The Olmec Ancient People of Latin America Beginnings

The Olmec Ancient People of Latin America

Beginnings n Only discovered as a separate civilization in 1900’s. n Much still to learn and pull-apart from later civilizations n Much of the culture of later people’s (Maya and Aztec) adapted from Olmec

Earliest Civilization n Possibly ~1500— 100 BCE n Gulf coast region of So. Mexico –expanded into Guatemala n “Olmec”==means rubber people in Atzec language n Why? Found rubber balls made from rubber trees (Castilla elastica) in region How? Juice of a vine added to latex in tree creates rubber

Olmec Culture Social classes simple 2 class structure a) Elite living in ‘towns’ b) Commoners living on ‘farms’ Daily Life maybe introduced world to maize (corn) fish, turtle—sometimes dog/turkey eaten

Olmec Society Religion n Polytheistic= maybe worshipped jaquar (1/2 jaquar ½ human statues found) n Ceremonial sites in big cities n Earthen mounds, some with house-like structures on top~~ developed into tall pyramid type mounds ~~religious sites

Olmec Society Arts/Architecture n Cities built in swampy jungle river basins n Drainage systems—U-shaped basalt rocks (aqueducts? ) n Cities built in an axial pattern (style used by subsequent people for centuries) n Cities had: public-ceremonial bldgs elite residences commoners houses

Olmec Society Art over 170 monuments found 2. Pottery, statuttes 3. Jade & iron objects 4. HUGE stone heads— 17 found helmets or headdresses? ball players or kings? single block of stone similar facial features (downturned mouths & slit-like eyes) 1.

Olmec Society Writing some debate on this—did they develop it first? -engraved symbols found on pottery, statuettes etc. may be writing -if so, unique yet similar to that of West Africa Mathematics– use of true zero --calendar dating system using dots and bars

Subsequent People of Latin America European Invasion Olmec 1500 BC Maya 1 AD 300 AD Inca Aztec 1400 AD