Exploring the Olmec Civilization: Origins, Culture, and Legacy
The Olmec Civilization, considered the mother civilization of Mesoamerica, emerged from competing chiefdoms where rulers served as religious leaders. They thrived in agriculture, building mounds, pyramids, and temples. Their religious practices included mound building, bloodletting, and ritual sacrifice, with leaders playing central roles. The Olmec were pioneers in various fields, such as creating the first written language in the Americas and developing a unique ball game. Their artistic achievements, like the giant basalt head statues, continue to intrigue and fascinate us today.
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The Olmec Civilization By: Kari Seres, Ginger Eastman, Gabby Young, Amy Brennan Date: September 12th, 2012 6th hour
Political The cities of Olmec Civilization arose from competing chiefdoms The Olmec Civilization is sometimes referred to as The mother civilization of Mesoamerica. Ruler s of the villages doubled as Religious leaders
Interactions with the Environment The Olmec people used agriculture to farm maize, beans, and squash (the three sisters). They also built mounds, pyramids, and temples. The Olmec Civilization was located in Mesoamerica/Latin America
Map of Olmec Civilization
Where the Olmec Civilization would be located today.
Religion/Belief System Olmec people took part in mound building, artistic styles, urban planning, games, ritual sacrifice, and bloodletting by their leaders. They also had many ceremonial centers in which consisted of elaborately decorated temples, altars, pyramids, and tombs. Their rulers tombs were more intricate than those of the regular class citizens. Religious leaders were also the leaders of the village/community
Arts and Sciences By 900 B.C.E. The Olmec created the first written language in the Americas They also played a game that involved rubber ball Boulder statues- including enormous basalt carved heads that are believed to be replicated after certain rulers.
These head statues weigh about 20 tons and vary of heights and widths from 6-10 feet.
Technology Technologies of the Olmec Civilization included their writing, farming techniques, and buildings/structures The Olmec are known to be responsible for many of the first technologies in the Americas such as: Writing Epigraphy Zero The Mesoamerican calendar The Mesoamerican Ball-game
This is a picture of a Mesoamerican ball game court.
Economic The Olmec had an agricultural economy mainly based on the crops of maize corn, beans, and squash. The Olmec also had a network of long distance trade. They have been believed to import/export mass amounts of sea shell and greenstone.
Social Homes of Olmec villagers consisted of a house, a storage pit (sometimes more than one), and a nearby garden. As far as social classes go mainly the population was made up of a Middle Class, who were mostly farmers. The other small percentage were the High Class, who were artisans, rulers, and priests, usually having a religious role.
Bibliography <http://msrego.pbworks.com/w/page/116871 15/Olmec%20Economy>. Olmec Civilization. 12 September 2012 <http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html>. Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011.
