First Civilizations of the Americas: The Olmec Chapter 2 / Section 3

First Civilizations of the First Civilizations of the Americas: The OlmecAmericas: The Olmec

Chapter 2 / Section 3Chapter 2 / Section 3

The Bering Strait Land BridgeThe Bering Strait Land Bridge

The Bering Strait Land BridgeThe Bering Strait Land Bridge

Bison and CaribouBison and Caribou

1) Where do the first people of the 1) Where do the first people of the Americas come from?Americas come from?

The last Ice Age (100,000-8,000 years The last Ice Age (100,000-8,000 years ago) ago) land bridge b/w Asia and North land bridge b/w Asia and North America (the Bering Strait)America (the Bering Strait)

Hunters and gatherers, probably pursuing Hunters and gatherers, probably pursuing bison & caribou, crossed the bridge as bison & caribou, crossed the bridge as glaciers receded (20,000-13,000 B.C.E.)glaciers receded (20,000-13,000 B.C.E.)

2) Isolation2) Isolation

Civilization of the Western Hemisphere is Civilization of the Western Hemisphere is distinguished by its isolation from the rest distinguished by its isolation from the rest of the worldof the world

Over thousands of years, humans spread Over thousands of years, humans spread throughout the Western Hemispherethroughout the Western Hemisphere

Adapted to polar extremes, tropical rain Adapted to polar extremes, tropical rain forests, mountains, deserts, woodlands, forests, mountains, deserts, woodlands, and prairies and prairies

3) The First Civilizations3) The First Civilizations

The Olmec in Mesoamerica (Mexico and The Olmec in Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) northern Central America)

The Chavin in the mountainous Andean The Chavin in the mountainous Andean region of South Americaregion of South America

MesoamericaMesoamerica

The Olmec in MesoamericaThe Olmec in Mesoamerica

The Chavin in the AndesThe Chavin in the Andes

What made the rise of these What made the rise of these civilizations possible?civilizations possible?

The domestication of new plant varietiesThe domestication of new plant varieties The introduction of new technologiesThe introduction of new technologies Limited development of tradeLimited development of trade

Social stratification & urbanization.Social stratification & urbanization.Active community participation by political Active community participation by political

& social elites (associated w/ religion).& social elites (associated w/ religion).

What did the elites do?What did the elites do?

Organize laborers to construct irrigation & Organize laborers to construct irrigation & drainage ditchesdrainage ditches

Clear forestsClear forests Farm on floodplains & hillsidesFarm on floodplains & hillsides

Urban centers w/ religious structures & Urban centers w/ religious structures & elite housing.elite housing.

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica

Geography of MesoamericaGeography of Mesoamerica It is a It is a land bridgeland bridge between North and South between North and South

AmericaAmerica

A range of A range of active volcanoesactive volcanoes run through the run through the middle of the Central American land bridge, like middle of the Central American land bridge, like a backbonea backbone

That range is called the That range is called the Central HighlandsCentral Highlands

Volcanic ashes created Volcanic ashes created fertile soilfertile soil, which is , which is used for farmingused for farming

Physical Map of MesoamericaPhysical Map of Mesoamerica

““Cleaned-Up” Satellite Image of Cleaned-Up” Satellite Image of MesoamericaMesoamerica

Pacaya Volcano, GuatemalaPacaya Volcano, Guatemala

8,373 feet8,373 feet 19 miles 19 miles

from from Guatemala Guatemala CityCity

Last erupted Last erupted in 2010in 2010

The EnvironmentThe Environment

The mountain ranges break the region into The mountain ranges break the region into microenvironmentsmicroenvironments: temperate highlands, : temperate highlands, tropical forest, rainforest, drier scrub foresttropical forest, rainforest, drier scrub forest

Amerindians developed specialized Amerindians developed specialized technologies that exploited native plants, technologies that exploited native plants, animals, & minerals (obsidian, quartz, jade).animals, & minerals (obsidian, quartz, jade).

Obsidian, Quartz, JadeObsidian, Quartz, Jade

Contact across environmental boundaries Contact across environmental boundaries trade & cultural exchange trade & cultural exchange

Trade, agricultural surplus, & population growth Trade, agricultural surplus, & population growth urbanization & political & religious elites urbanization & political & religious elites

Mesoamerica was never politically unifiedMesoamerica was never politically unified

Shared common cultural elements: technology, Shared common cultural elements: technology, religion, political organization, art, & sportsreligion, political organization, art, & sports

The OlmecThe Olmec

The Olmec The Olmec (1200-400 B.C.E.)(1200-400 B.C.E.)

Near the tropical Atlantic coast of today’s Near the tropical Atlantic coast of today’s Mexican states of Veracruz & TabascoMexican states of Veracruz & Tabasco

Early advances in agriculture Early advances in agriculture urban urban developmentdevelopment

How?How?

Gathering & fishing Gathering & fishing Domestication of staples: corn, bean, Domestication of staples: corn, bean,

squash, & maniocsquash, & manioc Surplus foodSurplus food Craft specialization & social stratificationCraft specialization & social stratification Political & religious elitesPolitical & religious elites Prestige & authority to organize labor for Prestige & authority to organize labor for

irrigation, drainage, & political/religious irrigation, drainage, & political/religious monuments or buildingsmonuments or buildings

Corn, Bean, Squash, ManiocCorn, Bean, Squash, Manioc

Olmec Cultural Centers:Olmec Cultural Centers:

San LorenzoSan Lorenzo

La VentaLa Venta

Tres ZapotesTres Zapotes

Olmec Cultural CentersOlmec Cultural Centers

San LorenzoSan Lorenzo

La VentaLa Venta

Tres ZapotesTres Zapotes

The relationship among them is The relationship among them is unclear:unclear:

Rival city-states, Rival city-states, OROR Dependent centers of centralized political Dependent centers of centralized political

authority, authority, BUT each centerBUT each center::

Developed independentlyDeveloped independently Exploited & traded specialized products Exploited & traded specialized products

(salt, cacao, clay, & limestone)(salt, cacao, clay, & limestone) Was eventually abandoned, defaced, & Was eventually abandoned, defaced, &

buriedburied

Salt, Cacao, Clay, LimestoneSalt, Cacao, Clay, Limestone

Why were the centers abandoned?Why were the centers abandoned?

Rebellions or civil warsRebellions or civil wars ConquestsConquests Rituals associated with the death of a rulerRituals associated with the death of a ruler

Large Large earthen moundsearthen mounds dominated Olmec dominated Olmec urban centers:urban centers:

- Collective ritual and political activities- Collective ritual and political activities

- Foundation for residences of elites- Foundation for residences of elites

City layout aligned with the City layout aligned with the paths of paths of certain stars:certain stars:

- Belief in the significance of astronomical - Belief in the significance of astronomical eventsevents

Olmec Earthen MoundsOlmec Earthen Mounds

La Venta Religious SiteLa Venta Religious Site

Olmec Religious PyramidOlmec Religious Pyramid

Olmec Social StructureOlmec Social Structure1) 1) Political & religious elitePolitical & religious elite: kings: kings - Houses decorated by fine crafts- Houses decorated by fine crafts - Fine dresses- Fine dresses

2) 2) MerchantsMerchants: traded in obsidian, jade, & pottery: traded in obsidian, jade, & pottery

3) 3) Skilled artisansSkilled artisans: high-quality crafts (carved jade : high-quality crafts (carved jade figurines, necklaces, ceremonial knives) & figurines, necklaces, ceremonial knives) & decorated buildings with sculpturesdecorated buildings with sculptures

4) 4) LaborersLaborers: construction work; lived in small : construction work; lived in small stick-and-mud hutsstick-and-mud huts

Olmec ArtOlmec Art

The Power of RulersThe Power of Rulers

Colossal carved stone Colossal carved stone heads believed to heads believed to memorialize individual memorialize individual rulers (11 ft tall)rulers (11 ft tall)

The best-known The best-known monuments of Olmec monuments of Olmec cultureculture

Urbanization & the growing power of the Urbanization & the growing power of the religious and political elite were shared broadly religious and political elite were shared broadly by society.by society.

HOW?HOW?

Example: collective laborExample: collective labor

Increased food productionIncreased food production

Made food production more reliableMade food production more reliable

Diversified dietDiversified diet

Spread of religious beliefs (clay figurines)Spread of religious beliefs (clay figurines)

Olmec Religious BeliefsOlmec Religious Beliefs Religious rituals to control commonersReligious rituals to control commoners Bloodletting and human sacrificeBloodletting and human sacrifice PolytheismPolytheism Deities had dual characteristics:Deities had dual characteristics:

- male & female- male & female

- human & animal- human & animal Representations of powerful animals: jaguars Representations of powerful animals: jaguars

(rulers), crocodiles, snakes, & sharks(rulers), crocodiles, snakes, & sharks SkinchangersSkinchangers Shamans & healers Shamans & healers

Olmec Jaguar-GodOlmec Jaguar-God

Role of ShamansRole of Shamans

Practical advice about rain (essential for Practical advice about rain (essential for agriculture)agriculture)

Urban planners (astronomical layout of Urban planners (astronomical layout of cities)cities)

Development of a form of writingDevelopment of a form of writing Calendar to organize ritual life & Calendar to organize ritual life &

agricultureagriculture

Olmec Ball GameOlmec Ball Game The rules of the ballgame are not knownThe rules of the ballgame are not known Similar to racquetball, where the aim is to keep the ball Similar to racquetball, where the aim is to keep the ball

in playin play Ball courts vary considerably in size, but all have long Ball courts vary considerably in size, but all have long

narrow alleys with side-walls against which the balls narrow alleys with side-walls against which the balls could bouncecould bounce

In the most widespread version of the game, the players In the most widespread version of the game, the players struck the ball with their hips, although some versions struck the ball with their hips, although some versions allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or hand allowed the use of forearms, rackets, bats, or hand stones. stones.

The ball was made of solid rubber and weighed as much The ball was made of solid rubber and weighed as much as 9 lbs, and sizes differed greatly over time or as 9 lbs, and sizes differed greatly over time or according to the version playedaccording to the version played

The game had important ritual aspects, and major formal The game had important ritual aspects, and major formal ballgames were held as ritual events, often featuring ballgames were held as ritual events, often featuring human sacrifice. The sport was also played casually for human sacrifice. The sport was also played casually for recreation by children and perhaps even women.recreation by children and perhaps even women.

Ball CourtBall Court

Human Sacrifice After Ball GameHuman Sacrifice After Ball Game

Was the Olmec Civilization an Was the Olmec Civilization an Empire?Empire?

Probably NOT.Probably NOT.

ReasonsReasons::- Limited technologically & agriculturally Limited technologically & agriculturally - No significant military power No significant military power - No conquestsNo conquests

BUT!!!BUT!!!

- Olmec products and images (jade carvings of - Olmec products and images (jade carvings of jaguar-god) in a wide area jaguar-god) in a wide area the Olmec had the Olmec had cultural influence over others.cultural influence over others.