18 Questions
What type of climate is found in the lowlands of Mesoamerica?
Hot and wet
What resource is produced by the volcanoes in Mesoamerica?
Obsidian
Which early Mesoamerican people are known for their giant head statues?
Olmecs
What type of societies did the Maya have?
Complex societies
Where did most Mayan people live?
In small farming villages surrounding cities
What type of environment did heavy rainfall create in the lowlands of Mesoamerica?
Tropical forest
What was the lowest level of society in the Mayan civilization?
Slaves
What farming method involved cutting down and burning trees and plants to leave behind rich soil?
Slash-and-burn agriculture
Which geographical region of Mesoamerica has a hot, wet climate and dense tropical forests?
Lowlands
What material, produced by volcanoes, can be used for various purposes and was available in Mesoamerica?
Obsidian
What type of societies did the Maya have?
Complex societies
What force of nature did most of the Maya gods represent?
Rain
What did the Mayans believe human sacrifices were a part of?
Natural cycle of death and rebirth
In which area did most Mayan people live, surrounding the cities?
Farming villages
What method did rulers use to increase their power in Mayan city-states?
Warfare
What agricultural products were domesticated by the early Mesoamerican civilizations?
Cacao, maize, and avocado
Which cultural traits were diffused through the Mesoamerican area during the Formative period?
A vigesimal numeric system and a tradition of ball playing
What characterized the rise of complex urban polities among the Maya during the Preclassic period?
Development of a logosyllabic writing system and construction of monumental centers like Tikal
Test your knowledge of the geographical features of early Mesoamerica, including highlands, lowlands, volcanoes, and their impact on the environment and civilization. Discover the significance of obsidian in the region's history.
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