Olmec CivilizationOlmec Civilization

►1,200-400 BC1,200-400 BC►Alluvial Soil along rivers south of Gulf Alluvial Soil along rivers south of Gulf

of Mexico.of Mexico.►Large mounds and stone monuments.Large mounds and stone monuments.►Villages grew as food supply grew.Villages grew as food supply grew.

Olmec SocietyOlmec Society

►Most were fishers and farmers.Most were fishers and farmers.►Built homes on top of mounds.Built homes on top of mounds.►City-dwellers = Elite priestsCity-dwellers = Elite priests

Olmec Art and LearningOlmec Art and Learning

►Olmecs moved Olmecs moved basalt more than 50 basalt more than 50 miles to build large miles to build large stone monuments.stone monuments.

► Used early form of Used early form of glyph writing and glyph writing and developed a developed a calendar.calendar.

► Chief God was the Chief God was the Jaguar.Jaguar.

Legacy?Legacy?

►Did not expand through warfare; Did not expand through warfare; rather they influenced others by trade.rather they influenced others by trade.

►Trade Centers.Trade Centers.► In 500 B.C. Olmecs abandon cities.In 500 B.C. Olmecs abandon cities.►By 400 B.C. Olmecs all but gone.By 400 B.C. Olmecs all but gone.►Mother culture for those that followed.Mother culture for those that followed.