Olmec Civilization 11-2 Essential Question: Identify some reasons why the Olmec culture had such a long lasting influence in Mesoamerica

Olmec Civilization

Olmec Civilization 3,000 years ago lived along the Gulf Coast Settled near rivers for farming Areas of little rain, rivers flooded when it did rain Alluvial soil: soil that was deposited from flood waters, very fertile Population grew with the steady farming Steady food supply = new job focus Potters, weavers, priests, teachers

Alluvial soil

Olmec Cities 1150 B.C. San Lorenzo: major trade and religious center raised mounds in the center of the city for religious ceremonies Plazas used for trade centers Housing for priests and nobles 900 B.C. La Venta replaced San Lorenzo as the major religious and trade centers

Olmec Cities

Olmec Culture Daily life: farmers or fishers Houses built of earthen mounds, holding several dwellings Main task is to provide food for all in the village Fish, turtle, maize, beans, peppers City dwellers were the elite: upper class Priests and nobels Wore jewelry and fancy clothes Some commoners laborers, craftsworkers Plain clothes

Pok-a-tok Ball game played by elite of the village Players thought of as heroes Some games were played to please the Gods with human scarafice of the losing team Must hit a 5lb hard rubber ball through a hoop 20 feet off the ground May only us hips, wrists, elbows, chest or waist Played throughout Mesoamerica

Pok-a-tok

Art Huge flat faced heads made of basalt Transported from quarries more then 50 miles away Each head stands about 6-10 feet tall weighs as much as 20 tons Found in La Venta and San Lorenzo It is not known how the huge rocks were move or what the heads represent No wheel or pack animals Some feel the heads represent the player of pok-a-tok

Art Used glyphs to record events, dates and tell stories Smaller sculptures made of jade, pottery and cave paintings Used glyphs to record events, dates and tell stories Developed an accurate calendar

religion Chief god was the jaguar Believed to bring rain Worshipped many gods Chief god was the jaguar Believed to bring rain Fire god and corn god

Olmec Legacy Most cities were a center of trade Mainly luxury items for the elite Knowledge and ideas were exchanged Olmec culture was spread along the trade routes

Olmec Legacy 500 B.C. Olmec’s abandond their cities for unknown reasons 400B.C Olmec civilization had mostly disappeared Huge impact on Mesoamerica Considered to the Mother Culture: a way of life that strongly influences later cultures