Final answer:
Mesoamerica refers to a historical region and cultural area in the Americas that witnessed the development of pre-Columbian societies including the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs, and covers parts of modern-day countries from central Mexico to Costa Rica.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mesoamerica is a term that defines a geographical and cultural region in the Americas where various pre-Columbian societies thrived.
This area includes modern-day countries such as central and southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. These regions were home to well-known early civilizations such as the Olmecs, Maya, Teotihuacanos, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs.
The cultural characteristics of these societies included complex urban developments, social stratification, sophisticated art and architecture, and religious rituals that often involved the construction of monumental structures.