Civilizations of Mesoamerica: The Olmec and Maya

1 Global 9 Chapter 6 Section 1 Notes- Part I. Civilizations of mesoamerica : The Olmec and Maya Lesson Objectives: 82. Define _____ and be able to find it on a map of the world. 83. Describe how people _____ to the Americas. 84. List some of the _____ produced in the Americas. 85. Compare the _____ civilization to the river valley and classical Civilizations in Europe and Asia. 86. List some _____ made by the Mayan civilization . (mathematics, astronomy, science, arts, architecture, and technology). 87. Explain some reasons that historians believe caused the Mayan civilization to _____.

2 82. Define mesoamerica and be able to find it on a map of the world. mesoamerica - a cultural region which is made up of _____ and Central _____. Some of the _____civilizations in the world developed in mesoamerica . 83. Describe how people migrated to the Americas. People migrated to the Americas over a _____ created between Asia and modern day Alaska during the last ice age. They followed herds of _____ that they hunted. People needed to adapt to the different environments they settled in. 84. List some of the crops produced in the Americas.

3 Gradually people in the Americas learned to _____ plants. (FARM). In mesoamerica they cultivated: o _____. o _____. o _____. o _____. o _____. o _____. 85. Compare the Mayan civilization to the river valley and classical Civilizations in Europe and Asia. Agriculture thrives o No _____rivers o _____ and clear farmland o Produced enough food to support a rapidly growing population. Powerful city-states o They Mayans were not _____-fought wars with each other Societal Structure 86. List some contributions made by the Mayan civilization .

4 (mathematics, astronomy, science, arts, architecture, and technology). Sculptors leave a legacy in _____. o _____- tall stone monuments. Scribes record _____ events. o Carved into stone (stela). o Wrote on _____ paper (most of these books were later burned by the Spanish). Priests develop _____ and _____. o Measured time extremely _____. o 365 day _____. o Numbering system and the _____. 87. Explain some reasons that historians believe caused the Mayan civilization to decline. About 900, the Maya _____ their cities and settled in remote villages in the jungle.

5 Historians theories o Frequent _____ may have taken its toll on society. o Overpopulation may have led to over-farming and the _____ of the soil.