Anthropology Exam Quiz: Trivia Facts!

Monumental architecture was made of stone because stone is a durable and long-lasting material that can withstand the test of time. It provides strength and stability to large structures, making it ideal for constructing monumental buildings and monuments. Stone also offers a sense of grandeur and permanence, which is often desired in architectural designs. Additionally, stone can be easily carved and shaped into intricate details, allowing for the creation of impressive and intricate architectural features.

The statement suggests that human sacrifice existed in the new world but not in the old world. The answer "False" implies that this statement is incorrect. It means that there was human sacrifice in both the old world and the new world, contradicting the statement.

Teotihuacan's wealth was based on trade rather than military power. This means that the city's prosperity and economic success were primarily driven by its extensive trade networks and commercial activities, rather than by conquest or military dominance. The civilization of Teotihuacan had a highly developed trade system, with goods such as obsidian, pottery, and textiles being exchanged with other regions. The absence of defensive structures and military fortifications in Teotihuacan further supports the notion that its wealth was not primarily derived from military conquest.

Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec empire. It was founded in 1325 and located on an island in Lake Texcoco, in what is now modern-day Mexico City. Tenochtitlan was a major political, economic, and cultural center of the Aztec civilization. It was known for its impressive architecture, including temples, palaces, and causeways. The city was conquered and destroyed by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1521, marking the end of the Aztec empire.

The Maya civilization had buildings with dates inscribed on them. The Maya were known for their advanced system of writing, which included hieroglyphs. They used these hieroglyphs to record important events and dates on their buildings, such as the dates of construction or significant historical events. This practice allowed them to document and preserve their history for future generations. The inscriptions on Maya buildings provide valuable insights into their culture, religion, and political history.

Teotihuacan was built around A.D. 500. This ancient Mesoamerican city is known for its impressive pyramids and urban planning. It reached its peak during the early centuries of the Common Era and was one of the largest cities in the world at that time. The exact founding date of Teotihuacan is still debated among historians, but archaeological evidence suggests that major construction and urban development took place around A.D. 500.

The new world civilizations can be characterized as rising and falling city-states. City-states refer to independent cities that have their own government and are not part of a larger political entity. These city-states were the centers of political, economic, and cultural activity in these civilizations. They would often rise in power and influence, only to later decline and be replaced by other city-states. This pattern of rise and fall was a common feature of the new world civilizations.

The ball courts in the Mayan culture were used for sacrificial rituals. These rituals involved a game called "pok-a-tok" where players would try to hit a rubber ball through a stone hoop using only their hips. The losing team would often be sacrificed as an offering to the gods. The ball courts were therefore not just sports centers or warrior training centers, but rather places where sacrificial sacrifices took place.

The Maya civilization is known as the "City-Less" civilization with ceremonial centers. This is because the Maya did not have large, centralized cities like Teotihuacan or the Aztec civilization. Instead, they had numerous smaller city-states with their own ruling elites and ceremonial centers where religious rituals and ceremonies took place. These ceremonial centers were important hubs of political, religious, and social activities within the Maya society.

The main contributor to the decline of the Mayan civilization was intense warfare. This is because the Mayans engaged in frequent conflicts with neighboring city-states, leading to the destruction of many cities and the weakening of their civilization. The constant warfare resulted in the loss of resources, population, and infrastructure, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Mayan civilization.

The Incas were known for their incredibly precise cut-stone masonry. They were skilled in the art of stone carving and construction, creating intricate and seamless structures using stone blocks that fit together perfectly without the need for mortar. Their architectural achievements, such as the famous Machu Picchu, are a testament to their mastery of this technique. The Mayans and Aztecs also had impressive architectural skills, but the Incas were particularly renowned for their precision in cut-stone masonry.

The Olmec civilization is considered to be the first new world civilization. They emerged around 1500 BCE in what is now modern-day Mexico. The Olmecs were known for their advanced agricultural practices, monumental architecture, and intricate stone sculptures. They established complex social and political systems, and their influence can be seen in later Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Maya and Aztecs. The Olmec civilization laid the foundation for the development of other civilizations in the region, making them the first in the new world.

The correct answer is Inca because they were known for constructing an extensive road system throughout their empire. These roads, known as the Inca Road or Qhapaq Ñan, stretched for thousands of miles and connected various parts of their empire. The Inca road system played a crucial role in facilitating communication, trade, and military movements within the empire. It was a remarkable engineering feat that showcased the Inca's advanced knowledge in construction and infrastructure development.

Teotihuacan, an ancient Mesoamerican city, did not have any walls or defensive structures. This is a significant aspect of Teotihuacan's urban planning and layout. The absence of walls suggests that the city relied on other means, such as social organization or diplomacy, for defense rather than physical barriers. The lack of walls also reflects the city's openness and accessibility to trade and interaction with neighboring regions.

New world civilizations not based around large river valleys. This suggests that the development and growth of these civilizations did not heavily rely on the presence of large river valleys. Instead, they likely had alternative sources of water and resources that allowed them to thrive and establish their own unique civilizations.

The practice of bloodletting signified the delicate balance between life and death to the people in the new world. It represented the belief that by removing a certain amount of blood from the body, the person's health and vitality could be restored or maintained. It was seen as a way to regulate the body's humors and prevent or cure illnesses. However, excessive bloodletting could also lead to death, highlighting the fine line between preserving life and causing harm.

The Olmec civilization had the earliest origins of the writing system (long count) in the New World. The Olmec people, who lived in Mesoamerica from 1200 BCE to 400 BCE, developed a complex writing system that included hieroglyphs and symbols. This system was later adopted and further developed by other Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs. The Incas, on the other hand, did not have a writing system as sophisticated as the Olmecs, Mayans, or Aztecs.

Teotihuacan is the correct answer because it is an ancient Mesoamerican city located near present-day Mexico City. The city is known for its impressive architectural structures, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. These pyramids were built by the Teotihuacan civilization, which thrived between the 1st and 7th centuries AD. The pyramids served as religious and ceremonial centers, and they are important cultural and historical landmarks of the region.

Teotihuacan is known for its apartment complexes that could accommodate a large number of people, ranging from 60 to 100 individuals. These complexes were a unique feature of the Teotihuacan civilization and were designed to house a significant population. The other civilizations mentioned, such as the Olmec, Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas, had their own architectural styles and living arrangements, but none of them were specifically known for apartment complexes of this scale.

The Olmec civilization is known for their advanced knowledge and use of salt. They had saltworks and traded salt with other civilizations in Mesoamerica. The Maya, Aztec, and Teotihuacan civilizations also had knowledge of salt, but the Olmec were particularly renowned for their expertise in this area.

The correct answer lists three differences between the old world and the new world: smaller boats, no iron use, and no large domestic mammals. These differences highlight some of the disparities in technological advancements, material resources, and animal domestication between the two regions. The mention of smaller boats suggests that the old world had more advanced maritime technology compared to the new world. The absence of iron use in the new world implies a lack of metalworking capabilities, which could have impacted the development of tools and weapons. Additionally, the absence of large domestic mammals in the new world suggests a limited ability for agricultural practices, transportation, and labor compared to the old world.