Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica

Textbook pages 582-584

Migration to the Americas

• The first people to settle in the Americas were from Asia

• They arrived between 40,000 and 15,000 years ago

• Most of these people came by the Bering Land Bridge

• Their descendants spread throughout America and eventually settled in Mesoamerica

Multiple Choice

Where did the peoples who first settled in the Americas come from?

• Europe

• Africa

• Asia

Geography

• Mesoamerica is the area south of Central Mexico into northern Central America

• This area consists of volcanic mountain ranges and rainforests

• Ash from volcanoes produce rich soils

• Volcanoes have also produced obsidian, which is natural volcanic glass

• This glass was used in the past to make very sharp blades for spears and arrows

Multiple Choice

What produces obsidian?

• rocks from rivers

• volcanoes

Rainforests

• The low lands of Mesoamerica received a lot of rain.

• All of the heavy rainfall produced a dense rain forest

• The soil in the rain forest is not good for farming.

• The rain forest did produce fruits to eat and animals for hunting

Multiple Choice

True or False: The soil in the rain forest is good for farming

• True

• False

The Olmec People

• The Olmec people are the first to have lived in the rain forest

• Because the forest has poor soil, they used slash-and-burn agriculture, which is a farming method.

• They would cut down tress and low brush and burn them.

• The ash left behind fertilizes the soil

• Olmec farmers grew corn and beans

Multiple Choice

True or False: The ash left behind from burning forest trees and brush leaves fertile soil

• True

• False

The Olmec Civilization

• Eventually the Olmec people built cities around their farms

• The Olmec civilization lasted from about 1200 BC - 400 BC

• Olmec beliefs and practices helped shape the cultures of other Mesoamerican people

QUESTIONS????????????????????

Any questions?