Ancient American Civilizations Quiz

How did early humans most likely reach the Americas?

• By crossing a land bridge along the Bering Strait during the Ice Ages

• By navigating across the Atlantic Ocean

• By using primitive boats along the Pacific coast

• By traveling overland from Europe

Which groups settled in Mesoamerica?

• Olmecs, Maya, and Aztec

• Inca, Maya, and Olmecs

• Aztec, Inca, and Maya

• Olmecs, Inca, and Aztec

Why did early American cultures practice human sacrifices?

• To keep the gods happy so they would bless them

• To control population numbers

• To establish law and order

• To celebrate harvest seasons

Who were commonly used as human sacrifices in early American cultures?

• Prisoners of war

• Volunteer citizens

• Elected officials

• Religious leaders

Which conquistador led the Triple Alliance to conquer the Aztecs?

• Hernan Cortez

• Francisco Pizarro

• Juan Ponce de Leon

• Diego Velázquez

Which early American group was the first to invent the concept of zero in mathematics?

• The Maya

• The Aztecs

• The Incas

• The Olmecs

What landform was primarily inhabited by the Maya population?

• Yucatan Peninsula

• Andes Mountains

• Amazon Rainforest

• Sierra Madre Mountains

What natural disaster contributed to the decline of the Maya civilization?

• A severe drought

• A massive earthquake

• A devastating hurricane

• A volcanic eruption

Which Aztec leader's imprisonment led to the downfall of the Aztec Empire?

• Moctezuma

• Cuauhtémoc

• Tizoc

• Ahuitzotl

What were the two main reasons the Aztec Empire could not defeat Spain?

• The Spanish brought smallpox

• The Aztecs had inferior weapons

• The Aztecs were outnumbered

• The Spanish formed alliances with other tribes