Deck 18: Native Arts of the Americas Before 1300

Question 1

What architectural feature has been found in nearly all Mesoamerican cultures?

A) a circular temple
B) a ballcourt
C) a rectangular plaza with a fountain at east end
D) an open courtyard with a kiva in the center

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How did the division of labor affect Mesoamerican societies?

A) It created a hierarchy which formed the social organization of the societies.
B) It allowed for greater food production.
C) It provided a greater variety of foods.
D) It allowed more land to be cultivated.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Mesoamerican Mexican Pre-classic period is ____.

A) 3000 BCE-CE 2000
B) 2000 BCE-CE 300
C) 100-900 CE
D) 200-500 CE

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following has been proposed as the identity of the giant Olmec heads?

A) priests of the Feathered-Serpent
B) deities
C) Maya overlords
D) rulers

Question 5

Which of the following would support the belief that West Mexican tombs were filled with elaborate offerings?

A) shallow graves and easily accessed
B) tomb sties associated with palace
C) deep shafts with chambers at base
D) tomb plaques indicate wealth

Question 6

Which of the following does the urban plan of Teotihuacán most resemble?

A) Maya city planning
B) Anasazi city planning
C) Hellenistic and Roman city planning
D) Olmec city planning

Question 7

Which of the following is not part of the Mesoamerica region?

A) Mexico
B) Guatemala
C) Bolivia
D) Honduras

Question 8

West Mexican ceramics are noted for the small-scale narrative scenes including temples and houses with figurines shown in a variety of lively activities. Based on this information which of the following would support their value for analysis?

A) They may provide informal glimpses into daily life.
B) They may provide comparative assessment of Maya life styles as well.
C) They may provide economic information as trade items.
D) They provide concrete evidence of the religious significance of these figures.

Question 9

What does Maya architecture signify?

A) power of the priesthood
B) importance of the marriage alliance
C) importance of the cult of the mason
D) power of the ruler

Question 10

The modern-day region occupied by the Classic Maya was which of the following?

A) Caribbean coast of South America
B) Belize, southern Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala
C) Southwestern Mexico
D) Valley of Mexico

Question 11

The human-animal representations used by Olmec religious practitioners are thought to symbolize which of the following?

A) gods of the underworld
B) transformations in order to wrest power from supernatural forces
C) the dance of life
D) the creation of the Olmec dynasty

Question 12

The layout of the La Venta site is an early form of the temple-pyramid and plaza complex. Which of the following is a possible explanation for the temple-pyramid?

A) mimics the sacred mountain
B) mimics the palace of the king
C) is a very early form of the Maya temple-pyramid complex
D) forms the diagram of the universe

Question 13

The economic base of Mesoamerican Mexico was which of the following?

A) production of ceramics
B) cultivation of wheat
C) exploitation of metal technology
D) cultivation of maize (corn)

Question 14

At regular intervals the Olmec as a community would convene for ritual observances at which of the following sites?

A) Teotihuacán and La Venta
B) Teotihuacán and Tula
C) San Lorenzo and La Venta
D) San Lorenzo and Teotihuacán

Question 15

What significant change occurred at Teotihuacán?

A) It became the mediation center for the Maya.
B) It became the international trade center between Mexico and Guatemala.
C) It underwent monumental expansion into a genuine city.
D) It became the pilgrimage location for the Highland Maya.

Question 16

Which of the following supports the importance of San Lorenzo and La Venta to Olmec culture?

A) provided opportunities for the Olmec to gather and celebrate
B) represented the structure and ideals of Olmec society
C) allowed the Olmec to focus on the power of the king
D) provided income for the priesthood

Question 17

Teotihuacán as well as its key pyramids are carefully oriented. Which of the following is the commonly suggested reasoning for such placement?

A) related to the calendar of the gods
B) related to the topography of the area
C) related to the legend of the king
D) related to astronomical phenomena

Question 18

Recent archaeological work in West Mexico has discovered that these peoples did not produce large-scale stone sculpture. In addition to this discovery what other important find has been uncovered?

A) stele indicating trade with the Anasazi
B) a Maya cemetery
C) tiered platforms and ballcourts
D) vases indicating trade with Tula

Question 19

The Olmec carved and polished ax-shaped forms are called ____.

A) hachas
B) palmas
C) celts
D) cinturas

Question 20

Which of the following would account for the unique cosmopolitan character of Teotihuacán?

A) the city's diversified populations
B) the city's tolerant acceptance of all deities
C) the city's position as the most important pilgrimage site
D) the city's relationship with the Maya of Guatemala

Question 21

Why was sacrifice so important to the Maya?

Question 22

Corbelled vault construction was typical of the architecture of the ____.

A) Moche
B) Maya
C) Anasazi
D) Olmecs

Question 23

Which of the following was typical of Mayan art and architecture?

A) unornamented architectural construction
B) use of wood for sacred construction
C) creation of huge ceremonial centers
D) use of groined vaults

Question 24

Which of the following was one of the purposes of Maya ritual?

A) guaranteed the order of the state and the cosmos
B) guaranteed the chaos of the cosmos
C) guaranteed the sacrosanct nature of the ruler by excluding him from performing the rituals
D) guaranteed the importance of the ruler by excluding him from performing the rituals

Question 25

Most extant objects from the Adena and Mississippian cultures were found in which of the following?

A) village ceremonial sites
B) kivas
C) burial and temple mounds
D) tall stone pyramids

Question 26

How did Chavín iconography spread throughout the Andean region?

A) via portable media
B) via permanent and set stele with inscribed glyphs
C) via active missionary priests
D) via markers placed along the system of roads

Question 27

Which of the following sites is not located in South America?

A) Chavín de Huántar
B) Tiwanaku
C) Chichén Itzá
D) Cuzco

Question 28

Murals found in the prehistoric pueblos of the Southwest most often depicted which of the following?

A) warriors and conquest
B) royal court ceremonies
C) coming-of-age ceremonies
D) spirits associated with agricultural fertility

Question 29

We have a much better understanding of the chronology of Mesoamerica due to the deciphering of the writing and dating system of which of the following groups?

A) Olmecs
B) Mixtecs
C) Aztecs
D) Maya

Question 30

Describe the physical layout of Teotihuacán.

Question 31

Which of the following describes the Tairona pendants and their use.

A) hammered gold, badges of office
B) shaped clay, meant to be worn as ornaments
C) hammered gold, meant to be worn as amulets and talismans
D) shaped clay, tribal insignias

Question 32

The feathered serpent is one guise of which Mesoamerican Mexican deity?

A) Quetzalcóatl
B) Tlaloc
C) Coatlicue
D) Coyolxauhqui

Question 33

Briefly describe Adena Culture.

Question 34

Which of the groups below is often referred to as the "mother culture" of Mesoamerican Mexico?

A) Olmecs
B) Aztecs
C) Maya
D) Mixtecs

Question 35

Which site did the Aztec visit with a deep sense of reverence?

A) Copan
B) San Lorenzo
C) Teotihuacán
D) La Venta

Question 36

Like most Mesoamerican cities, Teotihuacán had a mural program. One mural features a goddess, earth or nature, thought to be the city's principal deity. Among the motifs ascribed to this deity are human hearts that were essential attributes in the Mesoamerican ritual of human sacrifice. Which of the following is an explanation for the ritual of human sacrifice?

A) essential to agricultural renewal
B) essential to kingly ritual
C) essential for the renewal of the city
D) essential for the inheritance of power

Question 37

Which of the following describes the Southwest kiva?

A) a clay mound attached to the northeast corner of the Pueblo
B) a large circular semi-subterranean structure
C) a small wooden structure located above ground
D) a large tall stone structure located above ground

Question 38

How is the Chavín horizon style now defined?

A) the culmination of developments that began in Mexico
B) the culmination of developments centered in Yucatán
C) the culmination of developments, which began 2000 years earlier elsewhere
D) the culmination of developments that began 200 years earlier in Chavín de Huántar

Question 39

Ceramic figures from Jaina most often represented which of the following?

A) memorials to rulers
B) heroic figures from local legend
C) scenes of sacrifice
D) scenes from everyday life

Question 40

Which of the following describes the Temple I at Tikal (Temple of the Giant Jaguar).

A) is almost 150 feet below sea level
B) the tomb of a ruler is found beneath it
C) is an excellent example of Aztec workmanship
D) is made of cement

Question 41

What is a kiva and how does it function within the community?

Question 42

Explain the use of art to indicate social status in Mayan society. Use examples to support your essay.

Question 43

Describe the impact of the Anasazi on subsequent generations in the Southwest. How did they affect the evolution of the visual arts? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 44

Who painted the frescoes found at Bonampak, and what are they thought to represent?

Question 45

Who are thought to have been the potters of Mimbres and why?

Question 46

Contrast Tikal and Copán. How does each reflect the Maya universe? How do they conform to the political and social needs of Mayan societies? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 47

What happened to the Anasazi?

Question 48

What does the location of the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde signify?

Question 49

Describe the impact of the Olmec on subsequent generations in Mexico. How did the Olmec affect the evolution of the visual arts? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 50

How does Mimbres pottery design compliment the shape of the bowl?

Question 51

Based on recent archaeology briefly describe the Great Serpent Mound and its possible new meanings.

Question 52

Contrast Wari and Paracas textile design.

Question 53

Compare and contrast Nasca ceramics and Mayan ceramics. How does each reflect their respective universe? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 54

How is a Mimbres bowl "killed" and why is it significant?

Question 55

How are the gorgets excavated from Native American temple mounds significant?

Question 56

Compare the development of painting (include vase painting) between Teotihuacán and the Maya. How did painting mirror the political and religious lives of these societies and how did these works meet the needs of their respective groups? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 57

Describe the impact of Teotihuacán on subsequent generations in Mexico. How did it affect the visual arts? Use examples to support your essay.

Question 58

Briefly describe Chaco Canyon and its significance.

Question 59

Describe the Eskimo lifestyle.

Question 60

How are the cliff dwelling sites of the Anasazi significant?

Question 61

Compare and contrast the Adena pipe figure with the Mississippian gorget. How do they each reflect their respective cultures?

Question 62

In what country and region is this building located? What are the circular areas called, and what was their function?

Question 63

Compare and contrast Tula and Chichén Itzá. How does each site respond to the needs of their respective groups? What are their similarities and how does each site function within its society? What outside influences might account for the similarities between them?

Question 64

How does this site reflect the Mesoamerican character?

Question 65

How does this monument reflect the culture's sense of purpose?

Question 66

What was the purpose of this figure?

Question 67

What culture created this textile? What was its purpose? What was the meaning of the symbols?

Question 68

What culture created this image? Where is it located? What is it thought to represent?

Question 69

What group created this object? What material was used and what was its purpose?

Question 70

Explain the ideas of sacrifice that lay behind this image.

Question 71

How is the polychromed finish achieved on this vase?

Question 72

What culture created this image? Why is this scene important?

Question 73

Evaluate monumental architecture and the role it played in Mesoamerican cultures. Include the religious as well as the political significance of the architecture. Use examples to support your essay.

Question 74

From what area of what country did this mask come? How does it represent the people?