Ingenious Cultures: The Survival of the Maya of Mesoamerica-Review Study Guide Answer Key
1. When a person does something wrong to another person a Mayan judge requires that person to pay restitution (as punishment).
2. What term describes a group of people that live in an area before it was taken over by outsiders? The term used to describe a group of people that live in an area before it was taken over by outsiders are indigenous people.
3. What is a traditional culture mainly based on? Traditional culture is based on the on the ancestors’ way of life.
4. Explain what a cloud forest is? A cloud forest occurs when heavy clouds hang over mountains.
5. How do Mayan children learn traditional skills such as farming and weaving? Mayan children learn traditional skills from their parents.
6. What is the slash-and-burn method of clearing land? The slash and burn method of clearing land is cutting down and burning dead and dried plants in the forest to clear land for farming.
7. What group of people is most likely to use the slash-and-burn method? The group of people that use the slash and burn method are subsistence farmers.
8. Explain how Mayan markets have adapted to the modern world? Mayan markets have adapted to the modern world by using money instead of bartering (trading).
9. How have the traditional Mayan beliefs changed in Guatemala? Traditional Mayan beliefs have changed in Guatemala because they have blended their old beliefs with Catholicism.
10. Use the graph and your knowledge of geography to complete the tasks below.
Complete the table below using the data from the graph (above). Part of the table has been filled in for you.
Non-Indigenous % / Indigenous %Ecuador (ECU) / 12% / 12%
Guatemala (GUT) / 18% / 5%
Bolivia (BOL) / 18% / 13%
Mexico (MEX) / 43% / 17%
Peru (PER) / 46% / 40%
Use the information in the table to make a generalization about indigenous people in Latin America. Use the sentence starter below to begin your generalization.
In general, indigenous peoples in Latin America receive less health care services. This means that indigenous people must have a lower income than non-indigenous people and as a result will have more health problems because they are unable to receive the care they need.