Page 99 - Key to Social Studies 6

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What Was the First Civilization of Mesoamerica?

What Did the Historians Name the Early Central American Civilizations? People who lived in Central America started to develop

complex cities around 1500 B.C.E. The Mesoamerican
Between 1500 B.C.E. and 1200 B.C.E., many people settled
civilization that arose there was the Olmec civilization.
and lived in what is now known as Central America, building
and developing many civilizations. Each new civilization The Olmec people lived in what is today south-central

grew from traits of the previous civilization, built on the Mexico, about 3000 years ago. Their civilization lasted

traditions and work of those who came before. from 1200 B.C.E. to 400 B.C.E.

Historians classi ed these civilizations as “Mesoamerican.” Two important Olmec cities, San Lorenzo and La Venta,
The word “meso” means middle, where all of these still contain evidence of the Olmec civilization.

civilizations were in the middle or central area of the Archeologists, who study human history, found

Americas. seventeen heads sculpted of basalt stone in the area

where this culture lived. Basalt is a dense rock that can
Ancient Aztec calendar last for thousands of years. These discoveries gave us

insight into the lives of the Olmec people. Olmec big basalt head,

Villahermosa, Mexico

Ruins of the ancient city of the ancient Mesoamerican Zapotec
civilization of Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Aztec gods with ancient Mesoamerican ornament
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