Pre-Columbian era

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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/pre-columbian-era

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. What does "Pre-Columbian" mean?It means the time before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492.
2. Where were the biggest civilizations before Europeans came?In Mesoamerica, which includes parts of Mexico and Central America, and in the Andean region of South America.

Independent Development: The process of societal and technological advancement occurring without significant external influence from other major cultural centers.
Mesoamerica: A biocultural region spanning central Mexico to northern Central America, characterized by shared cultural traits among ancient civilizations.
Andean Civilizations: Societies that developed in the Andes mountain range of South America, known for their adaptation to high altitudes and complex state formations like the Inca Empire.