Earths can be projected or shown of a flat surface.

53
Q

What would you have to do to the surface off a round object, such as a grapefruit, if you wanted it to lie flat?

A

Tear and stretch it at different areas

54
Q

What characteristics of Earth’s surface are distorted by different map projections?

A

Distance, direction, shaoe, and size of the land.

Social Studies (5 decks)

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