Mesoamerican
Ancient Civilizations
The Olmec, Toltec, and Aztec
Olmecs of Teotihuacán
-“The People of the Land of Rubber…”
-Large stone heads
-Art found throughout
Mesoamerica
Olmec Civilization Origin and Impact
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The Olmec civilization was thought to have originated around
1500 BCE. Within the next three centuries of their arrival, the
people built their capital at Teotihuacán
This ancient civilization was believed by some historians to be
the Mother-culture and base of Mesoamerica. “The city may
well be the basic civilization out of which developed
such high art centers as
those of Maya, Zapotecs,
Toltecs, and Totonacs.” –
Stirling
Cultural Practices
The Olmec people
would bind wooden
planks to the heads of
infants to create
longer and flatter
skulls.
n  A game was played
with a rubber ball
where any part of the
body could be used
except for hands.
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Religion and Art
The Olmecs believed that celestial phenomena
such as the phases of the moon affected daily
life.
n  They worshipped jaguars, were-jaguars, and
sometimes snakes.
n  Artistic figurines and toys were found,
consisting of a jaguar with a tube joining its
front and back feet, with clay disks forming an
early model of the wheel.
n  Large carved heads were found that were made
from the Olmecs.
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Olmec Advancements
The Olmecs were the first of the Mesoamerican
societies, and the first to cultivate corn.
n  They built pyramid type structures
n  The Olmecs were the first of the Mesoamerican
civilizations to create a form of the wheel,
though it was only used for toys. A reason they
may not have used it for something more
productive, such as building a moveable cart,
was that their land was so wet and boggy the
wheel would be useless.
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Advancement Cont.
The main set of architecture was in the Chichen
Itza, or the volcanic resembling pyramids that
the Olmec built.
n  They also accomplished the first drainage
system that was underground.
It consisted of channeled
blocks of stone that were set
into the earth and covered in
slabs.
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n They
created an early writing
system of hieroglyphics
consisting of signs that made
up pictures.
The Toltecs
-Sacred Ball Game
-Toltec Warriors
Religion
The Toltec civilization also made a form of
the Chichen Itza, a pyramid like structure
similar to the Mayans.
n  The most important god in their diety was
Quetzalcoatl, the warrior god who was also
the creator in their religion.
n  Their sacred ball game was similar to the
Olmec’s; however, in this game if you were
on the losing team, you would be sacrificed
to the gods.
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Toltec Andean Warriors
The Toltec Andean
Warriors represent the
Toltec Warriors, which
are located in Tula
where they watch over
the ancient city.
n  There are four of these
stone warriors atop a
pyramid, which support
the Temple of the
Morning Star (the planet
of Venus)
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Military Achievements
The Toltecs formed a warrior aristocracy. Their
territory was that of present day Mexico,
Guatemala and the Pacific coastal area of
Chiopas.
n  They were dominant over most of Mexico with
their strong military during this period.
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Their empire extended over central Mexico, and
their influence went from their capital at Tula all
the way to Guatemala.
Advanced Architecture
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Influenced by the Olmecs, the Toltecs were
master architects; their architecture was also
greatly influenced by their religion. They built
Monk’s Mound, a pyramid covering about 15
acres, and was one of the largest pyramids of
ancient Mexico.
The Aztecs of Tenochtitlan
-Advanced weaponry
-Irrigation through chinampas
-Unique Calendars
Basic Government
Calpulli were clans in Aztec Society. But as the
Aztec power increased, they were transformed
into a noble class. They controlled the
priesthood and military leadership. And though
most people were born into this class, some
could be promoted.
n  The gap between this class and the commoners
was increasing, and social distinctions were
made more obvious through restrictions of
clothing, hairstyles, and uniforms.
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Military Advantages
The Aztecs were very harsh and skilled fighters
who were often wanted to allies. They invented
the Atlatl, which helped them to throw spears,
along with catching fish.
n  Soldiers were common people in Aztec life. When
a boy was born, his umbilical cord would be cut
off and buried on a battle field to signify his life
would be dedicated to military.
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Economy
The large population at Tenochtitlan depended
greatly on agriculture, mostly produced by the
peasants.
n  They irrigated agriculture through chinampas,
which were beds of aquatic weeds and mud that
were placed in frames.
n  The market that operated
daily was controlled by the
pochteca, a merchant class.
n The Aztecs had a very
advanced market system
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Calendar
The Aztecs invented to very
sophisticated calendars. The first
was a 365 day calendar called
the Xiuhpohualli.
n  The second Aztec calendar was
the 260 day, the tonalpohualli, a
sacred calendar that was a tool
for dividing days and rituals
between the gods. It consists of
two wheels being turned with
different signs and numbers on
them; as their year comes to a
close, the calendar is set back to
its original state.
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