Mesoamerica 11-1 Essential question: Analyze how overland trade would have been different if the Mesoamericans would have had pack animals.

Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica Location and landforms Middle America Southern part of Mexico and Central America Mexican Plateau separates two highland area Yucatan Peninsula: divides the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico

Volcanoes Volcanoes helped to form the Mesoamerican land Volcanic mountains can be over 10,000 feet high More then a dozen are still active Most are dormant Craters formed highland lakes Pacaya Volcano is one of the worlds most active volcanoes

Pacaya Volcano

Climate Ranges from hot and humid to desert Tropics region: Climate hot and wet, Many rain forests Lowlands: less rain fall, rich grasslands Northern section: very hot, little rain, desert

Elevation Elevation: the height of the land above sea level Higher the land = cooler temperature Temp drops 3.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet up Growing conditions change with elevation

Vegetation 1,000 feet= dry forest, bananas, cacao sugar cane

Vegetation 2,000 feet= dry forest= corn, beans, squash, cotton, coffee

Vegetation 3,000 feet= cloud forest near mountain peaks constant cloud cover Wheat, potatoes

Vegetation 4,000 feet= very cold = mountain grass, mosses= animal grazing

Natural Resources Highlands: present day Guatemala = jade and obsidian Used to make sharp weapons and jewelry Seashell and sharks teeth also used for jewelry Quetzal bird feathers used to make headdresses and clothing

Natural Resources

Agriculture Floodplains of rivers , slopes of volcanic mountains good for farming Rain forest not so good for farming Slash and Burn agriculture: cut down the trees burn to make nutrients in the soil, use land for a couple of years and then move on Destroying the rain forests Farmed maize= corn, coaco= beans used to make chocolate prized trade item ****Better agriculture = bigger population= growth of cities***

SLASH AND BURN

Slash and burn rain forest destruction

Trade Looked outside their area for luxury items TRADE DEVELOPED AS PEOPLE BEGAN TO EXCHANGE LOCAL GOODS FOR GOODS IN OTHER REGIONS Jade and obsidian= mountain areas Seashells= coastal areas People had to carry all goods on their backs No horses, oxen or pack animals No wheels Traded over long distances by water in canoes, rivers and oceans

Trade Trade spread goods, ideas and knowledge to all the Mesoamerican regions Sharing and blending created a common culture throughout Mesoamerica