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MEXICAN CULTURE
STUDY QUESTIONS MESOAMERICA
MESOAMERICA
1. Define the term Mesoamerica and list the
geographical areas of culture that make up
this region.
2. Identify the three time horizons used in the
study of Mesoamerica, giving their exact
dates and a detailed description of each
period.
3. Why were the civilizations of Mesoamerica
considered agricultural societies? What
method of farming did they use? What
did they cultivate? Discuss their typical
diet.
4. What self-mutilations considered beautiful
were practiced by Mesoamericans?
5. Identify some plants/foods cultivated by
Mesoamericans that were not found in
Europe and vice versa.
6. What were the unique highlights of the
typical lifestyle of Mesoamericans?
7. Discuss the technology achieved (or not
achieved) by the Mesoamericans?
8. How were the pyramids of Mexico similar
in construction?
9. If the Mesoamerican civilizations
constructed large religious centers that
were obviously planned, what do you think
this tells us about those cultures?
10. What evidence do we have that the
Mesoamericans believed in an afterlife?
11. Duality was an important religious
concept of Mesoamerica. Please explain it
and mention other aspects that were
important in their religious beliefs.
12. Summarize the common characteristic
traits of Mesoamericans. Expand each
with detailed explanations.
13. What do Mexicans have today that can be
attributed to the influence of
Mesoamericans?
TLATILCO AND OLMECS
14. Give a physical description of the "pretty
ladies" found in Tlatilco. What could they
have represented?
15. Give three basic reasons why the Olmecs
are considered the mother culture of
Mesoamerica?
16. Summarize the archeological findings that
give us an indication of the physical
characteristics of the Olmecs.
17. What were the three religious beliefs or
obsessions of the Olmecs? Explain the
symbolism of each.
18. What are the distinctive features of the
Olmec art style? List some of the things
they made.
19. What can we learn from the people of
Mexico by studying the artistic figurines
they made?
20. What does the "wrestler" tell you about
the Olmecs?
21. Define and describe "danzantes" and give
their location, area and time horizon.
22. Why are Mesoamerican governments
called theocratic?
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CLASSICAL PERIOD &
TEOTIHUACAN
23. Enumerate some of the basic features of
the Classical period.
24. What was the main use for the pyramids
of Mexico and how do ceremonial centers
help us to understand their society?
25. Why was the city of Teotihuacan so
important? Discuss the economic and
social aspects of the society that lived
there.
26. Name each of the significant structures
found in Teotihuacan and give their
descriptions and locations.
27. There are two main gods that originated in
Teotihuacan, who were they and explain
how they are expressed there?
28. Describe the shape, material and usage of
the masks made by the Teotihuacanos.
29. Why is the study of mural painting
important in Mesoamerica? What did the
Teotihuacan murals depict. What were
some of the recurring themes?
TOTONACS
30. Name the area and site for the Totonac
civilization. Describe the famous pyramid
found there and how it relates to the solar
calendar and duality.
34. Describe how the pelote game was played,
i.e. equipment, court, number of players,
size of ball, etc.
35. What did hachas, palmas, and yokes
represent to Totonacs? Describe each.
36. How did the Totonac figurines differ from
others in Mesoamerica? What were their
unique characteristics?
37. Explain some of the historical and cultural
aspects of the Huastec civilization?
38. How did Huastec sculptures differ from
others in Mesoamerica?
ZAPOTECS AND MIXTECS
39. Where is Monte Alban? What peoples
influenced its development?
40. How do we know the Olmecs were in
Monte Alban?
41. How do the tombs of Monte Alban give us
an indication of their beliefs and society?
42. Describe the funerary urns made by the
Zapotecs and explain how they were used.
43. What is the main site of the Mixtecs and
explain what is unique about its
architecture?
44. List and explain each of the significant
contributions of the Mixtecs?
31. Who is considered the favorite tribal god
of the Totonacs?
45. What is the lost wax method? Explain the
process.
32. Explain the ritual "Danza de Voladores".
What did it signify? Why is it still possible
to witness it today?
46. Describe Mixtec codices and explain their
importance.
33. Explain how the pelote games had definite
artistic, social, and religious significance
for the people of Mesoamerica?
47. What two famous historical figures in
Mexican history come from this area?
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WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS
48. List the Mexican states that make up the
area where Mesoamerican Western
cultures were found?
49. In what way did Western cultures differ
from other Mesoamerican civilizations?
50. Describe a "shaft tomb". Why are they
important in learning about Western
cultures?
51. Describe the sculptures found in the tombs
of various Western states. How did they
differ in what they represented? How
were they the same?
MAYAS
52. What sources are available to us for the
study of the Mayas?
53. Who was Bishop Landa? What did he do
that was significant to our understanding
of the Mayas?
54. Name the three codices of pre-conquest
Mayan literature and give their locations
and their content.
55. What Mayan texts were written after the
Conquest and what did they contain?
56. From where do we get a good idea of the
physical description of the early Mayas?
What did they consider the ideal beauty?
57. Discuss the social, economic and political
life of the Maya civilization.
58. What are the physical aspects that can be
found in modern Maya people?
59. Explain the Maya calendar and math
systems.
60. What are some of the common
characteristics of Mayan architecture and
what new things did they design?
61. Explain the Legend of the Suns? How did
the Mayas relate to this?
62. Name and describe three architectural
styles of the Mayas and where they can be
located.
63. What are the differences between the
Classical Maya and the Historical Maya
politically, economically and artistically?
64. Why are the murals of Bonampak so
significant in the study of Mayan society?
65. How did the Mayas represent the human
body in their art?
66. Where is Palenque and what are its main
structures?
67. Who is Pacal?
68. What are the main structures in the
ceremonial center of Uxmal and what type
of society is indicated by those structures?
69. What are the main structures in the
ceremonial center of Chichenitza and what
type of society are indicated by these
structures?
70. How does “El Castillo” in Chichenitza
relate to Maya beliefs and calendar
system?
71. The Toltecs invaded the Maya and
introduced what new artistic items?
72. What might have been some causes to the
downfall of the Maya civilization?
73. What language was spoken by the Mayas?
By the Zapotecs? By the Aztecs?
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TOLTECS
74. List the important characteristics of the
Historical period and how did these
features change the political, social,
religious and economic structure of
Mesoamerica?
75. What does the word "Toltec" mean and
why was this name used?
76. What information do we have of the social
and economic life of the Toltecs?
77. Summarize the legend of Quetzalcoatl and
Tezcatlipoca. Why is it considered
extremely important in understanding the
history of the Indigenous peoples of
Mexico?
78. What new ideas did the Toltecs introduce
into Mesoamerica. How did these indicate
a change in religious beliefs?
AZTECS
79. From where did the Aztecs originate?
What does their name mean? What was
their language? What are they often
called?
80. The migration of the Aztecs can be
explained by the Legend of
Huitzilapochtli. Give a summary. How
does this related to Mexico today?
81. In what way was Tenochtitlan different
from previous ceremonial centers?
Describe the city.
82. How were the Aztecs able to build such a
strong empire in Mesoamerican in a
relatively short time?
83. Explain the major political, social and
economic aspects of Aztec society.
84. How did the Aztecs build chinampas?
85. Aztec society was highly stratified.
Explain their social classes and the role
played by each.
86. How was the political system set up in the
Aztec empire. Who was the last ruler?
Who ruled them at the coming of Cortes?
87. What was the "War of Flowers" and what
relationship did it have to Aztec religion?
88. Who were the main gods of the Aztec
pantheon? Which specific one was unique
to their civilization?
89. Summarize the legend of the Moon
Goddess and explain her fate.
90. Summarize the Aztec legend of
Popocatepetl and Izcaccihuatl.
91. Explain the symbols found on the Mexican
flag. Where did the name Mexico come
from?
92. Explain some of the main symbols found
in the Monument to the Fifth Sun?
93. In your opinion what attributed to the
downfall of the various civilizations in
Mesoamerica?
94. Can one say that there was only one
Indian nation before the Conquest?
Explain your answer.
95. From which area and time horizon did you
find the civilizations to be more
meaningful and inspiring to you? Explain
your answer.
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BE ABLE TO LOCATE AND
IDENTIFY THESE STRUCTURES
Caras Sonrientes
Funerary urns
Castillo
Hachas
Governor's Palace
Huehueteotl
Nunnery
Huitzilapochtli
Observatory (Caracol)
Maguey
Pyramid of Magician
Mesoamerica
Pyramid of Sun
Moctezuma II
Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl
Monolithic altars
Pyramid of Niches
Nahuatl
Pyramid of Moon
Pacal
Temple of 1000 Warriors
Palmas
Temple of Inscriptions
Pictographic
Temple of Morning Star
BE ABLE TO DEFINE
FOLLOWING TERMS
Duality
Polytheistic
THE
Popul Vuh
Quetzalcoatl
Atlantean Warriors
Roof comb
Atzlan
Scabe
Cenote
Skull racks
Chac Mool
Slash/burn
Chac
Slope/panel
Chalchihuatlicue
Stelae
Chichimeca
Tenochtitlan
Chilam Balam
Tezcatlipoca
Chinampas
Theocracy
Chinesco
Tlachtli
Citadel
Tlaloc
Coa Stick
Tonatiuh
Coatlicue
Voladores
Codices
War of Flowers
Corbel Arch
Xipe Totec
Coyolxauqui
Xochipilli
Cuautemoc
Year Ce Acatl
Danzantes
Yokes