Mesoamerican Webquest Part I

Directions: Choose either assignment A, B or C. Pick any 2 questions to answer. Write out your
answers using a word processor (they don't need to be lengthy, but they must be complete
sentences.) Click on the website below begin your Webquest. When you are finished email me
your webquests at William.reidjr@sccpss.com

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~mcfield/mesoamerican_webquest.htm

A. Visit the Ancient Mexico.com link (click on icon to right) to examine its intricate
maps of Tenochtitlan and Teotihuacan, and to answer the following questions:

1. What does the word Teotihuacan mean, and in whose language? Who built this city, and
when?

2. View the detail on the temple of the feathered serpent- these two deities are Tlaloc and
Quetzalcoatl. What did they represent? Did they have anything in common? Click on
Tenochtitlan.

4. What were chinampas? Why were they there?

B. Use the link to the right to explore part of the Aztec creation story, and answer the
following questions:

1. What does this myth tell you about why the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice? Who was
Quetzalcoatl, and what role did he play in Aztec creation? To find out more about Quetzalcoatl,
and answer the following questions, click on his image below.

2. Which civilization did the Quetzalcoatl rule over in his human form? Why did the
priests become angry with him as a leader?

3. Why did Montezuma think that Cortez, the Spanish conquistador who arrived on
Aztec shores in 1519, was in fact the ancient God Quetzalcoatl?

C. Visit the multimedia website from the National Geographic website (click on the icon to
the right) to learn more about the Mayan creation story and answer these questions:

1. Where was Xibalba, and who lived there?

2. Who was the young woman Xquic, and what happened to her? Which Aztec god
does she share something in common with, and what is it?

3. Who were Hunahpu and Xbalanque, and what did they give to the Mayan people?
 Mesoamerican Webquest Part II

Introduction
Since the migration of hunter-gatherers to the America's from the Bering
Strait, many great civilizations have graced this world with their presence
and influence. Especially in Central and Southern America. Have you heard of
the Mayans, Aztecs, Tiwanakans, Olmec or the Incans? No!!! Well this web
quest was designed to help you! Yes you!!
A webquest is a technology driven lesson. Learning how to use and navigate
through this webquest will help you further develop your skills not only
with using technology, but also raise your comprehension levels. You will
use the Internet to develop an in depth understanding of the four Meso
American groups, the Aztecs, The Mayans, the Olmecs and the Incas.

Your Objectives:
1. Idenitfy the names of cities and locations of the Incas, Mayans, Omecs
and
the Aztecs in what is now modern day Central america
2. How their beliefs and religion shaped their culture
3. Understand the cultural impacts of the Mayan, Olmec, Inca and the Aztec
in Central America.

Evaluation
It's very simple!
You will be graded on:

1. Your behavior in the computer lab while doing this assignment. Why? you
ask? Because behavior can keep you from finishing your assignment.
2. The questions answered on this website.
3. Unit test.

Incas
 Incans: This is the Incans link. this should help you with the Incan
part of the handout. It's animated you'll love it Incas

1. Who is Pachacamac?
2. What did he make?
3. Why?
4. Who is Pachacamac’s wife?
5. Who sent their son and daughter to the earth?
6. Who taught the how to plow and plant fields?
7. How did the women learn how to prepare food?
8. Whose son became the 1st Inca?
9. Who destroyed the Incas?
10. What type of society were the Incas?
11. What is another name for the city called Cuzco?
12. How many times a month was the empire shut down for festivities?
13. What is the name of the greatest Inca ruler?
14. What is the name of the modern day place that the Incas are from?
15. Who are the modern day descendants of the Inca?
Mayans

1. Where are the Mayans from?

2. What is the modern day city called?
3. Name two things the Maya developed.
4. What society did the Mayan eventually integrate with?
5. How many countries does the Mayan homeland cover?
6. Name a Mayan city.
7. What technique did Mayans use to clear the forest?
8. Who did the Mayans sacrifice?
9. What is the name given to period that the Mayans Began to Evolve?
10. Why did the Mayans return to farming as a way of life?

Aztec

 Aztecs: Here is the link for Aztecs. You'll love it!!! use it for
questions 1-6 Aztecs
 Here is another helpful link for your enjoyment use it for questions 7-
10 Aztec 2

1. Who’s name means “serpent skirt”?

2. Who did the “serpent skirt” marry and what is he the god of?
3. Who saved his mother from the attack by his siblings?
4. Who was often sacrificed to the sun god?
5. Who ruled the sky the 12th hour of the day?
6. What was Tlaloc the god of and what did he do?
7. Where did the Aztec people originally come from?
8. What does the word “Chinamapas” mean?
9. What is the name of the Aztec capital?
10. Who conquered the Aztecs?

Olmecs

1. When was the first colossal head found?

2. Where was it found?
3. Who were first thought of as the “mother culture”?
4. What changed that?
5. What is the most “potent” symbol in Olmec culture?
6. Where are the Olmecs from?
7. When did their civilization exist?