Social Studies--Mesoamerica

Front 1

Where is Mesoamerica located?

Back 1

Mesoamerica is a region that extends from southern North America (about the middle of Mexico) to the middle part of Central America (as far south as Costa Rica).
p.159, 163

Front 2

List three physical features of the interior of MesoAmerica.

Back 2

1. Sierra Madre Mountain ranges -- one on each side of Mexico.
2. Plateau of Mexico -- high, flat area between the Sierra Madres.
3. Volcanos -- south of the Plateau of Mexico.
4. Coastlines -- No place in Mesoamerica is more than 200 miles from an ocean coastline.
5. Yucatan Peninsula -- a huge peninsula that forms the southeastern border of the Gulf of Mexico.
p.163-164

Front 3

Name three crops grown in Mesoamerica.

Back 3

1. Maize (corn)
2. Beans
3. Squash
4. Chili peppers
5. Tomatoes
6. Cacao Beans
7. Avocado
8. Fruit
p. 163, 165, 173, 179

Front 4

What do cenotes provide for the people of Mesoamerica?

Back 4

Cenotes provided drinking water. The Maya believed cenotes were a way to communicate with the gods, and Mayan priests made sacrifices to them.
p. 164, 171

Front 5

How did the landscape of Mesoamerica influence the people who lived there?

Back 5

Most were farmers. The landscape and climate affected the crops they raised.
p. 169

Front 6

The Olmec people were divided into social classes based on what?

Back 6

The Olmec people were divided into social classes based on wealth and power.
p. 169

Front 7

Who were the most powerful classes in Olmec civilization?

Back 7

The most powerful Olmec classes were the the priests and government officials.
p. 169

Front 8

Why are the Olmec called the "Mother Civilization" of Mesoamerica?

Back 8

The Olmec directly influenced all of the Mesoamerican civilizations that followed it.
p. 169

Front 9

How were the Maya different from the Olmec?

Back 9

The Maya writing system was more complex.
p. 171

Front 10

Why do many archaeologists believe that the Olmec may have been ancestors of the Maya?

Back 10

The Olmec and Maya cultures have many common features: agriculture, stone construction, astronomy, calendars, polytheism, number systems, and hieroglyphics. Both lived in a theocracy, with cities designed to pay tribute to the gods. And no one knows what became of the Olmec.
p. 169, 170

Front 11

Name three reasons why the Maya used calendars.

Back 11

The Maya used calendars to:
1. record events like births, marriages, military victories.
2. keep track of the sun, moon, and stars
3. keep track of religious rites and worship
p. 172

Front 12

What did the Aztecs call themselves when they were just one of many Mesoamerican peoples?

Back 12

They called themselves the Mexica.
p. 176

Front 13

Where was Tenochtitlan built?

Back 13

Tenochtitlan was built on islands in Lake Texcoco, in what is now Mexico.
p. 176

Front 14

When Tenochtitlan became overcrowded, how did the Aztecs expand the city?

Back 14

The Aztecs built man-made islands call chinampas.
p. 176

Front 15

What does this statement mean: "The Mexica formed alliances to help their power grow."

Back 15

This means that the Mexica agreed to work together with other people in order to increase their power.

Front 16

Why might the Aztec Empire have continued had Cortes not attacked?

Back 16

Before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs were enjoying their greatest period of wealth and power.
p. 180

Front 17

Name at least four facts to support the following opinion: "The landscape of Mesoamerica is interesting and beautiful."

Back 17

The landscape is extremely varied. It includes ruggedy mountains, deserts, rain forests, ocean coastlines, grasslands, swamps, pine forests, volcanoes, and caves.
p. 163, 164

Front 18

How were the Olmec and Aztec civilizations alike?

Back 18

1. Both were based on agriculture.
2. Both built stone cities and temples.
3. Both left written records in hieroglygics.
4. Both were polytheistic -- worshipped many gods.
5. Both were theocracies.
p. 165, 175

Front 19

How were the Olmec and Aztec civilizations different?

Back 19

The Aztecs built a great empire.
p. 175

Front 20

Give at least two details that support the following main idea: "The Mayan calendars served a variety of purposes."

Back 20

1. They kept two different types of calendars: one for solar seasons and one for sacred rites.
2. The Mayans kept records of important dates such as births, marriages, and military victories of their leaders.
p. 172

Front 21

Suppse that you were an advisor to Moctezuma II. What might you have told him about Cortes? Should Moctezuma have allowed Cortes to enter Tenochtitlan? Why or why not?

Back 21

You might have told Moctezuma that Cortes's arrival fulfilled the legend of the return of the light-skinned god, Quetzalcoatl. If so, Moctezuma should have welcomed Cortes to Tenochtitlan.

OR

You might have told Moctezuma that the Aztecs had a proud warrior tradition and that the newcomers' hearts would make good sacrifices to the gods. Then Moctezuma would not have allowed Cortes to enter Tenochtitlan. He would have gone to war instead.

p.178 - 181

Front 22

Which civilization do you admire most: Olmec, Maya, or Aztec? Give three reasons why.

Back 22

*

Front 23

What type of job would you have wanted if you lived in a Mesoamerican civilization? Why would you choose this job?

Back 23

*

Front 24

Vocabulary - cenote

Back 24

A sinkhole or natural well formed by the collapse of the roof of a cave or underground stream.
p. 164

Front 25

Vocabulary - peninsula

Back 25

An arm of land sticking into the sea so that it is nearly surrounded by water.
p. 164

Front 26

Vocabulary - theocracy

Back 26

In a theocracy, the leader and ruling classes are believed to represent the will of the gods.
p. 169

Front 27

Vocabulary - aqueduct

Back 27

Structures that carry flowing water.
p. 170

Front 28

Vocabulary - codex

Back 28

A folding-screen book.
p.172

Front 29

Vocabulary - mercenary

Back 29

A hired soldier.
p. 176

Front 30

Vocabulary - chinampa

Back 30

A man-made island.
p. 176

Front 31

Vocabulary - causeway

Back 31

Raised bridges made of land.
p. 176

Front 32

Vocabulary - alliance

Back 32

An agreement to work together.
p. 177

Front 33

What are the four basic types of map projections?

Back 33

1. Equal area
2. Robinson
3. Mercator
4. Interrupted
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 34

What is distortion on a map?

Back 34

On a map, distortion is an error in size, shape, distance, or direction.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 35

Why must every flat map contain some distortion?

Back 35

Because the Earh is curved and paper is flat. It is impossible to transfer exactly the image of a round object to a flat surface.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 36

Equal-Area Map

1. Main feature.
2. Where is it true?
3. Where is distortion worst?
4. Uses

Back 36

Equal-Area Map

1. Curves longitude lines -- except the prime meridian (center line) -- toward the poles. (It looks like an oval.)
2. True at the center point.
3. Distortion worst at the edge of the map.
4. Used to compare size (but not shape) of land masses.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 37

Robinson Map

1. Main feature.
2. Where is it true?
3. Where is distortion worst?
4. Uses

Back 37

Robinson Map

1. More accurately shows shape and size of landmasses. (It looks like alot like an equal-area map.)
2. True along a line between the equator and a pole.
2. Distortion increases away from this line.
3. Used for maps of the United States.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 38

Mercator Map

1. Main feature.
2. Where is it true?
3. Where is distortion worst?
4. Uses

Back 38

Mercator Map

1. Latitude and longitude lines are straight, at right angles to each other.
2. True at the equator.
3. Distortion worst at poles, where landmasses appear larger and farther apart than they really are.
4. Used for navigation charts because it shows the true shape of landmasses.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 39

Interrupted Map

1. Main feature
2. Where is it true?
3. Where is distortion worst?
4. Uses

Back 39

Interrupted Map

1. Looks like a partially sliced, flattened orange peel. Grid is cut apart in water areas.
2. Landmasses are pretty true.
3. Water is most distorted.
4. Used to compare size and shape of landmasses.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167

Front 40

How can you tell an equal-area map from a Robinson map?

Back 40

Compared side-by-side, Africa is longer and skinnier on the equal-area map.
p. H22-H23, p. 166-167