Question 1

Discuss the different residential patterns at Monte Albán and Teotihuacán and what interpretations can be drawn from them.

Accepted Answer

The residential patterns at Monte Albán and Teotihuacán were quite different, and they provide valuable insights into the social organization and urban planning of these ancient Mesoamerican cities.

At Monte Albán, the residential areas were located on the hills surrounding the ceremonial center. The elite lived in large, palatial compounds with courtyards and multiple rooms, while the common people lived in smaller, more modest dwellings. The layout of the residential areas was organized in a hierarchical fashion, with the elite living closer to the ceremonial center and the commoners living further away. This spatial organization reflects the social hierarchy and the centralized power of the ruling elite at Monte Albán.

On the other hand, at Teotihuacán, the residential areas were more evenly distributed throughout the city, with no clear distinction between elite and commoner neighborhoods. The housing was organized in a grid-like pattern, with multi-family apartment compounds and smaller single-family dwellings. This suggests a more egalitarian social structure and a more decentralized form of governance at Teotihuacán.

The different residential patterns at Monte Albán and Teotihuacán can be interpreted as reflecting the different political and social structures of these two ancient cities. The hierarchical layout of Monte Albán suggests a centralized authority and a clear social hierarchy, while the more egalitarian and decentralized layout of Teotihuacán suggests a more communal and less stratified society. These interpretations are supported by archaeological evidence, such as the presence of elaborate palaces and tombs at Monte Albán, and the absence of similar elite structures at Teotihuacán.

Overall, the residential patterns at Monte Albán and Teotihuacán provide valuable insights into the social and political organization of these ancient Mesoamerican cities, and they help us to better understand the complexities of urban life in pre-Columbian Mexico.

Question 2

Discuss the past behaviors and processes that account for the cultural unit we know as ancient Mesoamerica.

Accepted Answer

Ancient Mesoamerica was a cultural unit that encompassed a diverse range of civilizations and societies in what is now Mexico and parts of Central America. The past behaviors and processes that account for this cultural unit are numerous and complex.

One key factor in the development of ancient Mesoamerica was the agricultural practices of the early inhabitants of the region. The domestication of maize, beans, and other crops allowed for the development of settled communities and the rise of complex societies. These agricultural practices also led to the development of trade networks and the exchange of goods and ideas between different Mesoamerican cultures.

Religious beliefs and practices also played a significant role in shaping ancient Mesoamerican culture. The worship of deities such as Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli was central to many Mesoamerican societies, and religious rituals and ceremonies were an important part of daily life. The construction of monumental architecture, such as the pyramids and temples at sites like Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza, was often tied to religious beliefs and practices.

The development of complex social and political structures also contributed to the formation of ancient Mesoamerica. City-states such as Tikal and Palenque were ruled by powerful kings and nobles, and warfare and conquest were common features of Mesoamerican society. The rise and fall of different city-states and empires, such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, shaped the cultural landscape of ancient Mesoamerica.

In conclusion, the cultural unit we know as ancient Mesoamerica was shaped by a complex interplay of agricultural, religious, social, and political factors. The behaviors and processes of the past, including the development of agriculture, the practice of religion, and the rise and fall of different societies, all contributed to the rich and diverse cultural heritage of ancient Mesoamerica.

Question 3

Discuss and evaluate the different views of Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism.

Accepted Answer

The views of Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism vary widely among historians and scholars. Some argue that these practices were an integral part of Aztec religious beliefs and were seen as necessary for maintaining the cosmic order. They believe that human sacrifice was a way to appease the gods and ensure the continued existence of the world. Cannibalism, on the other hand, was seen as a way to absorb the strength and power of the sacrificed individual.

Others, however, view Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism as barbaric and inhumane practices that were used to instill fear and control over the population. They argue that the Aztec rulers used these practices as a means of social and political control, and that the victims were often prisoners of war or members of lower classes who were sacrificed to maintain the power of the ruling elite.

There are also those who believe that the extent of human sacrifice and cannibalism in Aztec society has been exaggerated by Spanish conquistadors and later European colonizers in order to justify their own conquest and colonization of the Aztec empire. They argue that the Spanish had a vested interest in portraying the Aztecs as savage and uncivilized in order to justify their own actions.

Overall, the views on Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism are complex and varied, and are often influenced by cultural, historical, and political perspectives. It is important to consider multiple viewpoints and sources when evaluating these practices in the context of Aztec society.

Question 4

The Mesoamerican group with the most and longest written inscriptions are the

Accepted Answer

A)   Maya.
B)   Aztec.
C)   Olmec.
D)   Zapotec.
E)   Mexica.

Question 5

Three Gulf Coast sites were

Accepted Answer

A)   San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes.
B)   Tikal, Palenque, and Copán.
C)   El Mirador, San José Mogote, and Monte Albán.
D)   Teotihuacán, Tenochtitlán, and Cuicuilco.

Question 6

The calendar round in Mesoamerica did NOT

Accepted Answer

A)   comprise a 52-year cycle.
B)   include the ritual calendar of 260 days.
C)   include the solar calendar.
D)   feature the twelve constellations of the zodiac

Question 7

La Venta is

Accepted Answer

A)   an Olmec ceremonial center on Mexico's Gulf Coast with a principal occupation from 800-400 B.C.
B)   a site in central Mexico with rare examples of round architecture.
C)   the source of valuable green obsidian.
D)   the largest site in the Valley of Oaxaca before the establishment of Monte Albán.

Question 8

Which is true of Monte Albán?

Accepted Answer

A)   It had more temples than any other prehispanic Mesoamerican site.
B)   It had a residential pattern of houses built on terraces.
C)   It had several large round temples.
D)   The first chinampas are found there.
E)   It was founded by peoples from Teotihuacán.

Question 9

Describe two kinds of agricultural intensification employed by ancient Mesoamericans.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe two kinds of agricultural intensification employed...

Question 10

Mural art at Teotihuacán

Accepted Answer

A)   glorified past rulers.
B)   depicted ritual feasts and offerings.
C)   portrayed major military battles.
D)   helped predict eclipses.

Question 11

The following is NOT associated with the Zapotecs:

Accepted Answer

A)   tombs
B)   funerary urns
C)   conquest glyphs
D)   the Street of the Dead

Question 12

Select two archaeologists and discuss their contributions to Mesoamerican archaeology.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Select two archaeologists and discuss their contributions...

Question 13

Danzantes are

Accepted Answer

A)   elaborate serpentine masks, which were buried beneath Olmec architecture.
B)   Mixtec stone carvings, which probably represent ritual dancing.
C)   Maya hieroglyphs related to maize festivals.
D)   Monte Albán stone carvings that probably represent captives.

Question 14

The study of the distribution of ancient communities on a landscape falls under the domain of

Accepted Answer

A)   stratigraphic excavation.
B)   provenience.
C)   physical anthropology.
D)   settlement pattern analysis.

Question 15

Prior to the establishment of Monte Albán, the largest site in the Valley of Oaxaca with a danzante was

Accepted Answer

A)   San José Mogote.
B)   Cuicuilco.
C)   San Lorenzo.
D)   Tikal.

Question 16

The principal theme of Maya inscriptions on carved stone monuments appears to have been

Accepted Answer

A)   accounting.
B)   political/dynastic.
C)   foretelling the future.
D)   keeping track of time.

Question 17

We are now beginning to understand that the Maya did all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)   engaging in warfare frequently.
B)   occupying cities supported by numerous farming villages.
C)   maintaining long distance trade connections with Teotihuacan.
D)   forging and casting iron

Question 18

During the period from A.D. 950-1160, the most powerful city in central Mexico was

Accepted Answer

A)   Teotihuacán.
B)   Tula.
C)   Cuicuilco.
D)   Tikal.

Question 19

San José Mogote was situated

Accepted Answer

A)   on the Gulf Coast.
B)   in the Basin of Mexico.
C)   in the Petén.
D)   in the Valley of Oaxaca.

Question 20

The Aztec pochteca were specialists in

Accepted Answer

A)   religion.
B)   long-distance exchange.
C)   human sacrifice.
D)   chinampa farming.

Exam 6: Ancient Mesoamerica