Mesoamerica 101, Part II of II

Mesoamerica is scientifically (it can be proven) one of only six, cradles of civilization known on earth. A cradle of civilization is any cultural area that developed freely without influence. Traits specific to the six cradles of civilization are language, art, and technology. Specific to Mesoamerica is the advent of maize, corn domesticated from a family of tall grasses known only to Middle America. The use of corn spurred the development of sophisticated societies such as the Olmec and the Maya. All of which had agricultural firsts, advance knowledge, and writing systems. Corn was later adopted by much of North America, and in all parts of the world for its vital consumption. The advent of corn is just a drop in the bucket of worldly contributions credited to Mesoamerica.

In the New World, Mesoamerica is truly the bread and butter of anthropological scholarship. As it did in the past, it continues to provide us with an authentic substance of study that never ceases to disappoint. As it remains important to the discipline of anthropology, it should also remain essential to our common understanding of the American continent (and for many other reasons…). One of my biggest motives in publishing this blog and this website is to bring the studies to a level that we can all enjoy. As I have mentioned before, I will keep my interpretations broad, but correct, for the sake of inviting dialogue.


Left - Teosintle grass from which corn was domesticated. Right - A mano and metate used to grind corn, still commonly used in North and South America.

Image digitized from Arqueologia Mexicana, December 2001, page 54.