Jennifer Sun, Chapter 11 DQ Graphic Organizer:
1. How did the different environments of Mesoamerica and the Andean region affect the
development of civilizations?
Different environments affected Mesoamerica and Andean regions by forcing both regions to
develop technology in order to counter the flaws of their environments.
Mesoamerica
♠ This region has great
geographical and climatic
diversity. Volcanoes and
earthquakes make the
region active. There are
many different ecological
niches, ranging from
tropical climates to dry
scrub forests.
Description: ♠ The climate was tropical
and soils fragile.
♠ In comparison to the
Andean Region, the
Mesoamerican environment
had more tolerant
conditions; however it was
prone to volatile disasters
that could undermine entire
civilizations.
♠ Because of volcanic
eruptions, the urban
population of Teotihuacan
grew rapidly, spurring the
production of Chinampas
(artificial lands available for
year-round use), drainage of
swamps, construction of
irrigation works, and
What
building of terraces into the
developments did hillsides.
this lead to.
♠ Mayans attempted swidden
agriculture, which used up
the soil’s nutrients. Those
near the cities drained
swamps, built elevated
fields, and used irrigation or
terraced hillsides.
Andean Region
♠ The region’s mountainous
zones seem unsuitable for
agriculture and civilization.
♠ The climate was torn
between two extremes; at
one end, the climate was
far too dry to support
agriculture (Pacific Coast)
and at the other, the
climate was too hot and
humid (Amazon
headwaters).
♠ In general, the Andean
environment had extremely
harsh conditions that were
difficult to tame and make
suitable for civilization.
♠ The civilizations in this
region developed an
accurate calendar and a
record keeping system
called khipus.
♠ People learned to disperse
farming at different
altitudes to reduce risk of
frost.
♠ Developed methods to
freeze dry vegetables and
meat products, which
prevented famine when
crops failed.
♠ Domesticated the llama and
alpaca, which provided
resources such as wool and
transportation, as well as
food.
 Due to the non-dependable
environment of Mesoamerica,
In general, how
civilizations such as Teotihuacan
did the region became urban powers. These
affect the urban centers used artificial
development of techniques to provide resources for
civilizations in their people: draining swamps,
each region? irrigation, and developing
Chinampas.
Though experiencing unfavorable
climate conditions, Andean
civilizations developed systematic
methods to counter nature; a
calendar and a record system, and
using resources wisely (such as
freeze drying food and
domesticating llamas and alpacas).