CHAPTER 9 • LESSON 1
Mesoamerica
N
W
History from Visuals
UNITED
STATES
Interpreting Maps
Direct students’ attention to the map on page
292. Ask students to read the title in order to
identify the subject of the map. Have students
note the shape and outline of Mesoamerica.
S
0
Gulf of Mexico
300
0
300
600 miles
600 kilometers
Tropic of Cancer
MEXICO
CUBA
Yucatán
Peninsula
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
110°W
100°W
es
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
HAITI
20°N
PUERTO
RICO (U.S.)
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PACIFIC OCEAN
st I
ndi
Caribbean Sea
HONDURAS
Mesoamerica
We
JAMAICA
BELIZE
• What Central American countries are in
Mesoamerica? (parts of Honduras and
Nicaragua, along with Guatemala, El
Salvador, and Belize)
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER ANSWER
30°N
E
INTERPRETING MAPS
Location What three bodies of
PANAMA
90°W
water surround Mesoamerica?
80°W
70°W
10°N
60°W
the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and the
Caribbean Sea
Geography of Mesoamerica
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How do the geography and climate of
Mesoamerica contrast with those of the Andes?
The climate of
Mesoamerica is milder
than the Andes, and
Ancient civilizations arose in North America in a region called the geography is less
Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica includes southern Mexico and the extreme.
Mesoamerica
Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize,
and parts of Honduras and Nicaragua. In contrast with the
Andes Mountains, Mesoamerica offers a milder environment.
Teach
Geography of Mesoamerica
7.7, 7.7.1
Talk About It
• In general, how does the climate of Mesoamerica compare with the climate of the
Andes? (It is milder.)
The Land of Mesoamerica Mesoamerica has two main
regions: highlands and lowlands. The tropical lowlands hug
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. These areas of dense jungle are
also found on the Yucatán (YOO•kuh•TAN) Peninsula
Peninsula, which
lies between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The
highlands stretch between the mountains of the Sierra Madre
mountain system. Like much of the Andes, this region is subject
to earthquakes and volcanoes.
• Briefly describe the two main land regions of
Mesoamerica. (It has tropical lowlands near
the coast and highlands between the Sierra
Madre mountains.)
• How do these two regions differ in terms of
climate? (Lowland areas are wet and tropical,
and the highlands are cool and dry.)
• Critical Thinking: Understanding Cause
and Effect How did the physical features of
Mesoamerica help shape the development of
civilizations there? (Possible answers: Early
civilizations had to find methods of growing
crops in the different climates.)
Climate Rainfall varies greatly in these two regions. It can rain
more than 100 inches a year in the steamy lowlands, providing
a good environment for palm, avocado, and cacao trees. As you
climb toward the highlands, however, the air becomes cooler
and drier. This region receives much less rainfall.
292 • Chapter 9
INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES
292 • Chapter 9
Science
Math
Answer Volcano Trivia
Volcanoes have shaped the landscapes
of parts of Mesoamerica. Have students
use library or Internet resources to learn
about volcanoes in this region. Have
them create a list of trivia questions and
answers about how volcanoes work, what
active volcanoes exist in Central America
and Mexico, and when notable volcanic
eruptions have occurred. Have students
quiz one another with their trivia questions.
Calculate Averages
Have students review the text, looking for
information about how much rain falls in
the lowland areas of Mesoamerica. Have
them use this information to calculate how
much rain falls on average, each day in this
area. (More than 100 inches of rain falls
annually in the lowland areas. Dividing 100
by 365 gives an average daily rainfall of
about 0.27 inch.)
CHAPTER 9 • LESSON 1
Early Mesoamerican farmers had to develop advanced
agricultural practices to deal with both climates. In the dry
highlands, farmers irrigated their fields, which produced corn,
beans, and squash. In the lowlands, they practiced slashand-burn agriculture
agriculture. They cleared a patch of jungle by
Corn These ears of
cutting back and burning it. When the field became less
maize, or corn, are being
productive, farmers began again with a new piece of land. sold in a Yucatán market.
The lowlands
receive
abundant
rainfall; the
highlands are
drier. Early
Mesoamerican
people used
advanced
agricultural
practices to
adapt to both
climates.
How does climate affect the two main regions
in Mesoamerica?
4
Assess Have students form small groups and
then number themselves within their groups. Ask
a question from the Lesson Review, and allow
the members of each group talk together and
agree on an answer. Call out a number, and have
the person in each group who was assigned that
number share his or her group’s answer with the
rest of the class.
Corn was first developed
in Mesoamerica. ▼
Lesson Summary
• North America and South America have
contrasting climates and geographies.
Formal Assessment
• Lesson Quiz, p. 150
• The Andes Mountains provided a challenging
environment for ancient civilizations.
• The climates of Mesoamerica resulted in the
Reteach On the board, write the names of the
two regions discussed in this lesson—the Andes
and Mesoamerica. Call on volunteers to identify
key details about each region. Record their
responses on the board.
development of different agricultural practices.
Why It Matters Now . . .
Today the potatoes developed in the Andes and the
corn developed in Mesoamerica have become important
crops in countries all over the world.
1
In-Depth Resources: Unit 4
• Vocabulary Cards, p. 51
• Reteaching Activity, p. 57
Homework Helper
ClassZone.com
Terms & Names
1. Explain the importance of
isthmus
Yucatán Peninsula
tropical
slash-and-burn agriculture
Mesoamerica
Using Your Notes
Comparing and Contrasting Use your completed
Venn diagram to answer the following question:
2. How is the geography of the Andes and
Mesoamerica similar? (7.7)
Andes
only
Both
Mesoamerica
only
Assess & Reteach
Homework Helper
Main Ideas
3. Why are the seasons reversed in North and South
America? (7.7.1)
4. Why is farming a challenge in the Andes? (7.7.1)
5. How did farmers grow crops in the rainy lowlands
of Mesoamerica? (7.7.1)
Visit ClassZone.com for a lesson review,
a flip-card activity, and links to related Web
sites.
Critical Thinking
6. Explaining Geographic Patterns Why did
farmers in the Andes and in Mesoamerica develop
advanced agricultural techniques? (7.7)
7. Making Inferences What might have happened
if ancient peoples in the Americas had not
adapted to their environments? (7.7.1)
Making a Physical Map Trace a map showing Mesoamerica and the western coast of South
America. Label the major landforms, bodies of water, and regions in both places. Use a legend to
identify any symbols or colors on the map. (CST 3)
Ancient America • 293
1
Terms & Names
1. • isthmus, p. 289
• tropical, p. 290
• Mesoamerica, p. 292
• Yucatán Peninsula,
p. 292
• slash-and-burn
agriculture, p. 293
Using Your Notes
See page 288 for an
example of a completed
diagram.
2. Both contain rugged
areas with difficult
climates, making
agriculture a challenge.
Main Ideas
3. because North America
lies to the north of the
equator and most of
South America lies to
the south
4. The highest elevations
are covered only by
a thin, stony soil; in
some parts of the high
plateaus, rain almost
never falls.
5. by using slash-andburn agriculture
Critical Thinking
6. The climates in both
places were harsh;
people had to develop
these techniques in
order to survive.
7. Possible answers: Their
civilizations would
not have developed;
the area would have
remained in its natural
state.
Activity Rubric
Accuracy of Features
Neatness
of Map
4
accurately labeled and positioned
locations and features, clear legend
very neat and
easy to read
3
mostly accurately labeled and positioned
locations and features, reasonable legend
neat
2
some accurate locations and features,
unclear legend
somewhat
neat
1
inaccurate or missing locations, features,
or legend
sloppy
Ancient America • 293