Olmec Civilization Religion played an important role in the lives of the Olmec Many carvings found of the main Olmec god = a being with a human body and the catlike face of a jaguar The Olmec believed the jaguar god controlled the harvests

Olmec Civilization Early Olmec farmers used slash-and-burn farming = farmers cut down trees to clear land and burned whatever was left Planted maize and other crops among fertile ashes Problem = soil became exhausted after about 2 years Farmers then shifted fields and repeated the cycle

Slash-and-burn agriculture

Social Life Typical of Agricultural Society Men: Plowed and planted Hunted and fished Women: Took care of the home Supplied home with firewood and water Cared for children Children: Learned about farming and housekeeping

Intellectual Life Maize domesticated c. 3000 BCE Major staple crop in Mesoamerica Also domesticated cotton, cacao, feathers, pelts, woods, rubber Developed a number system, calendar, and a form of writing

Pok-a-tok A ritual ball game = rubber balls were batted back and forth across a walled court Symbolized the back and forth struggle between this world and the next

Here is a video link that shows the re-enactment of this game! It’s awesome…take my word for it! Pok a Tok

Olmec Religion Olmec rulers = BOTH political leaders AND spiritual leaders Performed rituals and ceremonies to satisfy the gods Temples and pyramids built where thousands could gather for special religious ceremonies and festivals

Religious Rituals of the Olmec Bloodletting Sacrifice of humans, animals, and valuable objects

Bloodletting Tools used: Blades Stingray spines Sharks’ teeth Obsidian flakes Rope with thorns Jade “spears”

Olmec Civilization as the “Mother Civilization” in Mesoamerica Because of the influence that the Olmec civilization had on future civilizations within Mesoamerica, it is often referred to as the “Mother Civilization” in Mesoamerica.

Early Civilizations in the Americas: The Chavin (900-250 B.C.E.) At the same time as the Olmec, Chavin dominated a heavily populated region in the Peruvian coastal plain and the foothills of the Andes Did not develop in a river valley; relied on fish and sea life on the coast Combined a dry coast with high mountain valley with thick jungles

Early Civilizations in the Americas: The Chavin The capital, Chavin de Huantar was in the mountains, the intersection of trade routes. Helped them control trade and gain economic power Agriculture was based on maize which grown on the coast and potatoes and fruit grown in the mountains; Cotton was grown in the tropics

Early Civilizations in the Americas Independently invented metallurgical techniques Crafts people worked n silver and gold for ceremonial items; served the elite Advance production used for pottery and textiles Kings wore superior quality textiles and gold crowns

Early Civilizations in the Americas: The Chavin Labor was organized by communities that shared the responsibility They had the llama to help with chores Domesticated in the mountains to carry bundles of goods in caravans

Early Civilizations in the Americas Had to control the three ecological zones that abruptly began and ended Political organization needed for irrigation and protection of the land; politically well organized Influenced the religion of the region Jaguar god is depicted throughout the empire Other animals with human faces are also depicted