Final answer:
Mesoamerica refers to the diverse civilizations in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, which have a closer connection to Central and South America than to North America due to cultural similarities and historical interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mesoamerica refers to the diverse civilizations that share similar cultural characteristics in the geographic areas comprising the modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. This region is considered to have a closer connection to Central and South America than to North America due to the cultural similarities and historical interactions among the Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas.
Mesoamerican art, for example, is primarily associated with Mexico and Central America, rather than the indigenous art of North America. The region's natural diversity and geographic features, including highlands, jungles, valleys, and coastlines, shaped distinct artistic expressions like megalithic sculpture, featherwork, stonework, and metallurgy.