Final answer:
Mesoamerica encompasses the region that included central and southern Mexico, and parts of Central America, home to ancient civilizations such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs. It features shared cultural traits including polytheistic religions, advanced agricultural practices, and notable achievements in calendrical systems and mathematics.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Does 'Mesoamerica' Mean?
Mesoamerica refers to a significant historical and geographical region that includes central and southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. This region, which is characterized by a variety of landscapes such as highlands, jungles, valleys, and coastlines, was home to pre-Columbian civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Mixtec, and Mexica (Aztec). Mesoamerican civilizations were known for their shared cultural characteristics, such as polytheistic religions, advanced agricultural domestication, and the creation of complex calendars and mathematical systems.
The term 'Mesoamerica' was coined by the anthropologist Paul Kirchkoff in 1943, with 'meso' being Greek for 'middle' or 'intermediate.' Although Mesoamerican societies were diverse in language and culture, they still shared similarities in religious practices, trade goods, and artistic expressions. Remarkably, these civilizations developed without using certain technologies such as the wheel for practical purposes or metal tools before 900 CE. Instead, Mesoamerican artisans excelled in producing artifacts from materials such as obsidian, jade, basalt, and turquoise. Olmec culture, which dates back to 1200-400 BCE, is acknowledged as the precursor to later Mesoamerican cultures, including the Maya and Aztecs.