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People began domesticating plants like maize, beans, and squash.
Permanent settlements started to appear in Mesoamerica -
Early humans migrated into the Americas from Asia through the Bering Strait.
They lived as hunter-gatherers, using stone tools to hunt mammoths and other large animals. -
The Olmecs, known as the “Mother Culture” of Mesoamerica, developed in the Gulf of Mexico region.
They built large ceremonial centers such as San Lorenzo and La Venta, and created colossal stone heads -
After Monte Albán declined, smaller Zapotec states continued until the Spanish conquest.
Their traditions and culture influenced later Mesoamerican civilizations. -
The Zapotecs flourished in the Oaxaca Valley.
They built the city of Monte Albán, one of the first urban centers in Mesoamerica.
They developed an early writing system and calendar.