CHAPTER 18—NATIVE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS BEFORE 1300
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is not part of the Mesoamerica region?
a.
Mexico
b.
Guatemala
c.
Bolivia
d.
Honduras
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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. The Olmec carved and polished ax-shaped forms are called ____.
a.
hachas
b.
palmas
c.
celts
d.
cinturas
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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.
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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)
20. 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
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
25. 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
26. Which of the groups below is often referred to as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerican Mexico?
a.
Olmecs
b.
Aztecs
c.
Maya
d.
Mixtecs
27. 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
28. Corbelled vault construction was typical of the architecture of the ____.
a.
Moche
b.
Maya
c.
Anasazi
d.
Olmecs
29. Which site did the Aztec visit with a deep sense of reverence?
a.
Copan
b.
San Lorenzo
c.
Teotihuacán
d.
La Venta
30. 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
31. The feathered serpent is one guise of which Mesoamerican Mexican deity?
a.
Quetzalcóatl
b.
Tlaloc
c.
Coatlicue
d.
Coyolxauhqui
32. Which of the following sites is not located in South America?
a.
Chavín de Huántar
b.
Tiwanaku
c.
Chichén Itzá
d.
Cuzco
33. 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
34. 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
35. 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
36. 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
37. 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
SLIDE IDENTIFICATION
Select the response that identifies or corresponds best to the image on the screen.
38. (Figure 18-28)
a.
Tula Tapestry
b.
Tikal Tapestry
c.
Lima Tapestry
d.
Caracas Tapestry
39. (Figure 18-27)
a.
Chile
b.
Bolivia
c.
Peru
d.
Ecuador
40. (Figure 18-6)
a.
Temple of Quetzalcóatl at Teotihuacán
b.
Temple of the Sun at Cuzco
c.
Temple of the Sun at Tiahuanaco
d.
Mayan temple at Uaxactan
41. (Figure 18-11)
a.
goddess
b.
Quetzalcóatl
c.
Ball Player
d.
Adena pipe figure
42. (Figure 18-31)
a.
Serpent Mound
b.
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde
c.
Temple I, Tikal
d.
Nasca Lines, Hummingbird
43. (Figure 18-33)
a.
Mississippian
b.
Mimbres
c.
Ohio
d.
Adena
44. (Figure 18-34)
a.
Bonampak
b.
Tula
c.
Mesa Verde
d.
Teotihuacán
45. (Figure 18-32)
a.
Anasazi
b.
Mesa Verde
c.
Mississippian
d.
Adena
46. (Figure 18-9)
a.
Tikal
b.
Copán
c.
Teotihuacán
d.
Jaina
47. (Figure 18-23)
a.
Tikal
b.
Copán
c.
Huaca de los Reyes
d.
Nasca
48. (Figure 18-30)
a.
pipe figure
b.
gorget
c.
clay plate
d.
wall plaque
49. (Figure 18-21)
a.
Raimondi Stele
b.
Feline Stele
c.
Borgia Stele
d.
Sipán Stele
50. (Figure 18-22)
a.
Moche
b.
Chavín
c.
Nasca
d.
Paracas
51. (Figure 18-26)
a.
Maya
b.
Sipán
c.
Mixtec
d.
Olmec
52. (Figure 18-10A)
a.
Mayan
b.
Aztec
c.
Puebloan
d.
Cahokian
53. (Figure 18-13)
a.
lost-wax bronze
b.
terra cotta
c.
polychromed ceramic
d.
carving
54. (Figure 18-33A)
a.
Pueblo Chaco
b.
Pueblo Bonito
c.
Pueblo Grande
d.
Pueblo Brasse
55. (Figure 18-30A)
a.
Mississippi
b.
Ohio
c.
Indiana
d.
Missouri
56. (Figure 18-7A)
a.
wood
b.
panel
c.
fresco
d.
mural
SHORT ANSWER
1. Why was sacrifice so important to the Maya?
2. Describe the physical layout of Teotihuacán.
3. Briefly describe Adena Culture.
4. How are the cliff dwelling sites of the Anasazi significant?
5. How are the gorgets excavated from Native American temple mounds significant?
6. What does the location of the Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde signify?
7. Briefly describe Chaco Canyon and its significance.
8. What is a kiva and how does it function within the community?
9. Based on recent archaeology briefly describe the Great Serpent Mound and its possible new meanings.
10. Who painted the frescoes found at Bonampak, and what are they thought to represent?
11. What happened to the Anasazi?
12. How is a Mimbres bowl “killed” and why is it significant?
13. Describe the Eskimo lifestyle.
14. Who are thought to have been the potters of Mimbres and why?
15. Contrast Wari and Paracas textile design.
16. How does Mimbres pottery design compliment the shape of the bowl?
ESSAY
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Describe the impact of Teotihuacán on subsequent generations in Mexico. How did it affect the visual
arts? Use examples to support your essay.
6. Explain the use of art to indicate social status in Mayan society. Use examples to support your essay.
7. Compare and contrast Nasca ceramics and Mayan ceramics. How does each reflect their respective
universe? Use examples to support your essay.
8. 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?
9. Compare and contrast the Adena pipe figure with the Mississippian gorget. How do they each reflect
their respective cultures?
10. 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.
OTHER
SLIDE QUESTIONS
1. How is the polychromed finish achieved on this vase?
2. What culture created this image? Why is this scene important?
3. What culture created this image? Where is it located? What is it thought to represent?
4. How does this monument reflect the culture’s sense of purpose?
5. What culture created this textile? What was its purpose? What was the meaning of the symbols?
6. Explain the ideas of sacrifice that lay behind this image.
7. In what country and region is this building located? What are the circular areas called, and what was
their function?
8. From what area of what country did this mask come? How does it represent the people?
9. What was the purpose of this figure?
10. What group created this object? What material was used and what was its purpose?
11. How does this site reflect the Mesoamerican character?