Exam 2- Hispanic Cultures

The author describes the diet of Mesoamerica as consisting of a trinity of foods. Name the three staples.

The author describes the diets of "Mesoamericans" eating these three trinity foods. Beans was a main staple for the Mesoamericans, then there was Maize, which was another main staple and the last one would be Squash. These three main staples were the consited diet for these Mesoamericans.

What does the author mean by the term "diffusionist theory of civilization"? Explain his position.

The author stated this specific term, "diffusionist theory of civilization." What the author means by this term is that civilization is something that is looked upon lightly, but in reality it is something that is a major part of someones life, almost like an achievement of some sort. This term and or theory is something that can be achieved my different individuals, which is not that hard to do, but can you be credited for achieving it?

The Mayan civilization is distinguished in many ways. However, one of the most singular features of the Mayan civilization was their _________________.

writing system

When the author talks about the people who migrated and eventually settled in the southern parts of the Americas, he states "Compared with people who stayed in the north, including the whole of what is now the United States, they were precocious in taking the first steps toward what we conventionally think of as civilization." What does he say that civilizing action was? Why is this one of the most important messages we will acknowledge in the course?

Civilization had to have one major key component involved, and that is establishing a source of food. To be able to establish yourself somewhere you need to a proper source of farming and having the resources needed to also farm materials to build structures and keep the people that are getting settled there safe. The people also needed to make sure there was some sort of hunting in place at the location of the new area so that they could obtain all of the materials and food that they need in place.

What does the author attribute to the sweet potato? Tell the story of the sweet potato. Who knew?

In a certain cave called "Tres Ventanas" in the Chilca Region which is located in Peru, these individuals at the time were eating Sweet Potatos, which is the so called worlds oldest domesticated plant. These potatos were one of the first known factors of how these individuals thrived at the times and how they prospered forward.

The first inhabitants of the Americas migrated from Asia. Tell the story. Where did it start? How did they cross? How far did they go in the New World? What motivated the migration? What is the role of food?

Migration from the first inhabitants of the Americas started at the Bering Strait. They crossed through the channel that ultimately led to America from Asia. The new inhabitants went to the Eastern Part of what we know as the United States, to discover new food sources and different game animals they could take as a food source. The motivation for the migration was due to the unchartered land and the unknown food sources that needed to be discovered.

The mythology of Native Americans contains some competing beliefs about how their ancestors arrived. Do they acknowledge the likelihood of the migration? What is another belief that many held on to?

Native Americans do acknowledge that there is a strong chance that migration is a very good chance of being something that occurred. Another belief that they hold onto is that some of the earlier Native American ancestors came from various different places and inhabited the region on their own.

The author indicates that the process of 'cultivation' is significant because for the first time it demonstrates inter-dependence between humans and ________ and _________.

Plants, Animals

The author mentions 5 possible factors that contributed to the development of agriculture. List them.

The five possible factors are number one being they are native to higher altitudes so they must have been tranplanted in. Two being, they were brought by different people from the "old world" individuals, Three being, they were developed naturally in different variations of wild forms. Four being, accidental growth. Five being, natural resource uses which is based off prior knowledge.

The term 'Mesoamerica' refers to what area geographically?

The term "Mesoamerica" refers to the Middle American region which is from Mexico to Northern Central America and it goes through other countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatamala and Belize.