Which of the following best explains why the Maya built cisterns?
(1 point)
Responses
to hold rain water for farming
to hold rain water for farming
to provide clean water for bathing
to provide clean water for bathing
to store water from nearby rivers
to store water from nearby rivers
to provide fresh water for religious rituals
to hold rain water for farming
The best way to determine why the Maya built cisterns is to analyze the given options and consider their relevance to the Mayan civilization. Let's take a closer look at each option to determine the most plausible explanation:
1. "To hold rainwater for farming": This option suggests that the Maya built cisterns to collect and store rainwater, which could be used for irrigation purposes to support their agricultural activities. This explanation is supported by the fact that reliable access to water was crucial for successful farming.
2. "To provide clean water for bathing": This option states that cisterns were built to have a source of clean water for bathing. While hygiene and cleanliness were important to the Maya, it is less likely that they would have built cisterns specifically for this purpose, as there are simpler ways to obtain bathing water.
3. "To store water from nearby rivers": This option suggests that the Maya built cisterns to store water from nearby rivers. While rivers could serve as a source of water, the purpose of cisterns would be to collect and store runoff rainwater, not to store water from rivers directly.
4. "To provide fresh water for religious rituals": This option implies that cisterns were utilized to supply fresh water for religious ceremonies and rituals. Given the significance of water in the Mayan religion and their reverence for natural elements, this explanation is indeed plausible.
After evaluating all the options, the most convincing explanation is that the Maya built cisterns primarily "to hold rainwater for farming," as this aligns with the agricultural practices and sustainability needs of their civilization.
The Maya built cisterns primarily to hold rainwater for farming.
How did the Maya use their calendars?
(1 point)
Responses
to predict tides
to predict tides
to plan religious festivals
to plan religious festivals
to develop writing systems
to develop writing systems
to govern the empire