Early Mesoamerican CivilizationsThe Olmec and the Chavin

The Isolated AmericasTotal and complete—all the ideas,

technology, agriculture, writing, etc. flying around Eurasia was absent from here

Environmental challenges: north-south axis, lots of mountains, changing terrain kept people separated and not alike

Around 1000 BC the development of some trade, some domestication of plants led to urbanization and social stratification

The OlmecsA cultural force—considered the mother of Mexican cultureFlourished between 1200-400 BCCoincides with the Greeks, the

Zhou, the Assyrians (western Asia), the Israelites in the Promised Land (Canaan); after the Hittites

The OlmecsFamous for their 16giant head sculpturesprobably “portraits”of important leaders

Agriculture led to development of urban areas—corn, beans, and squash, maybe manioc

As leaders emerged, they organized irrigation and public works projects

Large-scale religious and civic buildings became the cultural draw

The OlmecsSpecial buildings and largeartificial platforms were sites of gatherings—peoplewould visit from surrounding areas for theseCities laid out according to astronomical patterns like starsProduced high quality crafts like jade figurines,

necklaces, etc. that distinguished their cultureBall game—rubber ball through a small stone

hole in the wall, went on for days, players often died

The OlmecsRulers controlledPeople with awe-Inspiring religious Rituals; rulers wereAssociated with the gods through

sacrifices and bloodlettingPolytheistic, most gods dual natures

(gender), the jaguar was important symbol/god

Political center at San Lorenzo, then moved to La Venta

The ChavinLocated in Peru, in the Andes MountainsThe coast of Peru had a dependable food supply (maize), which lends itself to urbanizationCoastal populations traded textiles, food,

ideas with those in the mountains and each other; Chavin de Huantar (capital) located at crossroads of trade

Chavin is simply one group that dominated a long time and seems to have inherited culture from this area

The ChavinLarge labor projects indicate developed elite &maybe military control of neighbors to help constructbuildings with very elaboratedrainage system beneath them to resist floodsLike Olmec, used religious rituals to attract

“followers”/gain influence—jaguar again a major religious symbol

Chavin de Huantar seems like a pilgrimage site

The ChavinSocial Classes: class ofpriests, main king and morelocal leaders existed, highlyskilled artisans, must have been a large lower (slave?)class to buildNo evidence of destruction of

society—increased warfare did occur at certain times, but when this group lost power is unknown

Compare the ContemporariesUse of religion by elites to control some aspect of society

Role of lowest class of peopleGeographical

advantages/disadvantagesDo this for:

◦Chavin◦Olmec◦Egypt◦China◦Mesopotamia