Download Olmecs, 1200-400 BC

The Olmecs, 1200-400 BC
• From 1200-400BC, this
civilization existed from
the time of the Trojan
War to the Golden Age
of Athens.
• The civilization both
rose and fell BEFORE
the arrival of the
Europeans
• It is considered a “mother
culture” in art, politics, and
religion to the Aztecs and
Maya
•The Olmec settled in
southern Mexico and
modern day Central
America
• The region
was rich in
natural
resources
including
large supply
of quarrying
stone
• it is thought they loaded stone
boulders that weighed some
20 tons onto sledges and then
onto rivers
• The stone was used to create
statues part a human/ animal
to honor the gods
One of the oldest centers
of urbanization is known
as San Lorenzo, from
1200-900 BC
The stones found in
the area
commemorate the
leader and ancestors
A second city was La Venta
800-500 BC
Here huge mounds have been
discovered, thought to be the
base for pyramids
Much of the art feature the
jaguar
Often considered a popular
and sacred symbol in
Mesoamerica of cosmic and
political power
Some statutes feature half
man/ half jaguars
“The jaguars were the
shamans of the animal
world, the alter ego of the
shaman.” Peter Furst,
University Museum,
Philadelphia
The Olmec produced
Mesoamerica’s first art style
First monumental art, giant
heads
And first complex political
systems
 At Olmec sites
evidence of a ancient
game have been found
 Made of leather the
game was the earliest
one to use a ball in
Mesoamerica

Large hollow Olmec figure. Southern Vera Cruz The figure is seated holding a skull and wears a harpy
eagle headdress. The harpy eagle is associated with the Olmec death cult. This and the skull the figure
is holding suggests a relation to human sacrifice rituals. The figure is covered in typical kaolin slip
with red slip on the loin cloth and bird beak. The piece has areas of black and brown staining, possibly
from fire exposure. It is from the estate of Dr. Robert Lowenberg, reported to have been collected in
the 1920's. H. 11.7".
http://www.youngmuseum.com/annoncollection.
htm)
(
 http://www.trussel.com/prehist/olmec.jpg
The Chavin of South America
http://www.duke.edu/~mpc8/pictures/PERU!!!/Pampamaca/
Chavin first major
civilization in South
America
900-250 BC
Around Peruvian coastal
plain
Influenced the whole
region in culture, politics,
etc
Potatoes, maize, fish
Labor force built roads,
bridges, etc
Clan system led to
mutual aid in “reciprocal
labor obligations”
Work aided by the
domestication of the llama,
human=50 lbs, llama= 70
lbs,
One human could control
10-30 llamas
Built huge multilevel
platforms
Metallurgy
st
1
developed by
Chavin then moved to
Mesoamerica
No evidence of invasion,
civilization ended uncertain