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Olmec Society

By: Emily Morris :D. Olmec Society . The civilization rose around 1200 BC. Its decline is thought to have occurred around 400 BC. . When?. The Olmec, like all other ancient civilizations, had a polytheistic religion. They worshipped a variety of nature-based gods.

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Olmec Society

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  1. By: Emily Morris :D Olmec Society

  2. The civilization rose around 1200 BC. Its decline is thought to have occurred around 400 BC. When?

  3. The Olmec, like all other ancient civilizations, had a polytheistic religion. They worshipped a variety of nature-based gods. Pyramids and monuments/sculptures have been found that are thought to be related to their religion. An obvious motif is the Jaguar. It appears many times representing multiple gods, including rain, earth, fertility, and maize. Religion

  4. Not much is known in regards to their class system. The upper class consisted of priests and nobles, and the outliers made up the only other assumed class. Social classes

  5. Their economy focused heavily on agriculture, particularly maize. They had a large and intricate trade network set up throughout Mesoamerica that extended as far as modern-day Mexico City and Honduras. They had a central market of sorts called La Venta. This was a large and prosperous community consisting of farmers, traders/merchants, fishers, and specialists (artisans, sculptors, etc..) They their imported raw materials. Economy/trade

  6. Their artwork (or what of it has survived) used stone and clay as its main materials. Stone figures, columns, altars, and gigantic stone heads weighing as much as 44 tons have been unearthed. Archeologists have also discovered courtyards, pyramids and earthen mounds. Many of these discoveries were made at San Lorenzo, and can date back to 1150 BC. Art/architecture

  7. The civilization was developed on the gulf coast of Mexico, in and around modern-day Veracruz and Tabasco. The climate was very hot and humid. It was mostly swampland and jungle. It rained up to 100 inches a year, causing frequent flooding, but also providing fertile land for farming. The area was surrounded by many rivers. Salt and tar deposits were in abundance. The forest provided natural resources such as clay, wood, and rubber. Where?

  8. Due to its location, the soil was very fertile. Their main crop was maize; this heavily influenced their trade and economy. Agriculture

  9. While little is known of their achievements during their existence, we know that after their decline, they heavily influenced several of their succeeding civilizations. Their main influences were to the Mayans. Their urban design was imitated (monuments, pyramids, plazas, etc.) Their art style, including the repetition of the jaguar, was also copied by other Mesoamerican civilizations. Achievements

  10. Little is known about their government, but they are thought to have been ruled by a small class of priests and nobles. Government

  11. There is no proven theory regarding what happened to the Olmec. It is believed that San Lorenzo was destroyed near 900 BC, and La Venta fell around 400 BC. Some others believe that they deconstructed their own monuments following the death of their leaders. But with no written records, it is hard to tell what really happened. Decline/collapse

  12. Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2003. Print. Works cited:

  13. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/olmecs.htm http://apworld2012.wikispaces.com/OLMEC+AND+CHAVIN http://www.hypnotiqueolmecpunch.org/black_nobility_coverup.htm http://lau.vsb.bc.ca/studentp/karlrick/website/Website%20Pages/Art.html http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/4383116 http://www.delange.org/IzapaGroupA/IzapaA.htm http://throughlandart.tumblr.com/ http://www6.miami.edu/ealumni/20100608.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080627163156.htm http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=228672&st=15 Photo citations

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