Pajaro's Journey
a Middle School
Spanish Language iAdventure
Research Guide 3
1. Where were the biggest Mayan city states located?
2. What are considered the biggest contributions of the Mayas?
3. What are some theories about why the Mayans abandoned their cities?
4. Who was the first "Conquistador" to come into contact with the Mayas?
5. What is meant by the term "Mesoamerica"?
6. From what earlier group of Mesoamerican people did the Mayan derive their
religion, number system and calendar?
7. How many cities with how many people did the empire reach during its peak?
8. Examination of artwork and inscriptions have led historians to believe that
Mayan religious practice included what elements?
9. The Maya made paper called amate from tree bark, how is amate used today?
10. Spanish conquerers were disappointed to find very little gold and silver, but
the Mayans had other natural resources including what?
11. Did the Maya predict the end of the world on December 21, 2012?
12. How long was the first "grand cycle" to last?
13. In 1511 a crew of 15 Spaniards shipwrecked off the coast of the Yucatan,
explain what happened to the two survivors?
14. In what ways did a fixation on the heavens dominate daily Mayan life?
15. Many well constructed Mayan buildings are still standing after how many years?
16. Give examples of how elements of Mayan architecture are still used today.
17. While Europe languished in the "Dark Ages", what advances were the Maya
making?
18. Mayan King Pacal reigned for how long? What were his acheivements?
19. Why were prisoners of war sacrificed?
20. With an annual rainfall of 85" and flooding, Mayan engineers devised what as a
solution?
1. It is widely believed that mankind began life in Africa how long ago?
2. How many different ethnic groups and languages contribute to Africa's cultural
diversity?
3. Who were the first Europeans to arrive in Africa? When did they do so?
4. Explain the concept of "domestic slavery".
5. How many million Africans were brought to the Americas as slaves between 1540
and 1850?
6. What freedoms did some Latin American slaves enjoy that their North American
cousins did not?
7. In what year were the first African slaves introduced on Hispaniola?
8. What were the slaves brought to do on Hispaniola?
9. Was slavery outlawed in Latin America before or after it was outlawed in America?
10. In which Latin American country do the largest population of Africans live?
11. In what areas is a strong African influence seen in Latin America?
12. Define the term "creolization".
13. What festival had its origins in black culture, and is now open to all races and
classes?
14. Discuss the African influence on music and dance in Latin America?
15. What regions in Africa were most slaves brought to the Americas from?
16. Describe the ethnic makeup of the Garifuna people?
17. How did the Garifuna end up in Honduras?
18. What is the approximate population of Garifuna people in Honduras?
19. Garifuna speak Spanish and Igñeri, a combination of what other languages?
20. What percent of the Garifuna population is literate?
Mayan Civilization Questions:
Mayan Civilization Resources:
Africa Questions:
Africa Resources:
