1. Presentation by: Ms. Mosher

2. Table of Contents Who they were Where they lived Daily Life Religion and Ceremonies Interesting Facts Influences on the Western Hemisphere Video Bibliography

3. Who were they Olmec People? The Olmec People existed before the Mayans Little is known about them They originated around 1250 B.C. and disappeared around 400 B.C. They were the first people to use written language They were the first people to use the cacao tree Read more about the Olmec People! Home

4. Where did the Olmec People live? Home

5. Daily Life Followed a 365-day year Built pyramids Cultivated corn and cacao Mainly farmers, fisherman and hunters Home

6. Religion and Celebrations Celebrated similar rituals as the Mayans, the civilization that came after them. Worshipped gods of fertility, war, sky, and nature Believed they were descendants of the Jaguar and it was often featured in religious ceremonies This picture shows a typical alter which depicts a human face and jaguar spots. Home

7. Interesting Facts Created architecture, art and a writing system Traded with other civilizations Had a calendar Built temples and pyramids Home

8. Influences on the Western Hemisphere… Farming resulted in population growth, climate change and technological development Religious ceremonies continued with later civilizations such as the Mayans Home

9. Video Home

10. Bibliography Lockard, Craig. Societies, Networks, and Transitions: A Global History. Second. A. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011. 91. eBook. <http://books.google.com/books?id=s6jsw6HgQGEC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=olmecs influence in western hemisphere&source=bl&ots=XotsfteESW&sig=ydWGUaJM0xpcJaV3947dcLDvKXY&hl=en& sa=X&ei=fHIpUP2TNZSH0QHg84HgDA&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCA The Olmec-Ancient Mexico [Video]. N.d. Video. http://www.disclose.tv/action/Web. 13 Aug 2012. <http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/11062 Vogel, John. "Learning Corner." Family on Bikes. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug 2012.. Home