The first Mesoamerican state was established by which civilization?

The correct answer, indicating the first Mesoamerican state, refers to the Olmec civilization. The Olmecs are often recognized as the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica due to their early developments in social organization, art, and religion that laid the groundwork for subsequent civilizations in the region.

The Olmec civilization, which thrived between approximately 1400 and 400 BCE, established one of the earliest known complex societies in Mesoamerica. They created significant urban centers like San Lorenzo and La Venta, where the presence of monumental sculptures, ceremonial centers, and a hierarchical society demonstrated their advancement. Their influence can be seen in later civilizations, including the Maya and Aztec, owing to their innovations in governance, art, and religious practices.

In contrast, while Zapotec and Maya civilizations became prominent later with their own powerful city-states and cultural achievements, they built upon the foundations laid by earlier groups like the Olmecs. The Inca civilization, on the other hand, was located in South America, far from the Mesoamerican context, and therefore does not pertain to this specific inquiry about Mesoamerican states.