Culture and History of Mexico Exam 1
Questions and Answers
Teosinte grass - ANSWER-A part of maize cultivation that underwent genetic alteration to produce small
corn cobs; "eventually evolved into maize"
Climate Change - ANSWER-Around 7500 BCE, a "drying-up" phase began
Sparse vegetation and meat, enabling food crisis
"Tepexpan Man" (Woman) - ANSWER-Early remnants of early humans, today's Mexico City
Chechimecas - ANSWER-"northern barbarians"
Obsidian - ANSWER-Volcanic glass frequently used as weapon
The Olmecs - ANSWER-'The Mother Culture'
Flourished between 1200-300 BCE
Developed mathematics, astronomy, and calendars
Comal - ANSWER-ceramic griddle used to make tortillas
Olmec Calandar - ANSWER-Based on a 365-day solar year, 260-day lunar year; 52 year cycles
The cycles were significant, the ending believed to be a dangerous time ("end of an era")
Monte Alban, Oaxaca - ANSWER-Zapotec city in the center of the Valley of Mexico
Hilltop setting, artificially flattened mountain
Concentration of temples where public ritual took place
Zapotecs - ANSWER-People of Monte Alban, Oaxaca
Mitla - ANSWER-"Mitla is the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico,
and the most important of the Zapotec culture."
Zacatecas - ANSWER-state in north-central Mexico
Teotihuacan - ANSWER-A city way before Aztecs; referred to "City of the Gods"
Little/No writing available
Quetzalcoatl - ANSWER-Feathered serpent deity; Toltecs evolved it into a warrior god
Aztec vegetation god
The Mayas - ANSWER-No single dominant center; competing city-states; not centralized
Pyramids and palaces, used hieroglyphs with phonetics
Developed calendars
Made bajos
, Little known about their fall
Tikal - ANSWER-Mayan city-state; had irrigation and perhaps a population of 50,000
Pyramids and temples correspond with position of sun
Bajos - ANSWER-Man-made canals for water; artificial lakes; many early centers located around them
The Toltecs - ANSWER-Warrior group (militarism) after Mayas, built their capital Tula, conquered central
Valley of Mexico
Yucatan - ANSWER-Post-classical Maya, signs of Toltec culture
Place of Chichen Itza
Theorized that refugees came for imperial protection
Not good place for agriculture, cenotes
The Mixtecs - ANSWER-Post-classical Maya
Dominant people of Oaxaca; capital Mitla
Metal work was speciality
"People of the Rain"
"Time of Trouble" - ANSWER-900-1000s; Teotihuacan falls, collapsing civilizations; devolution into
hunter/gather; major city-states fall and disappear
Mexica (Aztecs) - ANSWER-Originally nomadic as traveling mercenaries; Origin of Coatlicue legend;
polytheistic; human sacrificing
Eventually a part of Triple Alliance
Eventually controlled much of central Mexico, taking tribute of many conquered city-states
Tenochtitlan - ANSWER-Original "homeland" of Mexicas/Aztecs
(Legend: Eagle w/ Snake on Cactus)
Small island in middle of lake
Later a MAJOR area Cortes attacks
Altepetl - ANSWER-Ethnic states (there are different ethnic groups w/n the Mexica/Aztecs); has own
ruler, market, and temple to patron deity
Calpulli - ANSWER-Sub-groups w/n Altepetl; self-governing unit; a dozen or more households (clan, guild,
district)
macehualtin - ANSWER-Mexicas/Aztec commoner/peasants
Lake Texcoco - ANSWER-Major hub area for civilization; Tenochtitlan in middle of lake
Texcoco - ANSWER-City-State on shore of Lake Texcoco; a part of Triple Alliance
Questions and Answers
Teosinte grass - ANSWER-A part of maize cultivation that underwent genetic alteration to produce small
corn cobs; "eventually evolved into maize"
Climate Change - ANSWER-Around 7500 BCE, a "drying-up" phase began
Sparse vegetation and meat, enabling food crisis
"Tepexpan Man" (Woman) - ANSWER-Early remnants of early humans, today's Mexico City
Chechimecas - ANSWER-"northern barbarians"
Obsidian - ANSWER-Volcanic glass frequently used as weapon
The Olmecs - ANSWER-'The Mother Culture'
Flourished between 1200-300 BCE
Developed mathematics, astronomy, and calendars
Comal - ANSWER-ceramic griddle used to make tortillas
Olmec Calandar - ANSWER-Based on a 365-day solar year, 260-day lunar year; 52 year cycles
The cycles were significant, the ending believed to be a dangerous time ("end of an era")
Monte Alban, Oaxaca - ANSWER-Zapotec city in the center of the Valley of Mexico
Hilltop setting, artificially flattened mountain
Concentration of temples where public ritual took place
Zapotecs - ANSWER-People of Monte Alban, Oaxaca
Mitla - ANSWER-"Mitla is the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico,
and the most important of the Zapotec culture."
Zacatecas - ANSWER-state in north-central Mexico
Teotihuacan - ANSWER-A city way before Aztecs; referred to "City of the Gods"
Little/No writing available
Quetzalcoatl - ANSWER-Feathered serpent deity; Toltecs evolved it into a warrior god
Aztec vegetation god
The Mayas - ANSWER-No single dominant center; competing city-states; not centralized
Pyramids and palaces, used hieroglyphs with phonetics
Developed calendars
Made bajos
, Little known about their fall
Tikal - ANSWER-Mayan city-state; had irrigation and perhaps a population of 50,000
Pyramids and temples correspond with position of sun
Bajos - ANSWER-Man-made canals for water; artificial lakes; many early centers located around them
The Toltecs - ANSWER-Warrior group (militarism) after Mayas, built their capital Tula, conquered central
Valley of Mexico
Yucatan - ANSWER-Post-classical Maya, signs of Toltec culture
Place of Chichen Itza
Theorized that refugees came for imperial protection
Not good place for agriculture, cenotes
The Mixtecs - ANSWER-Post-classical Maya
Dominant people of Oaxaca; capital Mitla
Metal work was speciality
"People of the Rain"
"Time of Trouble" - ANSWER-900-1000s; Teotihuacan falls, collapsing civilizations; devolution into
hunter/gather; major city-states fall and disappear
Mexica (Aztecs) - ANSWER-Originally nomadic as traveling mercenaries; Origin of Coatlicue legend;
polytheistic; human sacrificing
Eventually a part of Triple Alliance
Eventually controlled much of central Mexico, taking tribute of many conquered city-states
Tenochtitlan - ANSWER-Original "homeland" of Mexicas/Aztecs
(Legend: Eagle w/ Snake on Cactus)
Small island in middle of lake
Later a MAJOR area Cortes attacks
Altepetl - ANSWER-Ethnic states (there are different ethnic groups w/n the Mexica/Aztecs); has own
ruler, market, and temple to patron deity
Calpulli - ANSWER-Sub-groups w/n Altepetl; self-governing unit; a dozen or more households (clan, guild,
district)
macehualtin - ANSWER-Mexicas/Aztec commoner/peasants
Lake Texcoco - ANSWER-Major hub area for civilization; Tenochtitlan in middle of lake
Texcoco - ANSWER-City-State on shore of Lake Texcoco; a part of Triple Alliance
