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

2. Mesoamerica

3. 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

4. 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

5. Pacaya Volcano

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

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

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

12. 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

13. Natural Resources

14. 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***

15. SLASH AND BURN

16. Slash and burn rain forest destruction

17. 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

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