mesoamerica Flashcards
(18 cards)
What region does Mesoamerica span from?
From southern Mexico to part of Central America
How many main geographic areas is Mesoamerica divided into
Two areas: The highlands and lowlands
Where can the highlands be found?
Between the mountains of Sierra Madre
Where can the lowlands be found?
The coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and in the jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula
Where is the Yucatan Peninsula located?
Between the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribbean sea
What three crops are grown in the highlands?
Corn, squash, and beans
What three crops were primarily harvested in the lowlands/
palm, avocado, and cacaoq
What is slash-and-burn agriculture?
When farmers chop down thick jungle trees, then burn the fallen trees and leaves to clear the land, the ash helps with fertilizing the soil. Next, they plant crops. After the soil dries up, they migrate to a new area to repeat the process.
When and where did the Olmecs begin?
Mexico’s gulf coast; 1200 BCE
What events caused the Olmec’s soil to have fertile silt on their plains, allowing crops to grow?
Because the Olmecs resided by rivers, the flooding kept fertilizing the soil.
What was the Olmec class pyramid?
Rulers at the top, followed by priests, merchants, and artists, then farmers and workers.
What year did the Olmecs dissappear?
Around 400 B.C.E
Why were the Olmecs considered to be “mother culture”?
Their vast trade network and art and religious practices made the area a cultural hub.
Where did the Zapotec people first reside?
the Oaxaca Valley
Why was the Oaxaca Valley such a good area for the Zapotecs to live in?
The fertile area with its river, mild climate, and abundant rainfall proved excellent for growing crops, especially maize.
Which settlement around 1300BCE quickly emerged as the Zapotec center of power?
San Jose Mogote
In 500 BCE, a new Zapotec center of power was built. What was it called?
Monte Alban, a city that was high atop a mountain
What are artificial terraces?
Stepped platforms built into the mountainside providing additional area for building and agriculture
