Reading Notes on the Olmec

The Olmec
1200 BCE - 400 BCE

Social

Political
- had an elite ruling class
- declined for unknown reasons; possibly invaders, or the death of an important ruler

Interaction
- located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico
- hot and humid region covered with swamps and jungle, with little sunlight and much rainfall, which caused floods often
- lots of salt, tar, wood, rubber, hard stone, river transportation, fine clay, and most importantly flood plains of the rivers with fertile land

Cultural
- built tombs for their rulers in the vague shape of a pyramid
- animist - prayed to a variety of nature gods
- most important god was the jaguar spirit, half-human and half-jaguar, which may have been a rain god. There may have also been three jaguars, representing the earth, fertility, and maize
- had planned ceremonial centers
- had ritual ball games
- no clear evidence of writing, but possible
- art included realistic sculptures of giant heads with thick lips, flat noses, and large, oval eyes
- architecture included earthen mounds, courtyards, and pyramids with columns, altars, and more giant heads
- may have moved the giant heads by taking them over land using rolling logs, then rafting them along waterways
- art such as jaguar motifs is seen in later people's pottery and sculpture; urban design patterns were also copied

Economic
- large trading network throughout Mesoamerica
- north to Mexico City and south to Honduras
- imported raw goods from far away such as iron ore and various stones