History of Science in Mesoamerica

The video explores the history of science in ancient civilizations, focusing on Mesoamerican cultures like the Maya, Aztecs, and Inka. It highlights their achievements in astronomy, mathematics, and agriculture, despite the lack of written records due to Spanish colonization. The Maya's complex calendar systems and the Aztecs' engineering feats are discussed, along with the Inka's unique record-keeping using khipu. The video concludes with a look at the impact of colonization and a preview of future topics.

What is a major challenge historians face when studying ancient science?

• Overabundance of artifacts

• Too many conflicting sources

• Limited written records

• Lack of interest in ancient cultures

What was a significant achievement of the Olmec civilization?

• Construction of the Great Wall

• Development of the wheel

• Invention of the number zero

• Creation of a phonetic alphabet

Which heavenly body was most important to the Maya?

• The Moon

• The Sun

• Mars

• Venus

How did the Maya use their calendar systems?

• To track trade routes

• For navigation at sea

• For religious and agricultural purposes

• To predict weather patterns

What was a key feature of Mayan agriculture?

• Use of tractors

• Hydroponic farming

• Swidden agriculture

• Vertical farming

What was Tenochtitlán known for?

• Being a major trade center

• Its hydraulic engineering

• Having the largest army

• Being the oldest city in the Americas

What was a major agricultural product of the Maya?

• Wheat

• Rice

• Maize

• Barley

What did the Aztecs align their great temple with?

• The planet Mars

• The North Star

• The setting sun

• The moon

What system did the Inka use for record-keeping?

• Khipu

• Hieroglyphs

• Papyrus scrolls

• Stone tablets

What was a consequence of Spanish colonization on native cultures?

• Unification of all native tribes

• Decisive break with ancient civilizations

• Introduction of new agricultural techniques

• Preservation of all cultural records