Mesoamerica 101, Part I of II

The Mesoamerican region is an area occupying much of Middle America, from the northern Panamanian area to the Valley of Mexico and its eastern and western regions. More then just a region, Mesoamerica is uniquely identified by a number of cultural traits, much of them only known to this part of the world. Some of these traits include the domestication and consumption of maize, beans, and squash. What scholars of Mesoamerica refer to as the three staple crops. Other unique aspects of the Mesoamerican Culture include the advent of a 365 day calendar, a 260 day ritual calendar, the admiration of green and blue minerals, ball courts, and human sacrifice. The area of Mesoamerica began to flourish after many advances in Late Archaic Period (c.3500-2000BC) and the beginning of the Formative Period (c.2000-1200BC). The term further refers to the time period and cultural sophistication prior to the arrival of Europeans in the late 1400’s.


Mesoamerica
Image source - wikipedia.org