Geography and Early Cultures of the Americas
What is the region in southern Mexico and Central America with fertile soil for farming called?
Mesoamerica
In which part of Mexico did the Olmecs live?
Southern Mexico
What crops did the Mayans grow in their cleared forest lands?
Maize (corn)
Who were at the top of the Mayan social pyramid?
Kings and priests
Which two gods were especially important to the Mayans?
The sun god and the maize god
What is the name for the first type of people that crossed into North America?
Hunter-gatherer
What were the Olmecs the first civilization in the Americas to build?
Pyramids
What did the Maya use cacao beans for?
As money and for making chocolate
What was the role of Mayan nobles?
They helped the king with important decisions about war, trade, and the people.
What type of sacrifices did the Mayans perform for their gods?
Blood offerings and sometimes human sacrifices
How did the first people migrate to the Americas during the Ice Age?
By crossing a land bridge called Beringia
Name one important city the Olmecs built.
San Lorenzo or La Venta
What was the purpose of Mayan observatories?
To study the stars
How were warriors important in Mayan society?
They protected city-states and sometimes helped conquer other areas.
What was one of the major scientific achievements of the Mayans?
Developing a 365-day calendar
What type of landform is the Andes?
A mountain range
What animal did the Olmecs believe had special powers?
(Hint: They had a god based on this animal)
Jaguar
What was the Maya ball game called?
Pok-A-Tok
What were common people expected to do in Mayan society?
They were farmers, builders, and workers who followed the leaders' rules.
What symbol did the Mayans develop in their number system that was unique?
A symbol for zero
Why was farming maize important in Mesoamerica?
It allowed people to settle in one place, leading to the growth of villages and cities.
What are two reasons historians think the Olmecs might have declined?
Environmental changes like floods or droughts, and possibly internal conflicts or wars.
Name one reason the Mayan civilization may have declined around 900 AD.
Warfare, soil exhaustion, or droughts.
How did Mayan kings connect to their gods?
They were believed to have special connections and could communicate with the gods.
What was the purpose of the Mayan ball game Pok-A-Tok?
It had religious and cultural significance, and sometimes the outcomes of important matches could decide life or death for the players.