Deck 14: Andean Civilizations

Question 1

Some archaeologists believe that early Andean civilization had a …

A) maize dependency.
B) maritime foundation.
C) Maya connection.
D) need for immediate irrigation.

Answer 1

maritime foundation.

Question 2

A distinguishing feature of the southern highlands Andean society around the Lake Titicaca Basin was …

A) anchovy fishing.
B) dam building.
C) alpaca and llama herding.
D) All of these.

Answer 2

alpaca and llama herding.

Question 3

By 2600 BC, inhabitants on the coastal Peruvian lowlands were exchanging fish with those on the highlands for …

A) cotton for fish netting.
B) game animals not found on the coast.
C) maize and potatoes.
D) religious artifacts.

Answer 3

cotton for fish netting.

Question 4

The art designs associated with the Chavín ideology predominantly included …

A) mountain scenes.
B) geometric shapes.
C) celestial images.
D) jaguar motifs.

Question 5

The disturbing, almost ominous, carved stone statues show human faces with evidence of the use of …

A) cheek piercings.
B) hallucinogenic drugs.
C) medicinal spirits.
D) All of these.

Question 6

The sequence of development followed in Peruvian irrigation was …

A) family-based, community-based, and region-based.
B) communal highlands then coastal lowlands.
C) individual-based, kin-based, neighbor-based, and village-based.
D) community-based then region-based.

Question 7

Pukara was a major center near Lake Titicaca whose autonomy can be seen in the geographic distribution of its distinctive …

A) irrigation systems.
B) religious beliefs.
C) pottery.
D) All of these.

Question 8

In Moche society who presided over the sacrificing of prisoners of war?

A) High-ranking warriors.
B) Warrior-priests.
C) Rulers and nobles.
D) Only rulers.

Question 9

The Moche people were skilled metalworkers, especially with …

A) gold and iron.
B) iron and copper.
C) copper and gold.
D) None of these.

Question 10

Moche society included nobles, warriors, priests, farmers, fisherfolk, metalworkers, and highly skilled artisans and potters. From this one can conclude that the culture was …

A) primarily militaristic.
B) hierarchical and socially complex.
C) technologically stunted.
D) None of these.

Question 11

Moche society collapsed because of …

A) droughts.
B) El Niños.
C) an earthquake.
D) All of these.

Question 12

One way archaeologists pinpoint when Andean droughts occurred in the past is by studying …

A) Andes glacial ice cores.
B) temple carvings.
C) soil excavations.
D) All of these.

Question 13

While the Moche society inhabited a densely cultivated valley, its successor, the Chimu people added …

A) storage reservoirs and more complex irrigation.
B) roads and storehouses.
C) new technologies unrelated to agriculture.
D) All of these.

Question 14

At Chan Chan, the richly decorated dwelling residences that served as a palace during a Chimu ruler's life became …

A) the next ruler's palace.
B) a religious monument after the death of the ruler.
C) the ruler's burial place.
D) None of these.

Question 15

One of the vulnerabilities of the Chimu state, which may have led to its collapse to the Incas, was …

A) its inferior military weapons.
B) its massive irrigation works.
C) its lack of a standing army.
D) its inability to unify their people.

Question 16

The Inca Pachakuti transformed the Inca state in a variety of ways, including the development of an …

A) iron technology.
B) expanded trade network.
C) ancestor cult.
D) All of these.

Question 17

Chimu and Inca rulers practiced the institution of split inheritance, which meant each ruler …

A) inherited no material possessions.
B) left behind half of his wealth to his successor.
C) divided his wealth among the nobility.
D) was buried with only half of his possessions.

Question 18

New Inca kings acquired wealth through a reciprocal system known as …

A) ayllu.
B) suyu.
C) mit'a.
D) quipu.

Question 19

The Spanish conquered Peru through …

A) superior military might.
B) diplomatic negotiations.
C) ransom and treachery.
D) None of these.

Question 20

Explain the maritime foundation theory used to describe the rise of social complexity in lowland coastal Peru. What other prehistoric culture, if any, does this resemble?

Question 21

Describe the critical role irrigation played in the development of Andean civilisations. How did Andean irrigation resemble or differ from irrigation systems in Mesoamerica and Mesopotamia?

Question 22

Compare and contrast the religious belief system of the Chavín de Huántar culture with that of the Wari and the Inca. As an archaeologist, what constitutes the most reliable evidence about these different beliefs?

Question 23

Explain how the system of split inheritance worked and why it created problems for Inca rulers.

Question 24

In your own words, discuss what may have brought about the Incas' eventual undoing had the Spanish conquistadors not arrived.