BrainPop! Mesoamerica

What can you conclude about Mesoamerica from its name?

• It's political structure
• The types of languages spoken there
• The time period when great civilizations flourished there
• Its location

Where could you visit if you wanted to see ancient Mesoamerican ruins?

• Texas
• Argentina
• Guatemala
• Peru

Are the Spanish-speaking populations of Mexico, Spain, and Peru a culture areas.

• Yes, because the people in these places all speak Spanish.
• No, because the three areas are not geographically connected.
• No, because there are no similarities shared by these three cultures.
• Yes, because the people in these places all practice the same religion.

What role did the Spanish play in the development of Mesoamerican culture before 1492?

• They helped facilitate trade between various Mesoamerican civilizations.
• They provided advanced technology and a common language to many Mesoamerican civilizations.
• They destroyed the Maya civilization, allowing the Aztec civilization to rise.
• They played no role whatsoever.

Place the following events in sequence: A) The Olmec flourish; B) The Aztecs establish an empire; C) The Maya dominate Mesoamerica.

• C, A, B
• A, C, B
• B, C, A
• C, B, A

What did Maya civilization have in common with Western civilization?

• The development of a written language
• The domestication of horses and cattle
• The use of a 12-month calendar
• The worship of a single, all-powerful god

What is cultural diffusion?  Choose the BEST answer

• When one culture takes over and completely replaces an existing culture
• The spreading and sharing of cultural ideas between societies that are close together
• The weakening of traditional culture in the face of modernization
• When several independent societies are united into a single large empire

What role did maize play in Mesoamerican culture?

• It was a staple of the Mesoamerican diet.
• It was used only to feed domesticated animals.
• It played only a ceremonial role in Mesoamerican culture.
• It was the only crop Mesoamericans knew how to grow.

What can you conclude from the fact that the Aztecs, Olmecs, and Maya all played the same ball game?

• This was the only sport played by these cultures.
• Sports were a major part of Mesoamerican civilization.
• The game is now played by professional leagues in Mexico.
• The rules of the game never changed over time.

How did the religious practices of the Maya compare to Olmec religion?

• The Olmec were polytheistic; the Maya were monotheistic
• The Maya were atheistic; the Olmec were polytheistic
• The Olmec were monotheistic; the Maya were polytheistic
• Both cultures were polytheistic