ANT 253 Final EXAM FALL 2022

1 ANTHROPOLOGY 253: Mesoamerican Civilizations F I N A L E X A M: FALL 2022 NAME: Haziel Mariscal This test is divided into four (4) parts; you have one and a half hours for the test and must complete all sections of the exam. 1. True - False - 30 Points 2. Multiple Choice - 30 " 3. Short Identifications - 30 " 4. Short Answers - 10 " 100 total points 1. True-False : (1 point each) Write either True or False next to each statement, in the space provided. Read each statement completely before answering. (Value: 30 points total) 1. True The first contact between the Spanish and Mesoamericans took place in 1502 when Columbus’ 4 th expedition came across Maya merchants in large ocean-going canoes near the Bay Islands of Honduras. 2. False Bow and arrows were likely developed in South America and introduced into Mesoamerica during the Early Classic period. 3. True “La Noche Triste” refers to the night that the Spanish escaped from the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Quite a number of Spaniards and their allies were killed crossing the causeway into the city. 4. True The beautiful murals discovered at the site of Cacaxtla in the state of Tlaxcala, and which depict images of Jaguar and Eagle knights, are said to display evidence for Maya influences in central Mexico. 5. False The three major social classes in ancient Aztec society were known as the "macehualtin" the "tlacohtin" and the "aztlan". 6. True In the decimal system of mathematics that we use, value increases in multiples of 10 and from right to left. In the Maya system, value increases in multiples of 20 and from bottom to top. 7. True Legend has it that the great Toltec leader Ce Acatl Topiltzin (or Quetzalcoatl) was driven from Tula and that he may have led his followers to the Yucatan peninsula, vowing to return someday and avenge himself 8. False During the Terminal Classic period, sites became isolated and remote

from each other. As a result, Mesoamerican city states of this time period were generally at peace and warfare was quite rare. 9. True At the summit of the pyramid of Cholula is a large Catholic cathedral that was constructed by the Spanish in colonial times. 10. True Life-size polychrome murals, known as the “Drunkards”, were found at the site of Cholula. 11. False There is considerable evidence proving that the Aztecs often practiced cannibalism as a way to address protein deficiency. 12. True At Xochicalco, a Late Classic site in central Mexico, a vertical shaft where sunlight enters a small cave was used for astronomical purposes. 13. False The use of vertical hoops on ballcourts were never used by the Maya. 14. True The writing systems used by the Aztecs and Mixtecs are best defined as picture-writing, while that of the Maya, which is more complex, is a logo- syllabic system. 15. False The AztecTriple Alliance was made up of the following city states: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlaxcala. 16. True The last Aztec ruler was not Montezuma but his nephew Cuahtemoc. 17. True The Spanish conquest of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was aided by many native Tlaxcalan allies. 18. True The site of El Tajin in Veracruz is particularly well known for its mold-made ceramic (remojadas) figurines with smiling faces. In addition to effigies of children, adults and ball players, this area of Veracruz is also known for small wheeled figures . 19. True The Aztec "Flowery Wars", or war of the flowers, was a type of war whose major purpose was the capture of warriors for sacrifice to the gods. 20. True The rapid rise of the Aztecs as the dominant city state in the Valley of Mexico has been described as a story that can be explained as the rise from rags to riches. 21. True The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan and the large pyramid at Cholula are the tallest and largest pre-Columbian structures in the Americas. 22. False Maya E-Group buildings were used as temples for human sacrifice. 23. True The Maya used a vigesimal (or base 20) system of mathematics.

5. ______ The approach the Aztecs employed in their imperial expansion has been described as the __________________ approach. a) Shield and the sword b) coercion and benevolence c) Carrot and the stick d) force and domination 6._______ The Aztec building known as the Templo Mayor was dedicated to which of the following two gods a) Tlaloc and Chaac b) Xipe Totec and Quetzalcoatl c) Tlaloc and Huitzilipochtli d) Cuahtemoc and Tenoch 7.______ This site was the capital of the Toltec state. a) El Tajin b) Tula c) Cholula d) Xochicalco e) Cacaxtla 8. ______ Many inhabitants of Teotihuacan’s city center apparently lived in: a) apartment complexes b) circular or apsidal shaped perishable structures c) perishable structure d) caves under the pyramid of the moon 9.______ Although we refer to this Mesoamerican culture as Aztecs, they referred to themselves as the a)Tolteca b) Pochteca c) Tarascans d) Mexica e) Mixteca 10. ______ Which of the following large Maya sites provides evidence for contact and interaction with the Toltec people of Tula. a. Copan b. Kaminaljuyu c . Chichen Itza d. Tikal 11. The flaying of a sacrificial victim and subsequent wearing of the victim’s skin was an Aztec ritual associated with this god of Spring. a) Tlaloc b) Culhuacan c) Patoli d) Pochteca e) Xipe Totec 12. The site with the largest ballcourt in Mesoamerica is: A) Tajin b) Chichen Itza c) Mitla d) Teotihuacan e) Tula 13. ____ The arrow-shaped structure known as Building J served as an astronomical observatory at which of the following sites: a) Teotihuacan b) Monte Alban c) Copan d) Chichen Itza e) Cholula

14. Recent investigations at this central Mexican site, which has murals depicting eagle and jaguar knights, revealed the remains of 208 individuals, of which 199 belonged to children that were likely sacrificed in ceremonies to the rain god: a) Mitla b) Tikal c) Cacaxtla d) Copan e) El Tajin 15.______ The Aztec calmecac was a/an: a) elite school for boys b) skull rack c) serpent wall d) spear thrower e) a calendar 16.______ The defeat of the Aztecs in 1521 was conducted under the leadership of this Spaniard. a) Juan Grijalva b) Cortes c) Bernal Diaz del Castillo d) Diego de Landa 17. _______ The people from this culture were the best gold workers in Mesoamerica a) Maya b) Toltecs c) Aztecs d) Mixtecs e) Olmecs 18. Some people have claimed that Moctezuma viewed the Spanish Conquistador Cortes as an ancient god returning to claim back his empire; which god? a) Tezcatlipoca b) Tlaloc c) Xipe Totec d) Quetzalcoatl 19. ______ The Tzolkin, or sacred calendar of the Maya, had these many days: a) 160 b) 260 c) 360 d) 460 e) 560 20. ______ The solar calendar of the Maya, which had 365 days, was called: a) the Totec b) the Ajaw c) the Haab d) the Metatl 21. ______ Which of the following architectural complexes is not found at Teotihuacan? a) temple of the Moon b) Pyramid of the sun c) Temple of Quetzalcoatl d) Pyramid of the Niches 22. Remojadas figurines and toys in the shape of animals on top of little platforms with wheels have been found at this Veracruzan site: a) Mitla b) Tikal c) Chichen Itza d) Copan e) El Tajin 23.______ Migrating from northwestern Mexico, these people, played an important role in cultural developments in the valley of Mexico at the end of the Classic period and during the Postclassic. a) Olmeca b)

the military power. 3. Pochteca: Long distance merchants that are widely sacred in Mesoamerican society. They are useful to the Aztec empire for trade and resources. 4. La Malinche: A Mesoamerican woman who was used as an interpreter for Hernandez Cortes during the Spanish conquest. She is seen by a traitor by many but to some she is seen as a captive forced to do the interpreting. 5. chinampas: Little rectangle like soils that grow crops on a lake, workers use canoes to get around the crops. 6. Quetzalcoatl: The Feather Serpent Deity that was an important god figure to the Aztec pantheon. Many temples and cults were formed around this deity. 7. Pyramid of the Niches: A pyramid located in El Tajin, an important temple, this hosts 365 niches to represent the solar year. As well seven levels to represent the underworld. 8. tzompantli: A wooden rack that hosted many skulls of the deceased. Aztec used these on their walls to intimidate their foes. 9. Huitzilipochtli : The god of the sun and war. Represented as an eagle or as a hummingbird, sacrifices where made to him to honour him and for great successes in warfare. 10. chacmol: A sculpture of that of a reclining figure with a bowl on its stomach while facing 90 degrees away. 6. Short Answers : (Total 10 pts) List or pr ovide brief and concise answers for the following questions (1 point for each answer), and please write neatly. 1) It is often stated that the swift conquest of the Aztec Empire by a mere “handful” of ill-prepared, and largely illiterate, Spanish soldiers in 1521, was a surprising outcome. List the four factors which enabled the Spaniards to achieve this remarkable conquest?

a) Weaponry b) Battle Tactics c) Tlaxcallan Allies d) Diseases 2) List or draw the three symbols used by the Maya in their arithmetic, and place their values next to the symbol. a) b) c) 3) Following the collapse of Teotihuacan at the end of the Early Classic period, there were major social and political changes that followed. List three of these changes: a) b) c) Extra Credit (1 point): Write the number 445 in Maya numerals: All the best with the exam. I had a wonderful time teaching this course and it was great having you in the class. Have a great winter vacation. Jaime