Last updated at 25 Aug 2023
7 min play time

Do You Know The History of The Mayan Civilization?

Last updated 25 Aug 2023 · 7 min play time

The Maya thrived on the Yucatan peninsula for thousands of years, with important linguistic, architectural, and astronomical knowledge.

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The Maya thrived on the Yucatan peninsula for thousands of years, with important linguistic, architectural, and astronomical knowledge. Much of their culture was destroyed with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, but today's Maya continues some of their cultural practices. What do you know about the ancient Maya? Find out!

Quiz written by

Regina Munch

Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

This quiz is about: history Mexico ancient civilizations Mesoamerican Hieroglyphics Maya Mayan Maize

Mayan Civilization Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 3.7K Plays · 2 Comments

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Question 1

The Maya people are famous for their system of writing, the only written language in the Americas. What do we call it?

A

Cuneiform
B

Alphabet
C

Equations
D

Hieroglyphics

Question 2

The Maya began to form their first settlements around 2000 BC. Which of these modern countries is NOT once home to Mayan civilization?

A

Belize
B

Peru
C

Mexico
D

Guatemala

Question 3

This city, one of the earliest and largest Mayan cities, flourished in the 3rd century BC.

A

El Mirador
B

NYC
C

Sao Paolo
D

Mexico City

Question 4

The Classic Period of Mayan history has been compared to the Renaissance in its flourishing of cities, architecture, literature, and culture and the competition of rival city-states. Approximately when did this period start?

A

1 AD
B

1850
C

400 BC
D

200 AD

Question 5

In the 9th century AD, the cities in the southern Mayan region were abandoned due to a combination of drought and warfare. The northern cities thrived, however. Which of these is a northern Mayan city?

A

Cairo
B

Macedonia
C

Ibiza
D

Chichen Itza

Question 6

First contact with the Spanish was made when a Spanish boat shipwrecked. Most of the survivors were sacrificed. What year did this happen?

A

1817
B

1305
C

1511
D

902

Question 7

Which Spanish conquistador subdued much of Mayan territory? He is famous for his cruelty towards the Maya.

A

Christopher Columbus
B

Ferdinand Magellan
C

Vasco da Gama
D

Pedro de Alvarado

Question 8

When the Spanish military began taking over Maya land, what did they demand as tribute?

A

Slaves
B

Silver
C

Spices
D

Gold

Question 9

What religion did the Spanish bring and try to spread? It sometimes merged with traditional Mayan religious beliefs.

A

Atheism
B

Catholicism
C

Judaism
D

Buddhism

Question 10

Mayan society was not as centralized as other empires, and the focus was primarily on the ruler of individual cities. The ruler had semi-divine status, and was often associated with the god of what?

A

Sea
B

Mountains
C

Sun
D

Corn

Question 11

Which of these was NOT a staple of the Mayan diet?

A

Corn
B

Wheat
C

Beans
D

Squash

Question 12

As in many other cultures, 90% of the popoulation was not elite, but were considered commoners. What was NOT an occupation that Mayan commoners would have been engaged in?

A

Laborer
B

Servant
C

Farmer
D

Priest

Question 13

Most Mayan men were capable in both hunting and warfare, and often the two overlapped. Which of these was NOT a weapon that would have been used for both?

A

Blowdarts
B

Spear
C

Trident
D

Bow and arrow

Question 14

The Maya charted the movements of this planet closely. They believed it was closely associated with war, and military campaigns would be conducted based on its patterns.