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Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations

Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations. Olmec , 1500 BCE – 400 BCE. What is a “civilization”?. Dependent upon agriculture Large and dense populations Trade Range of settlements (rural – urban) Central governments Trade Social stratification Specialized occupations. Who are the Olmec ?.

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Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations

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  1. Ancient Mesoamerican Civilizations

  2. Olmec, 1500 BCE – 400 BCE

  3. What is a “civilization”? • Dependent upon agriculture • Large and dense populations • Trade • Range of settlements (rural – urban) • Central governments • Trade • Social stratification • Specialized occupations

  4. Who are the Olmec? • Tropical lowlands of Mexico • The “mother civilization” • “People of the land of rubber” • Invented the tortilla • The rubber ball game • Trade

  5. Olmec Religion • Cult of the Jaguar • Spread of religion as a factor in their rise to power Toltec depiction of the jaguar at Chichen Itza

  6. Olmec Heads • Basalt • 8 statues of rulers or gods?

  7. Olmec Trade • Luxury items • Jewelry, feathers, cotton, cacao beans, ceramics, jade figurines • Invention of the tortilla • Women and the comal Cooking tortillas on a comal

  8. The Rubber Ball Game

  9. Olmec’s Legacy • Cult of the jaguar • Religious calendar • Astronomy • Trade • Agriculture/Food technologies • Hieroglyphic writing Olmec rain god at A. Oaxaca, Central Mexico, and Maya regions from left to right.

  10. The Maya, 200 BCE – 900 CE

  11. Regions of the Maya • Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Yucatan peninsula (Southern Mexico) • Guatemala • Honduras • Belize • El Salvador

  12. Characteristics • No central government • About 50 independent city-states • Constant competition

  13. Tikal • Guatemala • Established around 219 CE • 40,000 people at its peak

  14. Copàn • Honduras • 600 – 700 CE • Astronomical conferences

  15. Palenque • Chiapas • Peaked between 600 – 700 CE • Pacal the Great & Mother Queen Zac-kuk

  16. Pacal’s Sarcophagus

  17. Writing • 90% of the symbols have been defined • Books made out of bark paper • Most destroyed during colonial period

  18. Mayan Society • Ahau (king) • Tribute system • Strict gender roles • Monogamy vs. plural marriages • Extended families • Bloodletting • Musicians

  19. What happened? • Collapse of city-states began in 800 CE • 12 million people in 700 CE • Population drops to 2 million

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