Name: Date: Period:

Quiz: Ancient Latin American Civilizations

___1) Which geographic feature had the greatest influence on the development of the Inca Empire?
(A) deserts (C) river valleys
(B) Irregular coastline (D) mountains

___2) The Aztec use of the calendar and the Maya writing system both illustrate that pre-Columbian cultures
in the Americas
(A) traded extensively with Africa
(B) flourished prior to European contact
(C) declined because of invasion and disease
(D) converted others to Islam

___3) The Mayans primarily used which of the following farming techniques?
(A) Slash and burn (C) livestock grazing/pastoralism
(B) Chinampas (D) terrace farming

___4) The Mayans invented all of the following except:

(A) The concept of 0 (C) a hieroglyphic writing system
(B) 365 day calendar (D) the ox-drawn plough

___5) What kind of agriculture did the Inca use to adapt to their environment?
(A) Slash and burn (C) livestock grazing/pastoralism
(B) Chinampas (D) terrace farming

___6) Why did the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans practice human sacrifice?
(A) To punish criminals
(B) To prevent overpopulation
(C) Their gods required it
(D) Because they were brutal savages

___7) Which of the following was not a feature of the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán?
(A) Terrace farms (C) canals and bridges
(B) central square (D) public toilets and sanitation

___8) What does the “three sisters” refer to?

(A) The founding myth of the Aztecs (C) Three crops grown together (maize, squash, and beans)
(B) The three empresses of the Inca (D) A Mayan ritual slaughter

___9) What kind of agriculture did the Aztec use to adapt to their environment?
(A) Slash and burn (C) livestock grazing/pastoralism
(B) Chinampas (D) terrace farming

___10) Aztec art…

(A) did not include painting or writing. (C) was often used for religious purposes.
(B) was always small and portable. (D) did not depict animals or humans.
___11) The “Sapa Inca” is the title of the…
(A) Artisans in Cuzco (C) Emperor of Incas
(B) High priest of Inca society (D) Runners on the Incan roads

___12) Aztec slaves…

(A) Could never improve their status. (C) were long-distance traders.
(B) Were often priests. (D) could purchase land and freedom.

___13) Which of the following was not an important art form for the Inca?
(A) Metal-working (C) sculpture
(B) Chinampas (D) weaving

___14) Inca architecture…

(A) used incredibly precise stonework. (C) was built mainly in valleys.
(B) was mainly yurts/portable buildings. (D) was not very advanced for its time.

15) Label the Inca, Aztec, and Mayan Empires

on this map:

Bonus Question: List one cool fact about the Inca

or Aztec that you learned in this unit that is not
covered on this quiz.