MesoAmerican and South American Civilizations Test

The Aztec capital city was built in the middle of Lake __________.

• Michigan
• Tenochtitlan
• Texcoco
• Mexico

The Aztec Empire lived in central ___________.

• Asia

• Mexico

• Panama

• Cuba

Chinampas are...

• Artificial Islands
• Natural Islands
• Crops
• Artificial Waterways

The Aztecs had never seen a ______ or _________ before Cortes and his men.

• horse; weapons
• taco; human
• boat; garden
• baby; donkey

Which of the following best describes the Aztec government?

• a democracy with a president elected by the commoners

• tribal groups with no central government

• a collection of city-states, each with its own ruler

• an empire united under a single ruler

What was one reason the Aztec waged war so often?

• They needed prisoners for human sacrifices.

• They believed the gods enjoyed seeing humans fight.

• the Spanish would appreciate their sacrfices

• They were always under attack from their neighbors.

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs

• Hernan Cortes
• Francisco Pizarro
• Christopher Columbus
• Vasco de Gama

The Aztec capital city was called . . .

• Cuzco
• Tenotchtitlan
• Chichen Itza
• Machu Picchu

The Aztecs settled where they saw:

• A bird on a wire
• A gopher eating a turtle
• An eagle on a cactus
• A snake eating an eagle

Why did Cortes conquer the Aztecs

• to have thousands of people sacrificed for the gods
• to control the entire trade route
• to rebel against the emperor Moctezuma
• to find gold, claim land, and convert natives to Christianity