STS - MESO AMERICA REVIEWER
Meso-america - diverse civilizations that shared similar cultural characteristics in the geographic areas comprising the
modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Cultural Traits of Meso-American:
- complex pantheon of deities
- architectural features
- a ballgame
- the 260-day calendar
- trade
- food
- accoutrements
PAUL KIRCHKOFF - German-Mexican anthropologist, used the term “meso-america” and describedu it as a shared
cultural trait prior to the invasion of european.
Meso - Greek word for middle/intermediate.
MOST WELL-KNOWN MESO-AMERICAN CULTURES
OLMEC MAYA AZTEC
BACKGROUND
● developed in the Gulf of Mexico ● originated in the low-lands of ● this tribe lived in ancient Mexico
● People of the Rubber Country Mexico ● practiced human sacrifice to
● Used “slash-and-burn” method ● ruled by kings who had absolute please the Sun God
in farming, power over their subjects and ● divided into clans (Calpullis)
● Nile River and Huang He used established great dynasties ● public education for boys and
flooding rivers to grow crops ● lived in tropical zones of girls started at age 13
● Corn, beans, squash are the Mesoamerica ● boys learned methods of
three main crops ● developed systems for terraced warfare, girls learned singing and
● Practiced Polytheism, Gods of farming and irrigation. dancing skills
fire, rain, and the sun ● established trade routes for ● used swords, javelins, clubs,
● Believed in Jaguars as the most exchanging goods and importing for weapon
powerful animal luxury items. ● Spaniards massacred many
● Men and women wore bracelets, ● developed a system of Aztecs.
necklaces, and earrings made mathematics that included the
of jade and other beautiful stones concept of zero.
● Leaders wear headdresses ● religion was based on Nature
● Collection of SapSap Gods
● Built one of the earliest ● most advanced society of
civilizations in the Americas. pre-Columbian America
● Religion and science went
hand-in-hand
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
1. FIRST GREAT 1. HIGHLY ADVANCED NUMERAL 1. BUILT ONE OF THE LARGEST
MESOAMERICAN SYSTEM EMPIRES IN MESOAMERICA
CIVILIZATION
2. MAYA MATHEMATICS WAS 2. HIGHLY SKILLED ENGINEERS
2. PRODUCED SOME OF THE FAR AHEAD OF EUROPE
GREATEST MESOAMERICAN 3. PERFECTED THE TECHNIQUE
ARTWORKS 3. SOPHISTICATED CALENDAR OF CREATING ARTIFICIAL
ISLANDS
3. CREATED EXCEPTIONAL JADE 4. GREAT ASTRONOMERS
ARTWORKS 4. CONSTRUCTED A DOUBLE
5. HIGHLY SKILLED ARCHITECTS AQUEDUCT TO BRING FRESH
WATER TO TENOCHTITLAN
4. FIRST MESOAMERICAN 6. ENGINEERED REMARKABLY
CULTURE TO BUILD STRAIT ELEVATED ROADS 5. ENGINEERED A MASSIVE
MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES DIKE TO PROTECT THEIR
7. USED WATER PRESSURE CITY
5. CREATED SPECTACULAR TECHNOLOGY
MONUMENTS KNOWN AS 6. TENOCHTITLAN WAS ONE OF
OLMEC COLOSSAL HEADS 8. DEVELOPED THE ONLY THE GREATEST CITIES OF
COMPLETE WRITING SYSTEM THE TIME
6. CONSTRUCTED THE IN MESOAMERICA
EARLIEST KNOWN 7. HAD A BASE 20 NUMBER
MESOAMERICAN PYRAMID 9. MAYA ART IS RENOWNED FOR SYSTEM AND A CALENDAR
ITS INTRICATENESS WITH TWO CYCLES
7. INVENTED THE FAMOUS
MESOAMERICAN LONG 10. KNEW HOW TO PRODUCE 8. COULD PERFORM
COUNT CALENDAR RUBBER BEFORE SURGERIES
VULCANIZATION
8. PRODUCE RUBBER SEVERAL 9. HAD A RICH TRADITION IN
MILLENNIA BEFORE POETRY AND SCULPTURE
VULCANIZATION
10. FIRST TO PROVIDE
9. FIRST MESOAMERICAN UNIVERSAL COMPULSORY
CIVILIZATION TO DEVELOP A EDUCATION TO ALL
WRITING SYSTEM CHILDREN
10. FIRST CIVILIZATION TO HAVE
DISCOVERED THE COMPASS
