AP Art History : Analyzing architecture of the Americas
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Architecture Beyond European Artistic Traditions
Due to the high seismic activity of the area, which architectural attributes were included in the construction of Monte Albán, pictured above?
Short stature
Thick walls
Strong, weight-bearing arches.
Thick walls and short stature
Flying buttresses
Thick walls and short stature
Monte Albán was constructed using thick walls and short stature, in part due to the high level of seismic activity in the area. These attributes assured that the structures would not be disrupted or destroyed by any earthquakes.
Image accessed at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_of_Monte_Alban_from_the_South_Platform.jpg
Photograph by Matt Saunder
Example Question #371 : 3 D Art
As can be seen in the above photo, Monte Albán is made up of multiple different __________________, located atop and also around an artificially-leveled hill.
smaller cities
None of these
plazas and platforms
larger tribal settlements
smaller tribal settlements
plazas and platforms
The city of Monte Albán was founded in large part by the Zapotec civilization, and flourished from 500BC to around 850AD. Its construction and basic architecture consists of multiple plazas and platforms that housed many different buildings, such as religious centers, residential buildings, ball courts, and marketplaces. Although it was considered poly-ethnic, it did not consist of smaller tribes or cities. It was, in fact, one singular, unified city.
Image accessed at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_of_Monte_Alban_from_the_South_Platform.jpg
Photograph by Matt Saunder
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