EARLY MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS

Olmec

• Civilization began in Mesoamerica around 1200 BC (to 400 BC)

• Mesoamerica• Central Mexico to northern

Honduras• Mother Culture of

Mesoamerica• People who create earliest

civilization in southern Mexico

Olmec

• Geography/Environment-• Located along Gulf Coast

of Mexico, • covered with swamps

and rain forest and fertile river flood plains

• hot and humid climate• abundant resources of

salt, tar, clay, wood, rubber, and stone

Urban Design-Olmec

• Combined pyramids, plazas, and giant sculptures

• Massive sculptures of heads (first found in 1860)

• Built thriving urban communities at sites such as San Lorenzo and La Venta

Olmec Economy

• Directed a large and prosperous trading network throughout Mesoamerica

• Trade spreads Olmec influence to the north and south; In return for the products they made, they received iron ore and different kinds of stone.

Olmec’s Achievements and Legacy

• Jaguar motif and other art styles

• Pattern of urban design

• Concepts of ceremonial centers

• Ritual ball games• Worshiped nature gods

• Head sculptures

Olmec Decline

• Reasons for Olmec collapse by 400 BC is unknown

Zapotec

• Geography• Located in Mountainous region in southern Mexico; fertile soil and mild climate in valleys; (Oaxaca Valley)

• 1000 BC-600 AD

Zapotec Urban design

• Planned cities with stone pyramids, temples, and palaces built around a giant plaza (influenced by Olmecs)

Zapotec Language

• Hieroglyphic writing system

Zapotec Achievements/legacy

• Concept of urban planning; calendar system based on movements of the sun

• Monte Alban• Impressive urban center built atop a mountain• It had an observatory that could be used to look at the

stars.

Zapotecs at Monte Alban

• 500 BC - First city in America

• 25,000 people• Combined religion and

daily life. Pyramids, temples, and palaces surrounded a giant plaza paved with stones

Monte Alban

Zapotec’s decline

• Declined shortly after 600 AD for unknown reasons