| 1. |
Focus Question: What factors led to the development of civilizations
in the Americas? Why does it develop later than in Europe and Asia? |
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When is it estimated that the first human beings settled the American
continents? What were the two most prominent centers of civilization
located? What difficulties confront scholars trying to understand
the ancient civilizations of the Americas? What is the principal
source of information about these civilizations? What were the common
characteristics of the cultures of Mesoamerica prior to the coming of the
Spanish? What was the cornerstone of the process of moving from hunter
gather to settled village life? How did the sources of protein in
the Americas differ from the Ancient Near East and China? Why did
the people of the Americas not develop the wheel? When and why was
pottery developed? |
| 2. |
Focus Question:
What are the main stages of Mesoamerican civilization? |
|
Which was the most prominent of the early Formative period cultures?
Where was it located? What is the best- known of Olmec works of art?
What does the monumental architecture and sculpture of the Olmecs suggest?
What does the were-jaguar iconography suggest? What information do
we gather from Monte Alban about Mesoamerican civilization? Where
do we have the earliest evidence of writing and the Mesoamerican calendar
? What were the chief features of Classic period Mesoamerica?
Which two civilizations were most important during this period? What
natural advantages contributed to Teotihuacán's rise to power?
How large was Teotihuacán in 500 C.E.? Suggest reasons for
its decline and fall? |
| 3. |
Focus Question: What factors explain the collapse of the Mayan civilization and what factors
contributed to the growth of Aztec power?
|
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How has our view of Maya civilization changed? How large was
Tikal at its height? Who ruled Maya cities and how did they perpetuate
their rule? What was the role of the ball games? What contributed
to the collapse of the Maya civilzation in the southern lowlands around
800 C.E.? What was the condition of the Maya civilization by the
time of the Spanish conquest? Who were the Toltecs and what was their
importance? According to their legends, from where did the Aztecs
originate? How did the Aztec empire function? What was the
nature of Aztec religion and why was human sacrifice "necessary"?
What type of city and society did the Aztecs value? What was a warrior's
goal? What was the position of women in Aztec society? |