Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations The Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca

Mesoamerica What does it mean? Where is it located? Meso = middle America = North and South America Mesoamerica is the region that is now Mexico and Central America. In pre-Columbian times, it was the most densely populated region of the Americas.

Olmec

Olmec Where did they live? Who did they influence? Who was in charge? What did the religious centers look like? Olmec Contributions What allowed the Olmec to spread their culture? The Olmec lived along the Gulf Coast of modern-day Mexico in tropical rain forests and lowlands from around 1200 BCE to 400 BCE. Both the Maya and the Aztecs were influenced by the Olmec civilization, the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica.  Sculptures and temples indicate that kings or priests led the Olmec society. This focus on religious leadership influenced later civilizations in the region. At former religious centers characterized by pyramid- shaped temples, giant stone heads weighing 10 tons stood up to 11 feet tall. The Olmec also developed a form of writing, as well as a calendar. Through their trade networks, the Olmec were able to spread many characteristics of their culture, religion, architecture, and social structure spread north to the Valley of Mexico and around Central America.

Olmec Cultural Hearth The beginning of a cultural traits The Olmec are considered a cultural hearth by historians. The Olmec are known for HUGE stone sculptures of heads. Around 600 B.C. the Olmec began to abandon their cities for unknown reasons. Cultural Hearth

Zapotec Civilizations 500 BCE – CE 700 Advanced society developed southwest of the Olmec “Cloud People” central valley, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the sierra region in the north, and the southern coastal mountain area called the Sierra de Miahuatlán Show traces of influence from Olmec Mild climate Fertile soil Enough rainfall to support agriculture artificially terraced hillsides irrigated by extensive canals fed by natural springs.

Decline of the Zapotec ????????????Unknown?????????????? Trade & economic decline?

Early Mesoamericans’ Legacy Olmec Art styles Jaguar Pottery & sculptures Urban design Pyramids & plazas Monumental sculptures Planned ceremonial centers Ritual ball games Elite ruling class Zapotec Hieroglyphic language Calendar system based on the movement of the sun City builders

Chavin 900 – 200 BCE Arose in the mountains First civilization of South America Pyramids, plazas, & earthen mounds Art styles Religious civilization with many images carved into stone, pottery, & textiles No evidence of political/economic organization

Chavin Just like the Mesopotamians, the Chavin constructed large irrigation systems to make the usually rugged terrain more fertile. Chavin farmers mastered the latter and raised livestock as well. One popular animal was the llama.

Chavin Pottery

Chavin laid the foundations to unify Andean Culture <mother culture for future civilizations>