Anthropology 3618 Ancient Cultures of Middle America
Midsemester Exam
12 February 2016
Answer FOUR (only 4) of the following thirteen (13) questions. Keep in mind that there is more
than one approach you can take in answering these questions. Each question is worth 100
points.
Follow these guidelines:
---
-------
Organize your answer before you begin;
Be sure to state:
1. What or who something is
2. Where it occurred or is located
3. Why it is important
3. When it occurred.
State YOUR position or approach clearly.
Cite specific examples or references to support your statements.
Mention problem areas or other relevant materials which you would like to
consider further in a more thorough statement.
Summarize your argument or discussion.
Wherever appropriate use materials from more than one region of
Mesoamerica or of the world.
Remember that each of your responses should have a beginning, a
middle, and an end.
Do not discuss any topic at length in more than one question.
1.
Discuss the Preclassic (or Formative) period and its importance in Mesoamerica. Include
in your discussion examples of sites and/or artifacts which best exemplify the Preclassic
period.
2.
Discuss the Lithic ("Early Hunters") and Archaic ("Incipient Agriculture") periods as they
were manifested in the Mesoamerican culture area. You may include in your answer
comparisons with the early cultures of North America.
3.
Why do Michael D. Coe and Rex Koontz spend so much time discussing language in
Mexico and The Maya?
4.
Locate and characterize the Olmec civilization and discuss its importance in the
development of Mesoamerican civilizations.
Ancient Cultures of Middle America
5.
Identify eight of the following in one or two sentences:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
6.
Midsemester Exam B Spring 2003, Page 2
tradition
Tiangas
Soconusco
Ambassador Monument
Chamula
Chiapas
diffusion
phase
Pre-Olmec
Tequixquiac
Milpa
component
Tepexpán
Chupicuaro
Petén
AThe Classic Maya Underworld@
Compare and contrast any two of the following:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Tepexpán
Tlatilco
Tres Zapotes
AIzapan civilization@
San Lorenzo
The Desert Culture
Tehuacán
Santa Marta rock shelter
7.
Chapter 9 of The Maya, AMaya Thought and Culture,@ is assigned out of sequence.
Why do you think this is so? If looking at the AMaya Thought and Culture@ materials
earlier is such a good idea, why didn=t Michael D. Coe put this information earlier in the
book, before the discussion of the Classic?
8.
Discuss the basic spacial terms and concepts used in American Archaeology, including
specific examples for each one and the reasons why you think each term may or may not
be useful in understanding Aprocess.@
9.
What is "Mesoamerica?" How is it like and unlike "Middle America?"
Ancient Cultures of Middle America
Midsemester Exam B Spring 2003, Page 3
10.
Why might it be useful to look at modern-day cultures of an area before you study its
prehistory? Be sure to give specific examples in your discussion. For this question you
may include materials from areas other than Mesoamerica.
11.
In Ch. 5 of Mexico, AThe Preclassic Period: Early Civilizations,@ Michael D. Coe and Rex
Koontz discusses the ABackground of civilized life,@ AThe Olmec civilization,@ AEarly
Zapotec civilization,@ and AIzapan civilization.@ Discuss Coe and Koontz=s concept of
Acivilization.@ (Note, this is a question on how Michael D. Coe and Rex Koontz uses
the term Acivilization@ and not primarily a question on the peoples used as examples.)
12.
This last section of Chapter 5 of Mexico (AThe Preclassic Period: Early Civilizations@)
reviews this Stela, and images of it have appeared in class.
A.
Discuss this discovery and its importance and significance to studies of
Prehistoric Mesoamerica.
B
Discuss the importance of this discovery to world archaeology.
Ancient Cultures of Middle America
13.
Midsemester Exam B Spring 2003, Page 4
If you do not like these questions, make up and answer a question of your own choice
relating to a topic which you have not considered in your other answers. (If you think
these questions are fantastic but simply prefer to make up one of your own, go ahead.)
Answers should contain specific information supporting your position. Both your question
and your answer will be evaluated.
Ancient Cultures of Middle America
Midsemester Exam B Spring 2003, Page 5
14.
In Ch. 2 of The Maya Michael D. Coe describes "The Earliest Maya." Describe "The
Earliest Maya" and discuss their importance to American archaeology?
15.
Identify eight of the following in one or two sentences (0.5 point each):
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
(q)
(r)
(s)
(t)
(u)
16.
tradition
Tiangas
Soconusco
Ambassador Monument
Chamula
Chiapas
diffusion
direct historical analogies
phase
Pre-Olmec
Tequixquiac
Milpa
component
Maya Superstates
Tepexpán
Chupicuaro
horizon
AName-tagging@
Petén
slash-and-burn
AThe Classic Maya Underworld@
Compare and contrast any two of the following:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
Tepexpán
Tlatilco
Tres Zapotes
AIzapan civilization@
Kaminaljuyú
San Lorenzo
La Mojarra
The Desert Culture
Tehuacán
Santa Marta rockshelter
Chalcatzingo
Cuicuilco