MesoAmericaBeyazidYunus

WebQuest: Mesoamerican History 60 points
The history of Mesoamerica is divided into different periods beginning with the Olmec period.
Directions: Follow each of the links below to answer the following questions.
Submit your completed WebQuest worksheet to the Webquest: Mesoamerican History assignment link for grading.
The following links will take you to information about Mesoamerican culture. You may also use a search engine to locate other links to help you answer the questions. Familiarize yourself with the questions before clicking on the links.
Links: (If clicking the link does not take you to the site, cut and paste the URL into a new browser window.)
Timeline/General Information http://www.famsi.org/research/pohl/chronology.html http://americanindian.si.edu/exhibitions/infinityofnations/mesoamerica-caribbean.html
Olmec
http://library.thinkquest.org/18778/olmec.htm http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/OLMECS.HTM http://www.delange.org/SanLorenzo/SanLorenzo.htm http://www.mayasites.com/laventa.html
Classic Maya http://www.lost-civilizations.net/mayan-society.html http://library.thinkquest.org/5891/society.htm http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/civilizations/maya/cult/index.html
Formative or Preclassic Maya http://www.lost-civilizations.net/mayan-society.html http://www.caa.uidaho.edu/arch499/nonwest/mayan/agriculture.htm http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infocentral/frameset/civilizations/maya/gov/
Postclassic Maya and Modern Day http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2008-11-08-mayan-decline_N.htm http://www.travellog.com/guatemala/mayastoday.html
1. List the year each period began and ended: (8 points)
Olmec –1200 BC ended around 1000 BC
Formative or Preclassic Maya - began 1800 BC ended around 200 AD
Classic Maya – began 200 AD ended 800 AD
Postclassic Maya – began 800 AD ended when the Spanish arrived

2. Describe the social structure that developed in the Olmec civilization and how they depended on each other. (4 points)
There were two groups of people. The higher-ups and the common-man. The higher-ups lived in urban centers as to where the common-men lived in rural areas. The higher-ups were supported by the agriculture form the common-men. However, they didn’t own them.
3. Describe the colossal heads that were built by the Olmec and why they were built. (4 points)
Researchers believed that the heads were modified from ruler to ruler. Most of them were destroyed or decapitated after the ruler died. This was their way to sacrifice to the spirits/gods.
4. The Maya did not unite to form a single united empire. Independent city-states or kingdoms with common cultural ties developed instead. What cultural elements did these city-states share?
They were artistically and religiously one nation. However, politically they were sovereign states.
5. Describe the branches of government of the Maya that developed during the Preclassic Period and describe the duties of those who served in the government. (4 points)
The government, run by priests and monarchy who ruled the cities, performed special tasks, and led the ceremonies. Leaders of territories were the noblemen. Leaders of the towns were lower class-men. Their military commands were their lords.
6. Describe the important role that priests played in the Mayan culture. What were some of their duties? (4 points)
They ruled the cities, led the ceremonies and performed special tasks. They had to ascend all the way to the top of the temples to perform the ceremonies.
7. List and describe the achievements of the Maya during the Preclassic and Classic periods. (8 points)
They’ve managed to weave cloth, baskets, nets, and ropes. They’ve also managed stone and clay works of art.
8. By the period of Classic Maya a distinct social system had developed in the numerous Maya kingdoms. Tell about the social divisions and how these divisions impacted the lives of the Maya people. (4 points)
Slaves were at the absolute bottom and had no rights, they did most of the manual labor. Peasants were above the slaves and also worked. However, they had some rights. Noblemen were just above the peasants. The noblemen consisted of craftsmen, civil servants, merchants, and military personnel. Warriors were the ones who fought their battles for them. Priests were the absolute highest level.
9. The daily life of families was important to the survival of the culture. Describe this structure and how families worked together to ensure survival. Why was this necessary? (4 points)
Extended families would have to live together and share everything in order to survive. The men of the family farmed and gathered the food. The women of the family prepared the food to be eaten and sewed the clothing.
10. How are their lifestyle and the roles of men and women similar and different from life in our culture? (4 points)
In our modern day, the women would indeed prepare the food. The men would work in order to put food on the table. However, there are many different scenarios. Sometimes both work. Sometimes they have a chef to cook it. Etc…
11. Describe the factors that may have led to the decline of the Maya. (4 points)
Hostilities, Spanish invasions, useless sacrifices, environmental issues.
12. Identify four pieces of Ancient Mayan art or architecture. Cut and paste a small image of each or include a link to the item. Explain why your find each piece interesting. (4 points) I find this picture of a nobleman interesting because the man has a conquistador hat and only one arm. I find this little sculpture interesting because it’s a very well-detailed fine piece of craftsmanship. This piece of sculpture is apparently supposed to have moving arms and hands. I find it interesting because they’ve managed to make its arms and hands dynamic at such an early time. What were they smoking on when they decided to finish the calendar at 2000 years after their empire broke apart?
13. How do the Maya live today? (4 points)
They maintain their old way of life. Noblemen, priests, work for the genders, extended families in one house; just a bit more modernized. Etc.