By Justin, Fedi, Amir, Alex,
and Kenny
Sculpture
-The most famous
thing that that the
Olmecs created was
the Stone Heads
-These heads resembled
their kings
-The heads on average
were nine feet tall
and weighed 20 tons
Sculpture
-Another notable structure is the 100 foot pyramid located
in the city of La Venta
-Tomb for notable king
Origins
Theorists believe that
their origins come from:
-The Africans
-The Shangs
-The Europeans, due to wanting
isolation from Old World Diseases
-Jaredites
-The early river civilizations
Region
-Mid-South of Mexico
-More precisely it is in the
jungles of the southern
Mexico’s Gulf coast
-Being next to the coast helped
with the soil and thus agriculture
-Current Day states of Tabasco
and Veracruz, Mexico
Major cities
● One of the major cities was Zazacatla this city and the people that lived
there has been said that they revered the Olmec culture
● Anther major city included San Lorenzo, Tenochtitlan which served as a
ritual and political place, the city also housed many and had a
sophisticated drainage system,San Lorenzo also served as a notable
arhaeological site
● La Venta was another great city where many of the Olmecs inhabitited and
much labor specialization took place there
Political/Social structure
vs
They’re made up of two groups the commoners who worked on
farms and with the irrigation systems they supplied food for the
population and the elite class included of rulers, religious
figures, skilled craftsmen, they lived in small religious centers and
cities
Writing System
vs
-Scholars have had a
hard time deciphering the Olmec’s writing
system
-From the little known historians can say is
that the Olmecs utilized picture symbols
which was heavily used for later civilizations
Religious Characteristics
-Polytheistic: archaeologists found ten
different gods in Olmec art
-Believed in spirits
-Fire god, rain god, maize god, jaguar
god of the underworld and the Feathered
Serpent
-Practiced human sacrifice
Economy
-Olmec economy based on agriculture
-Extensive trade contact with other civilizations from the
Valley of Mexico (Tlatilco and Chalcatzingo)
-Traded for items such as jadeite and feathers which were
used to make religious ornaments
Military
-Military undocumented due to lack of
findings of war equipment
-Military life some what depicted in art
Ball Game
-Olmecs created the ball game
-Tried to hit a ball in a hole
-Played with solid rubber ball
-weighed 9 lbs
-They double not the ball with their hands
Influences
-Other
Mesoamerican civilizations adopted Olmec
gods (Snake god & Sky dragon)
-Invented
ancient Mesoamerican ballgame
-Jade and Ceramic objects with Olmec imagery
spread to other civilizations such as
Teopantecuanitlan as well as pottery
-Created Calendar, used by Mayans and Aztecs
Influences
-This is why the Olmecs are known to be the
“mother civilization of Mesoamerica”
-The Olmecs heavily influenced later civilizations
including the Mayans and Aztecs
The Olmecs continue to influence the cultures of
Mexicans today, like Chipotle
Decline
-Declined aroud 400 BCE
-By politics and economic stresses
-Many Invaders destroyed the city’s
monuments and the cities themselves
Historians
-One must keep in mind that much work done about the
Olmecs, by Historians and Archaeologists is primarily
based upon assumption from art, picture symbols,
buildings, and statues
Works Cited
-Minster, C. (n.d.). Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
-Cartwright, M. (n.d.). Olmec Civilization. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
-Dowling, J. (n.d.). Skinner Inc. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
-Olmec Sites and Trade Routes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2014.
-Mesoamerican ball game court at Monte Albán. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2014.
-Merrick and Mayfair Religion. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2014
-Ancient City Found in Mexico; Shows Olmec Influence. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved September 24, 2014, from
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070126-mexico-olmec.html
-"Olmec Civilization - Crystalinks. (n.d.).Olmec Civilization - Crystalinks. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from
http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.htm
-The ancient Olmec Civilization. (n.d.). The ancient Olmec Civilization. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.aztechistory.com/olmec-civilization.html
-La Venta, Mexico. (n.d.). La Venta, Mexico. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm
-Chipotle Mexican Grill: Gourmet Burritos and Tacos. (n.d.). Chipotle Mexican Grill: Gourmet Burritos and Tacos. Retrieved
September 29, 2014, from http://chipotle.com/en-US/default.aspx?type=default
Activity
-Activity: You are going to play a mini Olmec
ball game in the class using a hoop and a
foam ball
-Rule: You cannot touch ball with hands to
get it in the hoop
-Catch: Every time you or your team scores
you have to answer a question given,
correctly, to make the point count
Visit our website
Slept through presentation? No
problem: olmecburns.weebly.com