Mesoamerica

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mesoamerica

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Mesoamerica?Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northwestern Costa Rica
2. How big is Mesoamerica?Approximately 1.5 million square kilometers (580,000 square miles)
3. What is Mesoamerica known for?Sophisticated calendars, advanced mathematics, astronomical observations, hieroglyphic writing
4. What is the population (peak pre-columbian)?Estimated to have reached tens of millions
5. What is the capital of aztec empire?Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City)
6. What were some of the most famous civilizations in Mesoamerica?The Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Mixtec, Toltec, and Aztec were some of the most famous. Each had its own special art, writing, and buildings.

Mesoamerican World System: A concept describing shared cultural traits and interconnectedness among ancient Mesoamerican societies.
Chinampas: Artificial agricultural islands created by the Aztecs in Lake Texcoco, known as 'floating gardens'.
Stelae: Upright stone slabs, often carved with inscriptions and images, used by Mesoamerican civilizations to record history and commemorate rulers.