1. Early Americas

2. Early American Geography

4. The word OLMEC is derived from the Nahuatl--the language spoken by early Aztecs--meaning either Dwellers of the Rubber Land or Mouth of the Jaguar. http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html Olmec 1500 – 400 B.C.

5. Olmec Stone Heads Portraits of individual Olmec rulers When a ruler died, his throne was converted into the head 6 ft tall & 5 ft across Symbol on each head for the ruler The basalt was quarried miles from where the heads were found

6. Olmec City Centers Architecture – pyramid mounds Public ceremonial buildings, elite & common housing Religious sites Stone drains – aqueducts (provided drinking water) Aqueducts were also monuments

7. Olmec Religion At least ten gods (polytheistic) Altars were thrones of Olmec rulers Religious creed read by the sages (wise person) Shamanism (similar to animism)

8. Olmec Writing Hieroglyphic & Syllabic systems of writing Syllabic system of writing had 13 consonants Similar to Manding (west african) Why is Olmec writing so similar to Manding?

9. Olmec Calendar Used mathematics (including the concept of zero) and astronomy Two cyclical calendars (365-day solar & 260- day) created a 52 year cycle called the Calendar Round Long Count calendar used a starting date as August 13, 3114 B.C.

10. How advanced were the Olmec? (and in what areas)