People of Mexico & Central America SAMPLE Midterm Exam

60 points total.  Use only the space provided for your answers

Name __________________________________
 
 

1)  (10 points)  Using the map on page 4, locate and label the following:

a) Panama, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala (4 points)
b) 4 indigenous language/culture groups (4 points)
c) 2 major pre-colonial sites (2 points)

2)  (10 points) What is a culture area?   Based on lectures and readings, describe the specific features of Mexico and Central America (“Middle America”) as a culture area.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3) (6 points) Name three reasons why linguistic studies are important as they apply to the social and political dimensions of Mexico and Central America.

a.
 
 

b.
 
 

c.
 
 
 

4) (4 points) Who claims that there are more linguistic groups:  SIL or national governments?  Why?
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

5) (5 points)  Describe how archaeological work in a place like Mexico is influenced by

a. intellectual issues
 
 

b. political issues
 
 
 

c. economic issues
 
 
 

d. nation state issues
 
 
 
 

6)  (10 points)  Briefly describe the geography, demography and history of one of the group presentations OTHER THAN YOUR OWN.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7)  (5 points)  Describe how the following concepts have been applied both in Colonial and Modern times:

a) Requimiento
 
 
 

b) Congregación

8)  (10 points)  Based on the readings and lecture, name 4 important historical periods of Mexico and Central America and provide their relative dates and major characteristics.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Graduate Students only:  Describe a theoretical concept that has come out of the study of Mexico and Central America in the social sciences and how its importance.  One example might be “regions of refuge” (do not write about this one).  Use the back of page four for your answer.