The Olmecs and the Mayas

E. Napp
Objective: To identify and describe the accomplishments of the Olmecs and Mayas

Do Now: Multiple-choice questions from previous lessons

1. Which factor most influenced the 4. The Panama Canal and Suez Canal are
development of diverse cultures in pre- similar in that both
Columbian South America? (1) shortened shipping routes between major
(1) trade agreements bodies of water
(2) geographic features (2) were built by the British to expand their
(3) imported religious ideas empire
(4) peasant revolts (3) replaced the Silk Road as the world’s
main trade route
2. The destruction of the rain forests in (4) directly connected the Atlantic and
Latin America is primarily due to the Pacific Oceans
(1) diseases carried by insects
(2) wildfires occurring during dry seasons 5. During the late 20th century, in which
(3) devastation caused by high winds during area did deforestation become a serious
the tropical storm season problem?
(4) demand for timber, farmland, and (1) Great European Plain
grazing land (2) Amazon Basin
(3) Deccan Plateau
3. Which geographic feature made it (4) Great Rift Valley
difficult to unify South America?
(1) Andes Mountains
(2) Straits of Magellan
(3) Gulf of Mexico
(4) Argentinian pampas

Questions:
Name two countries in Central
America:
______________________________
Name two countries in South
America:
______________________________
List two oceans that affect Latin
America:
______________________________
Why do you think the region is
referred to as Latin America?
______________________________
Cornell Notes Outline: The Olmecs and the Mayas (Add Key Words and Summaries)

The Key Words: The Notes:

I. Early civilization in the Americas

A. did not experience cultural diffusion from Asia,
Africa, and Europe
1- geographic isolation
B. several difficulties
1- absence of large animals for
transportation
2- very limited use of writing
3- geographic factors within Americas (i.e.
mountains, rain forests, etc.) limited
contact among societies in the Americas

II. Olmecs
A. first civilization in Americas
B. Atlantic coast of southern Mexico
C. 1150 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E.
D. Accomplishments
1- maize
2- large sculptures of human heads
3- calendar
4- writing

III. Mayas
A. classical civilization of Americas
1- present-day Guatemala and Mexico
B. 250 C.E. (A.D.) – 900 C.E.  classical period
C. slash and burn farming in rain forests
D. accomplishments
1- writing
2- astronomy
3- calendar
4- mathematical system
5- pyramids
E. abandoned cities around 900 C.E.

The Summaries:
Please read the passage below and answer the questions:
From about 250 A.D., the Mayas built a civilization in the area that is now Belize and
parts of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. First, the Mayas drained
swamps. Then they irrigated their fields of corn, beans, and other plants. Next, they built
cities. Cities in Europe were falling apart as Mayan cities grew into important religious
and trade centers.
Mayan cities were mostly religious centers. A large, stone temple like pyramid stood in
the middle of each city. Given that the Mayas had no carts with wheels or horses or oxen to
move the heavy stones, the pyramids are quite a remarkable achievement. Mayan cities
also became centers of trade. The Mayas traded with people in Mexico, over 600 miles
away. Traders sold salt, honey, cotton, bird feathers, food and slaves.
The Mayas divided themselves into three groups. Rulers belonged in the top group.
Warriors and priests belonged in the middle group. Artisans, merchants, peasants, and
slaves belonged in the bottom groups. Slaves were individuals who broke the laws or had
been captured in warfare. The Mayas lived in independent and separate city-states and
frequently warred against one another.
The Mayas were very advanced. They studied astronomy and invented a calendar that
had no mistakes in it. They also invented a mathematical system based on the number 20
and included the idea of zero. The Mayas also developed hieroglyphic writing.
Archaeologists are still trying to decipher the writing of the Mayas. The Mayas abandoned
their cities around 900 A.D. Though archaeologists do not know for certain why the Mayas
abandoned their cities, it is possible that frequent warfare led to their decline.
Categories: The Mayas:

Dates:

Location:

Agriculture:

Achievements:

Decline:
1. What science studies the history of 6. The food that was the foundation of
man by locating and analyzing Maya society was
artifacts? (A) Wheat
(A) Linguistics (B) Corn
(B) Economics (C) Meat
(C) Sociology (D) Fish
(D) Archaeology
7. The works of the ________ culture is
2. One main reason that Early/Native among the earliest Mesoamerican art
Americans developed many different that has been found.
cultures was because of their
different: (A) Aztecs
(A) Economic and political systems (B) Olmecs
(B) Religions and languages (C) Mayas
(C) Climates and resources (D) Toltecs
(D) Farming techniques
8. The Ice Age tribal hunters who
3. Where was the Mayan civilization migrated into the Americas came
located? from ________.
(A) Southern Mexico and Guatemala
(B) Central Mexico (A) Antarctica
(C) Peru (B) Africa
(D) Western Coast of South America (C) Asia
(D) Europe
4. Which of the following was an
achievement of the Mayas? 9. The ________ culture is linked to
(A) The pistol temple-pyramids.
(B) The calendar
(C) The ruler (A) Toltec
(D) The compass (B) Mayan
(C) Chavín
(E) Inca

10. Tikal is one of the most important

sites of classic ________ culture.

5. The Olmecs (A) Olmec

(A) Established the first complex (B) Mayan
society in Mesoamerica. (C) Aztec
(B) Built ceremonial centers with (D) Moche
pyramids and temples.
(C) Lived in areas where rubber trees
flourished.
(D) All of the above.