Test Through Post-Classic Sample Test

Directions: The questions in this test bank cover material contained in your class notes and textbook. For each question, select your answer and verify its correctness by locating the information in these two sources. When you have completed the questions, check your answers. Any errors should be thoroughly reviewed, and misunderstandings cleared either by participating in a study group, asking questions in class, or making an appointment with your instructor. This exercise is designed to help you master the material, and it makes no sense to misuse it by not thinking through all the questions and modifying your learning techniques if necessary.

1. The tonalamatl functioned as A. The traditional form of an Aztec codex B. The morning sacrifice by which the rising sun was nourished C. The 260 day ritual and augural calendar that controlled ceremonies E Symbols of butterflies for warriors, and crossed bones and skeletons as death imagery 2. Pre-Columbian codices from the Post-Classic period in Mexico are primarily by the Mixtecs and Aztecs. Which of the following is NOT correct? A. The scribes who wrote the codices were meticulously accurate in their genealogical details B. Mixtec and Aztec codex style was used in other art forms like vase painting and sculpture C Aztec pictorial conventions continue the tradition of the murals of Teotihuacan and Mixtec manuscript painting D. Ritual Pre- Columbian codices focused on properly conducting ceremonies demanded by the gods 3. The chacmool, coatepantli wall, inverted serpent columns and atlantean figures reflect the ______themes at ______A. Agricultural...... Mitla B. Jaguar cult...... LaVenta C. Serpent Cult...... Tenochtitlan D. War-like______Tula E. Butterfly warrior...... Teotihuacan 4. Which of the following DOES NOT BELONG with the others? A. Montezuma B. Coatlique C. Xolotl D Coyolxuahqui E. Xochipili 5. The decline of the Toltecs at Tula, according to legend, began when rival factions caused internal strife and one leader left on a journey to the “land of the red and the black.” Who was this leader? A. Montezuma I B. Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl C. Huemac D. Ahuitzotl E Fernan Cortez 6. The Aztecs probably learned gold and feather work, codex painting and fine details in sculpture from the A. Mayans B. Olmecs C. Toltecs D. Mixtecs E. None of these 7. Which is NOT a characteristic of Mixtec architecture? A. Internally organized spaces B. Pageant-oriented spaces C. sought seclusion D. Buildings occupied on the inside 8. Which of the following were adapted by the Toltecs from Teotihuacan? A. Admiration for Quetzalcoatl B Reliefs of predatory animals such as jaguars, eagles, buzzards C. Butterflies symbolizing warriors D. Crossed bones and skeletons E. A and C only 9. Which of the following DOES NOT pertain to the city of Tenochtitlan? A. Focal point was the temple precinct B. Architecture emphasized height and a rapid rise to the sky C. Entire city bisected by major avenues D. Built upon agricultural engineering techniques using chinampas E. All of these pertain 10. Some functions of Aztec sculpture were A. To act as written communication B. To enrich tools and instruments C. To serve as art for art’s sake D. All of these E. A and B only 11. The central rite of Aztec life was A. Marriage B. Passage to manhood C. Human sacrifice D. War of the flowers E. Self-mutilation for penance. 12. Which is NOT part of the Aztecs’ temple architectural formula? A. Pyramidal platforms B. Stairs which face west C. Twin shrines to rain god and Huitzilopochtli D. Pitch of balustrades that changes at top to form a plinth E. All of these are part of the formula 13. How can you tell Toltec mosaic work from Mixtec? A. Toltec chips are straight-sided B. Mixtec texture is pebbly from convex chips C. Mixtec figural designs are large pieces D. Mixtec pieces are cut to fit the desired outline E. All of these 14. Mixtec codices relate a history going back to around 1000 C.E. Yet archaeological finds confirm a date of around 1300. Classic Zapotec dates end at about 700 C.E. What does your author suggest to fill the gap between 700 and 1000? A. The tombs of Zaachila were built B. The building of Mitla and Yagul started C. The manufacture of goldwork at Monte Alban began D. All of these 15. Which may NOT be a contributon of Teotihuacan to Toltec civilization? A. Genealogical manuscripts B. Pyramidal platforms C. Large, open spaces as ritual centers D. Colossal statues E. All of these were Teotihuacan influences 16. The end of Teotihuacan and the rise of Tula were probably brought on by A.The disintegration of the priestly class B.The need for larger ceremonial centers C.The invention of writing in codices D.The general drought that decimated the population E.Nomadic waves of tribes moving in on the rich lands of the plateau. 17. The fall of Tula was precipitated by A.The disintegration of the priestly class B.The need for larger ceremonial centers C.The invention of writing in codices D.The general drought that decimated the population E.Nomadic waves of tribes moving in on the rich lands of the plateau 18. The six major campaigns for the enlargement of the pyramid of Tenayuca may have been prompted by A.The conclusion of the 52 year calendrical cycles B.The continuing waves of Chichimec immigrants C.The experiments of barbarian tribes to create architecture D. AlI of these E.B and C only 19. The principle source used as evidence for Aztec religion is A.The great number of statues B.The extreme elaboration of costumes and accessories C.The information in codices D.Native informants E.AlI of these 20. T F Aztec pictorial conventions continue the tradition of the murals at Teotihuacan and South Mexican manuscript painting. The two classes of Aztec picture books are the genealogical sequences and examples of the A. Tonalamatl or Book of Days B.Strict histories C.Stories of the conquest of the Mexican tribes D.Myths and fairy tales 21. Which may NOT be a contribution of Teotihuacan to Toltec civilization? A.Genealogical manuscripts B.Pyramidal platforms C.Large, open spaces as ritual centers D.Colossal statues E.All of these were Teotihuacan influences 22. Which of the following IS NOT TRUE about the Coatepantli Wall? A.Central theme of the souls of dead warriors B.Figural border bands perhaps derived from Mixtec manuscripts C.Crenellated crown of carved stones represent conch shells D.Unique Toltec architectural form E.Meticulous sculptural craftsmanship throughout 23. How does the Group of the Columns differ from the Church Group and the Arroyo Group? A.It has open corners in the courts B.It prefers privacy and seclusion C.It has its facades completely covered with paneled friezes of mosaic fret ornaments, not just the cornice areas D.It has no trace of painted decorative style like Mixtec manuscripts E.All except B 24. Tula flourished from the ninth to the the thirteenth centuries. This was after______and before______A. The Aztecs...... The Maya B. The Chichimec invasions...... The fall of Teotihuacan C. The fall of Teotihuacan...... The Chichimec invasions D. The arrival of the Chichimecs...... The fall of Xochicalco E. The Maya...... The abandonment of Teotihuacan 25. Tula repeated the architectural style of Teotihuacan EXCEPT for which one of these? A. Both were fortified cities with protective walls B. Tula like Teotihuacan was a ritual center as well as urban center C. Both began with building pyramids, then housing D. Dwellings faced a central, shared courtyard E. Both cities had large artisan quarters 26. From where did the builders of Tula get the idea for Atlantean columns as buiding supports? A. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan B. Mixtec Group of the Church C. Teotihuacan colossal Water Deity D. None of these. They were a Toltec invention 27. How was the serpent column on Tula’s main cella unique in the history of architecture? A. It was wider at the top than the bottom B. It used the snake’s flexible body in place of a rigid support C. It was made of wood rather than stone D. It inverted the head so it became the base E. B and D only 28. Two advantages to the outward lean of the mouldings at Mitla are that it allows light to reflect from the ground up onto the wall reliefs and A. People don’t need to look up to see them B. Mosaic panels are protected from weather C. They mimic the step fret designs D. It helps prevent earthquake damage E. It made constructing the mosaics easier for the artists 29. Kubler describes the earlier style of Mixtec manuscript painting as characterized by “prolixity and redundancy.” What does prolixity mean? A. Filled with flowing, calligraphic lines B. Tending to be hard-edged and abstract C. Tediously long–winded, wordy and rambling D. Visually rich with colors verging on the garish E. Narrative with certain figures repeated to tell the whole story 30. The principle time periods of Mixtec ritual books inclued the 20 day-names, the 260 day augural year, the 18 month solar year and the A. 584 day Venus year B. The gestation period of corn C. Lunar cycles D. Female menstrual periods E. None of these 31. The period from the end of Tula to the creation of the Aztec state can be called A. Mitla and Yagul period B. The Chichimec period C. The early Post-Classic period D. The late Classic period E. The empire period 32. Mixtec polychrome pottery is united by the vessel forms and their A. Thin walls B. Iconogrpahy C. Area of manufacture D. Method of trade

True and False 1. T F Costa Rica and Panama were important in transmitting to Mesoamerica the knowledge of hollow ceramic pottery. 2. T F The Toltecs probably modeled their own early history on the Mixtgecs who are, on the whole, earlier than the Toltecs. 3. T F The image of the feathered serpent of theocratic Teotihuacan is nowhere to be seen in the art of the Toltec warrior-hunters. 4. T F From birth to death, every facet of education prepared Aztec youth for the eventuality of sacrifice. 5. T F At Tula we find the first buildings which show a concern for interior volume carried around corners. 6. T F The Aztec contempt for death was based upon their belief in the4 sacrificial creation of the cosmos. 7. T F The decorations on the fretted panels at Mitla were most likely expression of their artist’s abilities. 8. T F Unlike Teotihuacan, we find fundamental novelties and major innovations in structural technique everywhere in Tula. 9. T F The Aztecs admired the sculpture of the ancient Olmec. 10. T F The most important examples of Mixtec metalwork come from the palaces at Mitla. 11. T F For the Aztecs, unlike other Mesoamerican cultures, the ballgame was just a game. 12. T F The Aztecs glorified their humble beginnings in their codices. 13. T F On Tula’s atlantean figures the Toltec warrior tradition is clearly seen in the weapons, butterfly pendants and meticulously carved detail done with military precision. 14. T F In the earlier buildings at Mitla, Zapotec influences are present in Mixtec architectural style. 15. T F The codex style of painting was only done on Mixtec manuscripts. 16. T F Mixtec codex imagery is filled with conventions that today are difficult to understand. 17. T F On the Stone of Tizoc, the procession of figures owes its inspiration to the marching warriors on the benches of the Burnt Palace of Tula. 18. T F Because Cortez’s landing was accompanied by cosmic and geologic events, the Aztecs were prepared for his arrival. 19. T F Prestige crafts such as metalworking and featherworking were passed down through family tradition. 20. T F The Codex Mendoza’s section on life from year to year shows the benevolence and tenderness used in bringing up the young, and their tolerance for variances in tradition.

Matching _____ Aztlan 1. Lord of the Morning Star--the planet Venus _____ Xolotl 2. Mixtec genealogical book showing Lady 3-Flint, Lord 8- Deer ____ Itzcoatl 3.Chief god of the Aztecs; god of war _____Tlachtli 4.Chief minister of Izcoatl who rewrote Aztec history books _____Tlatelolco 5.God of spring and renewal who wore skin of sacrificed victims _____Tlacaelel 6,Great market city sister-city of Tenochtitlan _____Chinampa 7.School for training young boys as priests _____Tenochtitlan 8.A form of paper made from the bark of fig trees _____Chacmool 9.Top of a balustrade that rises vertically serving as a base _____Nahuatl 10.Wooden throwing stick _____Glyph 11.A pictographic symbol _____Atlantid 12.Lost-wax casting _____Cire-perdue 13.Figure of a man used in place of a column _____Tezcatlipoca 14.The legendary island homeland of the Aztecs _____Plinth 15.Stone figure of recumbent human holding a basin _____Codex Vindobonensis 16.Rectangular base or platform for a statue _____Calmecac 17.Farmland created by piled water vegetation _____Codex Mendoza 18.,Aztec book listing tribute and telling about Aztec life _____Tlahuizcalpantecutli 19.Roof held up by a series of columns _____Plinth 20.Mixtec ritual book brought to Europe _____amatl 21.Capital of the Aztecs _____ Huitzilopochtli 22.Aztec ruler who burned the old history book _____Merlons 23.Shell-like decorations atop a coatepantli wall _____Tlaloc 24.Goggle-eyed god of rain _____Colonnade 25.Name of each of the 4 sons of the divine pair _____atlatl 26.Language of the Aztecs and Toltecs _____ Xipetotec 27.Nahuatl term for the I-shaped ballcourt _____Tonatiuh 28.The sun god, thirsty for human blood _____Period of Wandering 29.Chichimec period during which the Aztecs followed their god Huitzilopochtli _____Codex Nuttall 30.An aspect of Quetzalcoatl as a dog-headed monster

Map: _____Tenochtitlan _____Tula _____El Tajin _____Mitla _____Teotihuacan _____LaVenta _____Xochicalco _____A city built on a lake is here _____The ancient Toltec capital of Tollan _____Building with talus and tablero began here _____Early evidence of goldworking was found here _____Homeland of people whose sculptures influenced the Aztecs _____May have been an acient convention center _____Site of flaring cornices and niches _____Central ritual center has twin pyramids _____Jade celts with ideographic engravings are found here _____The coatlipantli wall is here ––––– Location of intricately designed walls done in mosaic fashion are found here _____Montezuma and Cortez met here _____Place where Incensarios and adornos were used –––––The people here kept beautiful genealogical records on codices, one of which was the Codex Nuttall

Can you read

this Aztec tribute page?