CHAPTER 35—NATIVE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS, 1300 TO 1980
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following stops provided a small but impressive cache of gold and initiated the
expedition of Hernán Cortés to Mexico?
a.
along the coast of Veracruz
b.
along the coast of Yucatán
c.
along the coast of Ixtapa
d.
along the coast of Tampico
2. The depiction of Quetzalcoatl and Mictlantecuhtli seen in the Borgia Codex illustrates which of the
following themes?
a.
the inevitable relationship of life and death
b.
the marriage of the Aztec and Maya empires
c.
the brotherhood of the Mixtec and Toltec
d.
the contrasting relationship of fire and water
3. The Aztecs were deemed fierce in war and cruel in peace. They practiced human sacrifice on a greater
scale than any previous groups. The Spaniards quickly conquered them. Which of the following would
account for this relatively easy conquest?
a.
disorganization of the Aztecs
b.
poor military training in the later years of the empire
c.
lack of leadership
d.
Spaniards found allies among the peoples the Aztecs subjugated
4. Tenochtitlán is laid out on a grid plan that is reminiscent of which earlier culture?
a.
Olmec
b.
Maya of Copan
c.
Teotihuacán
d.
Tula
5. In the myth of Coyolxauhqui, sister of Huitzilopochtli, her brother murders her. What is the
significance of her murder?
a.
Huitzilopochtli’s triumph as the sun over the moon.
b.
Huitzilopochtli’s triumph as the god of war.
c.
Huitzilopochtli’s triumph over the forces of the Maya.
d.
Huitzilopochtli’s triumph as the sole god of the Aztecs.
6. The relief of Coyolxauhqui discovered in 1979 had been hidden from the Spaniards as a result of
which of the following?
a.
The priests always covered the relief with fitted stones when not in use.
b.
The Spaniards were blinded by the Curtain of Gold which separated the sanctuary from
the faithful.
c.
It was placed in the outer most shell of the Great Temple, which concealed the relief.
d.
The Aztec priests removed the relief when the Spaniards approached Tenochtitlán.
7. The placement of the relief of Coyolxauhqui was critical not only to Aztec religious observances but
also to the political persona of the Empire. Which of the following was the location of the relief?
a.
It was placed on floor before the sanctuary.
b.
It was placed at the bottom of Great Temple’s stairs.
c.
It was hung on the east wall of the sanctuary.
d.
It was mounted at the top of the stairs to the Great Temple.
8. Coatlicue is the mother of the gods according to Aztec mythology. She is at once savage and awful and
all her attributes symbolize sacrificial death. Which of the following would be one of those attributes?
a.
the double-ax motif found on her shoulders
b.
the flower garland she wears on her neck
c.
the excised human hearts she wears as a necklace
d.
the hummingbird motif found on her skirt
9. Many of the Spaniards who first saw Tenochtitlán likened it to which of the following European
cities?
a.
Madrid
b.
London
c.
Venice
d.
Paris
10. Which of the following Postclassic groups was considered preeminent in the art of writing?
a.
Olmec
b.
Teotihuacán
c.
Zapotec
d.
Maya
11. The Inka were a relatively small highland group in the year 1000 but by the 1400s they ruled an
empire that extended for more than 3000 miles. Which of the following would account for this rise to
power?
a.
energized population
b.
powerful alliances made through marriage
c.
skillful organizational and administrative control
d.
devout population following the skillful leadership of a dynasty
12. Which of the following would account for the success of the Inka to control their empire?
a.
superb system of roads
b.
precise written documents
c.
strict written records of commercial transactions
d.
obedience of the population to the written word of the Inka
13. The Inka imposed not only political and economic controls over the conquered populations but also
artistic control as well. Which of the following was an example of their artistic control?
a.
specific tattoos could only be used by the conquered
b.
absolutely no gold could be worn by the conquered
c.
the conquered had to wear local dress at all times
d.
the conquered had to pierce their lower lip and insert a silver disk to be worn at all times
14. Why is Machu Picchu of great archaeological importance?
a.
It was undisturbed since Inka times.
b.
It was the most excavated site following its discovery in the late 1800s.
c.
Its extensive written records detailed the city’s history as a private compound for the Inka.
d.
The history of its conquest detailed its importance to the Inka.
15. Which of the following animals represented Inka royal power in art?
a.
anaconda
b.
eagle
c.
puma
d.
vulture
16. Before European contact the most dominant culture in the American Southwest was the Anasazi. Their
descendants painted murals on their interior Pueblo walls associated with agriculture. Which of the
following would be an important element in this visual lexicon?
a.
lightning
b.
fire
c.
scrub pine
d.
jaguar
17. Which of the following are the descendants of the nomadic hunters who arrived in the Southwest from
northwestern Canada sometime between 1200 and 1500?
a.
Hopi
b.
Apache
c.
Shawnee
d.
Cheyenne
18. Navajo sand paintings or dry paintings are used in sacred ceremonies and destroyed at the ceremony’s
conclusion. Prototypes are passed from artist to artist and must be strictly followed as mistakes can
render the ceremony ineffective. Based on this information, which of the following would describe
sand or dry painting?
a.
It is free and innovative style.
b.
It has an uncontrolled style.
c.
It has a uniquely individualized style.
d.
It is highly stylized.
19. The Navajo learned how to weave in the 17th century. They transformed their blankets into rugs to
meet the tourist demands that the railroads brought to the Southwest in the late 1800s. They mastered a
wide variety of designs and used their own sand painting designs as well. Which of the following
would allow the incorporation of sand painting design into the weaving design?
a.
The difference in materials allowed sand painting designs to be used.
b.
The poor weaving techniques allowed sand painting designs to be used.
c.
The sand painting designs were altered which allowed their use.
d.
The vegetal dyes caused rapid fading which allowed their use.
20. When can humans join the Katsina world?
a.
when males attain their majority
b.
when females marry
c.
when either male or female makes a pilgrimage to the Sangre de Cristo mountains
d.
after death
21. Which of the groups was least prominent during the Postclassical period?
a.
Toltecs
b.
Olmecs
c.
Mixtecs
d.
Aztecs
22. Who were the most skilled goldsmiths in Mesoamerica Mexico?
a.
Toltecs
b.
Maya
c.
Aztecs
d.
Mixtecs
23. Which of the following cities had become a pilgrimage site for the Aztecs?
a.
La Venta
b.
Teotihuacán
c.
Tula
d.
Chichén Itzá
24. Who called themselves Mexica?
a.
Aztecs
b.
Maya
c.
Mixtecs
d.
Tolteca
25. Who were the supreme masters of shaping and fitting stones for architecture in South America?
a.
Mixtecs
b.
Inka
c.
Tairona
d.
Aztecs
26. The Northwest Coast Indians had a rich and reliable environment. They developed a large and varied
repertory of symbols and objects. Which of the following also developed as a result of this
environment?
a.
a class of professional artists
b.
part-time artists
c.
a tradition for exploration
d.
a tradition for non-violence
27. The Northwest Coast Indians used masks for which of the following types of ceremonies?
a.
male initiation rituals
b.
female initiation rituals
c.
healing rituals
d.
soothing arguments between daughters-in law and mothers-in law
28. The feathered serpent is one guise for which Mesoamerican deity?
a.
Quetzalcoatl
b.
Tlaloc
c.
Coatlicue
d.
Coyolxauhqui
29. Plains peoples’ shield paintings were often based on which of the following?
a.
myths
b.
family histories
c.
legends
d.
personal religious visions
30. Which of the following masks would be used during the Kwakiutl winter ceremonial season?
a.
transformation mask
b.
wolverine mask
c.
lion mask
d.
jaguar mask
31. Haida house frontal poles displaying totemic emblems express which of the following ideas?
a.
military conquests of the village
b.
hospitality behaviors
c.
health of the village
d.
family history
32. A prime example of dry-joining masonry (masonry without mortar) is found in which of the
following?
a.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacán
b.
Maya Temple I at Tikal
c.
Inca Temple of the Sun at Cuzco
d.
Haida mortuary temple at Skedans village
33. Who designs Chilkat blankets?
a.
men
b.
women
c.
Haida shaman
d.
Kwakiutl
34. When confined to the reservations Plains Indians took to recording their past exploits and history.
They also recorded their reactions to their new surroundings often far from their places of birth. Which
of the following would they use for this purpose of record keeping?
a.
tipi hides
b.
ledger books
c.
blankets
d.
shields
35. What totemic emblems do Haida poles display?
a.
the land
b.
the Hudson Bay Company
c.
the Chilkat
d.
clan groups
36. The arts of the Northwest Coast Indians of North America are expressions not only of spiritual beliefs
but also of which of the following?
a.
economic policy
b.
control of the weather
c.
social status
d.
dreams
37. The ancient art of creating quilled, beaded, and painted clothing has evolved into elaborate costumes
today for which of the following ceremonies?
a.
funerals of important tribal leaders
b.
marriage ceremony between inter-tribal couples
c.
competitive dances called powwows
d.
initiation ceremonies
38. The Yupik Eskimo have a rich ceremonial tradition based on which of the following animals?
a.
seals
b.
musk ox
c.
wolf
d.
buffalo
39. Which of the following groups uses the unique combination of male designer and female weaver?
a.
Kwakiutl
b.
Haida
c.
Tlingit
d.
Inuit
40. What do the pipe, painted buffalo robe, bear-claw necklace and feather decorations represent in Karl
Bodmer’s portrait entitled Two Ravens?
a.
marital status
b.
clan history
c.
family history
d.
military accomplishments
SLIDE IDENTIFICATION
Select the response that identifies or corresponds best to the image on the screen.
41. (Figure 35-3)
a.
Golden Enclosure, Cuzco
b.
Coricancha, Cuzco
c.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Mexico
d.
Great Temple, Mexico
42. (Figure 35-2)
a.
Borgia Codex
b.
Santiago Codex
c.
Huastec Codex
d.
Maya Codex
43. (Figure 35-9)
a.
Southwest
b.
Tlingit
c.
Plains
d.
Aztec
44. (Figure 35-8)
a.
Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico City
b.
Cathedral, Mexico City
c.
Santo Domingo, Cuzco
d.
St. Rose of Lima, Lima
45. (Figure 35-10)
a.
Hopi
b.
Navajo
c.
Zuni
d.
Apache
46. (Figure 35-16)
a.
Yupik Eskimo
b.
Northwest Coast
c.
Plains
d.
Inuit
47. (Figure 35-14)
a.
Inuit
b.
Kwakiutl
c.
Tlingit
d.
Haida
48. (Figure 35-11)
a.
Bill Reid
b.
Doug Kranmer
c.
Otto Pentewa
d.
María Martínez
49. (Figure 35-6)
a.
Coyolxauhqui
b.
Coatlicue
c.
Huitzilopochtli
d.
Mictlantecuhtli
50. (Figure 35-4)
a.
Aztec
b.
Mixtec
c.
Inka
d.
Zapotec
51. (Figure 35-7)
a.
Tenochtitlán
b.
Cuzco
c.
Tikal
d.
Machu Picchu
52. (Figure 35-14)
a.
Maria Martinez
b.
Bill Reid
c.
Otto Pentewa
d.
Karl Bodmer
53. (Figure 35-17)
a.
Apache
b.
Hopi
c.
Hidatsa
d.
Kwakiutl
54. (Figure 35-18)
a.
tipi hide
b.
ledger book
c.
illustrated bark
d.
codex
55. (Figure 35-12)
a.
Transformation mask
b.
Eskimo Shaman mask
c.
Hopi Katsina mask
d.
Tlingit mask
56. (Figure 35-11)
a.
Plains
b.
Northwest Coast
c.
Southwest
d.
Eskimo
57. (Figure 35-15)
a.
Plains
b.
Southwest
c.
Northwest Coast
d.
Inuit
58. (Figure 35-17)
a.
Karl Bodmer
b.
Otto Pentewa
c.
Bill Reid
d.
Doug Kranmer
59. (Figure 35-10)
a.
Bill Reid
b.
Karl Bodmer
c.
Otto Pentewa
d.
Doug Kranmer
60. (Figure 35-15)
a.
Chilkat blanket
b.
Navajo blanket
c.
Plains hide
d.
Plains robe
61. (Figure 35-8A)
a.
Aztec
b.
Inka
c.
Mexica
d.
Haida
62. (Figure 35-1)
a.
Codex Mendoza
b.
Codex Cuzco
c.
Chilkat
d.
Codex Tlingit
63. (Figure 35-16A)
a.
Apache
b.
Tikal
c.
Iroquois
d.
Mandan
64. (Figure 35-14A)
a.
Fiberglass
b.
Plastic
c.
Cedar
d.
Carbon fiber
SHORT ANSWER
1. How did the Inka control their empire?
2. What is the significance of thunderclouds and feathers on a Kachina mask?
3. What do paired hands on Eskimo masks represent?
4. How did the accoutrements of the Plains Indian warrior identify him?
5. What is the significance of Machu Picchu?
6. Why were agricultural deities important to the Southwest Indians?
7. What kind of communication system did the Inka establish?
8. How is a Chilkat blanket designed and made?
9. How does the disk of Coyolxauhqui describe the Aztec psyche?
10. What is the origin of Hopi Katsinas?
11. How does a sand or dry painting function in a Navajo healing ceremony?
12. Why were Postclassic Maya books so highly prized?
13. How were the Aztecs regarded by their neighbors?
14. What is superimposition?
15. How does the stone disk of Coyolxauhqui become a political symbol for the Aztecs?
16. What was the reaction of Cortés to the shrine of Huitzilopochtli?
17. What were the “flowery wars”?
18. How do Haida totem poles represent clan history?
19. How does the puma factor into the description of the Inka city of Cuzco?
20. How is the masking tradition of the Yupik unique?
ESSAY
1. Assess the impact of European contact on the art and architecture of Mexico and Colombia. Consider
the political and social implications. Use specific examples to support your essay.
2. Evaluate the impact of European contact on the Native arts of the United States. Consider the social
implications and the changes that occurred as a result of the contact. Use specific examples to support
your essay.
3. Contrast the masks of Eskimo with the Katsinas of the Hopi. Consider the functionality of the objects
and their respective environments.
4. Contrast the empires of the Aztecs and the Inka. Consider the purpose and function of each. How did
they use art and architecture to define themselves? Use examples to support your argument
5. Describe the architecture of the Inka. Consider the political and social environment. How did the
architecture define the Inka? Use examples to support your essay.
6. Explain the purpose and symbols of Haida totem poles and how they represented the Haida.
7. Explain the development of Aztec art forms. Consider the political and social implications. Use
examples to support your essay.
8. Explain the role of agricultural deities in Southwest culture. How did these deities impact artistic
production and society in general? Use examples to support your essay.
9. Explain the use of art to indicate social status in Inka culture. Use examples to support your essay.
10. Contrast the architecture and the role it played in Aztec and Inka societies. How did it reflect the
nature and character of each group? Use examples to support your essay.
OTHER
1. What type of object is this and how does it deviate from earlier examples?
2. What do totem poles symbolize and why were they significant?
3. What do these works symbolically represent?
4. How would this mask be used?
5. How does this figure represent savagery and tenderness?
6. How did this artist energize the tradition of Southwest pottery making?
7. Explain the ideas of sacrifice that lay behind this image.
8. How does this figure represent the Hopi?
9. From what area of what country did this warrior come? What do the various parts of his costume
symbolize?
10. What symbols are represented on this figure?
11. Who wore this mask and why?
12. What is the function and purpose of this work?
13. Who are represented and how are they significant?