CHAPTER 11 LESSON 1 Geography and Agriculture in ...

1 CHAPTER 11, LESSON 1 Reading Study Guide97 CHAPTER 11 Copyright by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Miffl in CompanyCHAPTER 11 LESSON 1 Geography and Agriculture in MesoamericaLesson 1 Geography and Agriculture in MesoamericaBEFORE YOU READIn this LESSON , you will learn about the Geography of Mesoamerica and how this Geography shaped the lives of YOU READUse this chart to take notes about the Geography of Mesoamerica. Answering the question at the end of each section will help you fi ll in the of Mesoamerica(pages 367 368)What landforms are found in Mesoamerica?Mesoamerica includes the southern part of Mexico and much of Central America. Mountains run down the center of Mesoamerica. In the north, the mountain range divides into two.

2 A region called the Mexican Plateau separates these two highland areas. Coastal plains wind along the Pacifi c Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Here and there, the plains widen into broad lowlands. One such area is the Yucat n Peninsula, which stretches into, and divides, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of have changed the landscape of Mesoamerica. When a volcano erupts, it spits out streams of lava, or melted rock. It also releases clouds of ash. In time, the lava and ash build up. Eventually, they form huge cone-like mountains. More than a dozen of these Mesoamerican volcanic mountains are still active. That means they can erupt at any time. Most have been dormant, or inactive, for hundreds of years.

3 1. What is the landscape like in Mesoamerica?TERMS & NAMES Mesoamerica a region that lies between the United States and South America Yucat n Peninsula a lowland region in southeast Mexico that stretches into, and divides, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico elevation the height of land above sea level slash-and-burn Agriculture a method of farming that involves clearing land by cutting trees, burning the trees, using the ashes to fertilize the land, and then planting crops on the land maize a type of corn cacao a type of tree that produces beans used to make chocolate Geography of 9710/4/05 1:38:49 PM10/4/05 1:38:49 PMChapter 11, LESSON 1 Reading Study Guide98 CHAPTER 11 Copyright by McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Miffl in CompanyClimate and Vegetation(page 368)How do climates vary in Mesoamerica?

4 Much of Mesoamerica lies in the Tropics. Generally, the climates there are hot and wet. The heat and moisture give rise to rain forests. Many different kinds of trees and plants grow there. Less rain falls in lowland areas. As a result, the lowlands are covered with Mesoamerica has a hot, dry climate. Much of this area is covered with grasslands. Some parts of the north get so little rain that they are considered a , or the height of the land above sea level, has a strong infl uence on climate in Mesoamerica. As elevation rises, the climate grows cooler. Growing conditions change as climate changes. 2. What is the link between elevation and climate? Geography Shapes Mesoamerican Life(pages 369 371)How has geographic diversity affected the natural resources and crops found in Mesoamerica?

5 The highlands of Mesoamerica supplied jade and obsidian. Obsidian is a black volcanic glass. Mesoamericans made small carvings from jade. They made sharp weapons from obsidian. Coastal regions provided seashells and shark s teeth. Mesoamericans used these for also made use of the animals found in the region. They prized the colorful feathers of a bird called the quetzal. The quetzal was sacred to many Mesoamericans. They often used the feathers from these birds to decorate their farmed all kinds of land. Floodplains of rivers and the slopes of volcanic mountains had fertile soil. As a result, these lands were good for growing crops. Other areas, such as rain forests, were not good for growing crops. To work these lands, Mesoamericans used a method called slash-and-burn Agriculture .

6 Farmers cleared the land by cutting down trees. Then they burned the fallen trees. Next, they used the ashes to fertilize the soil. Finally, they planted crops on the cleared land. After a few years, they left this land and moved to another part of the rain grew a variety of crops, including maize a type of corn. They also grew beans, peppers, and squash. They used maize to make many types of food. One of these foods was a kind of fl at bread called a tortilla. In addition, Mesoamericans raised cacao. Mesoamericans used the beans from this tree to make a chocolate could not get all the goods they wanted from their local area. Jade and obsidian were found mostly in mountain areas. Seashells came from the coastal areas.

7 Soon people began to trade their local goods for goods found in other traded goods over great distances by water and overland. Using dugout canoes, they traveled the rivers in the region. They also traveled along the Pacifi c, Caribbean, and Gulf coasts. The Mesoamericans did not develop the wheel. Also there were no horses or oxen to use as pack animals. Even so, the Mesoamericans still carried on an overland trade. They did this by carrying the goods on their than goods traveled along the trade routes. Traders also carried knowledge with them. This knowledge spread all over the region. This sharing of ideas helped to create a common culture throughout Mesoamerica. 3. How did the Geography of Mesoamerica encourage trade?

8 READING STUDY GUIDE 9810/4/05 1:39:02 PM10/4/05 1:39:02 PM