Who were the first inhabitants of Central America?

The first inhabitants of Central America were Paleo-Indians, who crossed the Bering Strait from Siberia to North America around 15,000–12,000 years ago, during the last glacial period. These early peoples were nomadic hunters and gatherers who followed herds of animals such as mammoths, mastodons, and bison. As the climate warmed and the ice sheets melted, Paleo-Indians spread southward into Central America, following the Pacific coastline. By around 10,000 years ago, they had reached the southernmost tip of South America.

Over time, the Paleo-Indians diversified into different cultures and ways of life. Some groups continued to live as nomadic hunters and gatherers, while others settled down in villages and began to practice agriculture. The first major civilization in Central America was the Olmec civilization, which flourished in the southern Gulf Coast of Mexico from around 1200 to 400 BCE. The Olmecs built monumental architecture, including large stone heads and pyramids. They also developed a system of writing and a calendar.

The Olmec civilization was followed by a number of other major civilizations in Central America, including the Maya, the Zapotec, and the Aztec. These civilizations built great cities, developed complex agricultural systems, and made significant advancements in art, science, and mathematics. Central America was a major center of civilization in the Americas until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.