United States History Student Edition

A Sacred Elixir Today, people like to eat chocolate, but early peoples made chocolate to drink. Our word chocolate comes from the Aztec name for their sacred drink, xocoatl . The Olmec were probably the first people to roast and grind cacao beans, from which chocolate is made. Cacao is not naturally sweet, so the Olmec added ingredients like chili and vanilla to make it tastier.

PHOTOS: (tl)The History Collection/Alamy Stock Photo, (tc)PRISMA ARCHIVO/Alamy Stock Photo, (tr)ValentynVolkov/iStock/Getty Images, (b)Pablo Caridad/Alamy Stock Photo

Grand Structures The Pyramid of the Sun looms over the remains of the ancient city of Teotihuacán, near modern-day Mexico City. Built around 100 C.E., the pyramid is about 261 feet (66 m) high, or roughly the height of a 19-story building. Human figurines, clay pots, animal bones, and the walls of three other buildings were found inside the pyramid. A system of caves and tunnels snakes throughout the structure.

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