Question 1

Which of the following accounts for the relatively easy Spanish conquest of the fierce Aztec?
A) Poor military training in the later years of the Aztec empire
B) Spaniards found allies among the peoples the Aztecs subjugated
C) Far-flung and scattered nature of Aztec military centers
D) Lack of awareness of the threat of Spanish incursion

Accepted Answer

The Spanish were able to conquer the Aztecs not solely because of their own military prowess but significantly because they formed alliances with other indigenous groups that were subjugated by the Aztecs. These alliances provided the Spanish with additional manpower and local knowledge, which were crucial in their conquest.

Question 2

Which of the following Postclassic groups had a strong written tradition?
A) Olmec
B) Teotihuacán
C) teotihuacán
D) Maya

Accepted Answer

The Maya had a strong written tradition, evidenced by their sophisticated system of hieroglyphics used to record historical events, astronomical information, and religious texts.

Question 3

What is the interpretation of the murder of Coyolxauhqui by her brother Huitzilopochtli?
A) Huitzilopochtli's triumph as the god of war
B) Huitzilopochtli's triumph over the forces of the Maya
C) Huitzilopochtli's triumph as the sun over the moon
D) Huitzilopochtli's triumph as the sole god of the Aztecs

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

The depiction of Quetzalcoatl and Mictlantecuhtli seen in the Borgia Codex illustrates which of the following themes?
A) The brotherhood of the Mixtec and Toltec
B) The contrasting relationship of fire and water
C) The marriage of the Aztec and Maya empires
D) The inevitable relationship of life and death

Accepted Answer

The Borgia Codex, a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican manuscript, often depicts deities and themes central to the religious and mythological worldview of the peoples who created it. Quetzalcoatl, associated with life, wind, and the morning star, and Mictlantecuhtli, the god of the dead and the underworld, represent the duality and cyclical nature of life and death, illustrating the inevitable relationship between these two fundamental aspects of existence.

Question 5

Which element of the Anasazi visual lexicon referenced agricultural fertility?
A) Jaguar
B) Lightning
C) Footprint
D) Eye

Accepted Answer

Lightning is associated with rain, which is crucial for agricultural fertility, making it a symbol of fertility in the Anasazi visual lexicon.

Question 6

Which group called themselves Mexica?
A) Maya
B) Tolteca
C) Aztecs
D) Mixtecs

Accepted Answer

The group that called themselves Mexica is known today as the Aztecs. This name was used by the people themselves to describe their ethnic group, which established the powerful Aztec Empire in central Mexico before the Spanish conquest.

Question 7

Which sailing route yielded a small cache of gold and initiated the expedition of Hernán Cortés to Mexico?
A) Along the coast of Veracruz
B) Along the coast of Ixtapa
C) Along the coast of Yucatán
D) Along the coast of Tampico

Accepted Answer

The sailing route along the coast of Yucatán yielded a small cache of gold, which caught the attention of Hernán Cortés and led to his expedition to Mexico. This discovery sparked his interest in exploring further and ultimately led to the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

Question 8

When confined to the reservations, Plains Indians recorded their past exploits and history in which medium?
A) Blankets
B) Shields
C) Ledger books
D) Beaded leather

Accepted Answer

Plains Indians, when confined to reservations, adapted to the available resources and began using ledger books to record their history and stories. This was a shift from their traditional methods of storytelling and record-keeping, such as oral histories and symbolic representations on items like tipis, clothing, and shields. Ledger art became a significant form of expression, documenting their experiences, battles, and daily life during a period of great change and hardship.

Question 9

Which of the following explains the rise to power of the Inka, from a relatively small highland group in the year 1000 to an empire ruling over thousands of square miles in the 1400s?
A) Powerful alliances formed through dynastic marriages
B) Skillful organizational and tight administrative control
C) Devout population following charismatic dynastic leadership
D) Energized population and access to new resources

Accepted Answer

The Inka Empire's rise to power was largely due to their skillful organization and tight administrative control, which allowed them to effectively manage and integrate a vast and diverse empire.

Question 10

Why is Machu Picchu of great archaeological importance?
A) It was excavated following its discovery in the late 1800s.
B) Its extensive written records detailed the city's Inka history.
C) The site had been left undisturbed since Inka times.
D) The history of its conquest detailed its importance to the Inka.

Accepted Answer

Machu Picchu is of great archaeological importance because it had been left undisturbed since Inka times, providing a pristine window into Inka civilization without the alterations or looting that many other sites have experienced.

Question 11

The totemic emblems of Haida poles display information about what?
A) Nearby land
B) Mythology
C) Calendar
D) Clan groups

Accepted Answer

The totemic emblems of Haida poles display information about clan groups.

Question 12

Who were the supreme masters of shaping and fitting stones for architecture in South America?
A) Mixtecs
B) Inka
C) Tairona
D) Zapotecs

Accepted Answer

The Inka were renowned for their exceptional skills in shaping and fitting stones for their architectural projects, a technique most famously exemplified by the precise stonework found in structures such as those in Machu Picchu.

Question 13

Many of the Spaniards who first saw Tenochtitlán likened it to which European city?
A) Madrid
B) London
C) Venice
D) Paris

Accepted Answer

Many of the Spaniards, including Hernán Cortés and his men, who first saw Tenochtitlán were astonished by its beauty and size, comparing it to Venice due to the city's extensive network of canals and waterways.

Question 14

The relief of Coyolxauhqui discovered in 1979 had been hidden from the Spaniards as a result of which of the following?
A) The priests always covered the relief with fitted stones when not in use.
B) The Spaniards were distracted by the Curtain of Gold closing off the sanctuary.
C) The Aztec priests removed the relief when the Spaniards approached Tenochtitlán.
D) It lay within the outermost shell of the Great Temple, which concealed the relief.

Accepted Answer

The relief of Coyolxauhqui was hidden from the Spaniards because it was located within the outermost shell of the Great Temple, which concealed it from view.

Question 15

Which animal symbolized Inka royal power in art?
A) Anaconda
B) Puma
C) Eagle
D) Vulture

Accepted Answer

The puma symbolized Inka royal power in art, representing strength, power, and the ability to navigate both the earthly and spiritual realms. This animal was revered for its attributes and often associated with the Inka leadership and their divine right to rule.

Question 16

Who are the descendants of the nomadic hunters who arrived in the Southwest from northwestern Canada sometime between 1200 and 1500?
A) Hopi
B) Shawnee
C) Apache
D) Cheyenne

Accepted Answer

The Apache are descendants of the nomadic hunters who migrated from northwestern Canada to the Southwest between 1200 and 1500. They were known for their mobility and skills in hunting and warfare.

Question 17

Tenochtitlán is laid out on a grid plan that is reminiscent of which earlier culture?
A) Olmec
B) Maya
C) Teotihuacán
D) Tula

Accepted Answer

Tenochtitlán's grid plan is reminiscent of the earlier culture of Teotihuacán, which was known for its advanced urban planning and large ceremonial complexes laid out on a grid.

Question 18

A prime example of dry-joining masonry (masonry without mortar) is found in which of the following?
A) Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacán
B) Maya Temple I at Tikal
C) Haida mortuary temple
D) Inca Temple of the Sun at Cuzco

Accepted Answer

The Inca Temple of the Sun at Cuzco is a prime example of dry-joining masonry, where stones are cut and fitted together without the use of mortar. This technique showcases the advanced stone-working skills of the Inca civilization.

Question 19

Which of the following cities became a pilgrimage site for the Aztecs?
A) La Venta
B) Chichén Itzá
C) Tula
D) Teotihuacán

Accepted Answer

Teotihuacán became a significant pilgrimage site for the Aztecs, who were deeply influenced by the earlier Mesoamerican civilizations that thrived there. They considered it a place of great spiritual importance.

Question 20

Which of the following enabled the Inka to control their empire?
A) Distribution of monetary payment to populations
B) Accurate written records of commercial transactions
C) Obedience of the population to the written word
D) Communications along extensive system of roads

Accepted Answer

The Inka empire was notable for its extensive and sophisticated road system, which facilitated communication, troop movement, and administrative control across the vast and diverse territories they governed. This infrastructure was crucial for the Inka's ability to effectively manage and control their empire, despite the lack of a written language or monetary system.

Quiz 36: Native American Cultures, 1300 to 1980

Which of the following accounts for the relatively easy Spanish conquest of the fierce Aztec?

Which of the following Postclassic groups had a strong written tradition?

What is the interpretation of the murder of Coyolxauhqui by her brother Huitzilopochtli?

The depiction of Quetzalcoatl and Mictlantecuhtli seen in the Borgia Codex illustrates which of the following themes?

Which element of the Anasazi visual lexicon referenced agricultural fertility?

Which group called themselves Mexica?

Which sailing route yielded a small cache of gold and initiated the expedition of Hernán Cortés to Mexico?

When confined to the reservations, Plains Indians recorded their past exploits and history in which medium?

Which of the following explains the rise to power of the Inka, from a relatively small highland group in the year 1000 to an empire ruling over thousands of square miles in the 1400s?

Why is Machu Picchu of great archaeological importance?

The totemic emblems of Haida poles display information about what?

Who were the supreme masters of shaping and fitting stones for architecture in South America?

Many of the Spaniards who first saw Tenochtitlán likened it to which European city?

The relief of Coyolxauhqui discovered in 1979 had been hidden from the Spaniards as a result of which of the following?

Which animal symbolized Inka royal power in art?

Who are the descendants of the nomadic hunters who arrived in the Southwest from northwestern Canada sometime between 1200 and 1500?

Tenochtitlán is laid out on a grid plan that is reminiscent of which earlier culture?

A prime example of dry-joining masonry (masonry without mortar) is found in which of the following?

Which of the following cities became a pilgrimage site for the Aztecs?

Which of the following enabled the Inka to control their empire?