Mesoamérica = Mexico & __________ America

While classical civilizations were developing in the Mediterranean & Asia advanced societies were developing in _____________ in the Americas.

During the _____________ Revolution, these nomads settled into farming villages, some of which became advanced civilizations.

The Olmecs are often called the “__________ culture” because they influenced other Mesoamerican societies.

The first American civilization were people known as the ___________ in an area known as Mesoamerica. (MA) = Mesoamerica

The Olmecs developed a strong _________ network in Mesoamerica that brought them great wealth.

The Olmecs used their wealth to build large stone monuments & _____________ to honor their leaders & gods.

Olmec _________ allowed them to spread their culture to other Mesoamericans.

For unknown reasons, the Olmec civilization declined by 400 B.C. but their cities & symbols influenced later cultures, especially the ______________.

The ________ lived in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, & Honduras.

The Maya were one of the most _____________civilizations in the world before the arrival of Europeans;

The Maya Civilization reached its highest ______________ from about 300 to 900 A.D

Mayans were polytheists who built large pyramids to honor gods—smaller than Egyptian & Kush pyramids but were much more detailed & decorative; contained __________ (like the Romans!)