The Olmec Civilization
There is a great misconception in Mexican history, where people believe that the Mayans and Aztecs were the first to settle in the land of Mexico. It was in fact the Olmec’s who were the first major Mesoamerican civilization that emerged in the southern region of what is now present day Mexico. The Olmec civilization came and went long before the Mayans and Aztecs, Olmec civilization flourished in Mesoamerica in 1200 BCE. They were centered near the Gulf of Mexico which are now the present day states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Recently discovered artifacts place the very first Olmec city within San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Little is known about the Olmec civilization, but we do know that they left a great mark on the Mexican people setting a strong foundation for the civilizations that followed them. Due to the mysterious history behind the Olmec civilization, historians do not know what they called themselves. Their name was in fact given to them by the Aztecs which means “rubber people”. There is a great lack of archeological evidence regarding the Olmec civilization, but it is clear that they developed a great trading system, and had an organized and complex religious system.
The Olmec’s settled near diverse geographical locations that included coastal plains, lowland floodplains, plateau uplands, and volcanic highlands. The Olmec’s adapted well to the natural landscapes around them because they built their homes and cities in elevated structures in the floodplains and knew how to work the land. The Olmec settlement patterns directly correlate with the highly productive landscape of their major cities. The initial success of the Olmec civilization was initially based on their geographical location. The Olmec’s took advantage of the fertile and well-watered land near the coastal areas that surrounded the Gulf of Mexico by using it for agriculture and transportation. The Olmec’s grew crops such as corn, beans, and squash twice a year, and planted palm nuts. Their proximity to the water also allowed the Olmec’s to exploit the numerous amounts of sea-life which combined with the crop they grew resulted in a plentiful agricultural surplus of food. The highly productive fertile land, and water sources resulted in a greatly dense population surrounding the Olmec’s two most prominent cities, San Lorenzo and La Venta.
The Olmec’s settled near diverse geographical locations that included coastal plains, lowland floodplains, plateau uplands, and volcanic highlands. The Olmec’s adapted well to the natural landscapes around them because they built their homes and cities in elevated structures in the floodplains and knew how to work the land. The Olmec settlement patterns directly correlate with the highly productive landscape of their major cities. The initial success of the Olmec civilization was initially based on their geographical location. The Olmec’s took advantage of the fertile and well-watered land near the coastal areas that surrounded the Gulf of Mexico by using it for agriculture and transportation. The Olmec’s grew crops such as corn, beans, and squash twice a year, and planted palm nuts. Their proximity to the water also allowed the Olmec’s to exploit the numerous amounts of sea-life which combined with the crop they grew resulted in a plentiful agricultural surplus of food. The highly productive fertile land, and water sources resulted in a greatly dense population surrounding the Olmec’s two most prominent cities, San Lorenzo and La Venta.
The Olmec economy revolved around a diligent trading system. Olmec’s used their trading techniques to enrich their society. Olmec’s first began to trade out of their great city in San Lorenzo around 1200 B.C. Historians have found many Olmec artifacts far from where the civilization was originated. Due to the Olmec people’s great artisan skills, they were able to trade pottery, celts, and statues using long trading routes that spread across Mesoamerica and Central America. In return for their artifacts, the Olmec’s would trade for like basalt stones that were used to create colossal stone heads, salts, animal pelts, and other materials.
The Olmec civilization also had a very complex religion system. The Olmec’s believed in divine beings and gods. They had a priest or shaman that was there to interact with both the Olmec people and their gods. They worshiped animal creatures like the jaguar and they believed in human sacrifice. Temples were built for worship, and many of their sacred rituals were performed in their major cities.
The Olmec were the most advanced civilization of their time. They developed trading and writing systems to transfer goods and communicate. They also pioneered the concept of the calendar and created the foundation for future religions and societies. The second reason for the Olmec’s success was their proximity and extensive contact with other civilizations. Although Olmec cities were densely populated, their people along with their culture and art spread across Mesoamerica and Central America. Settlements of Olmec people and culture spread to civilizations like the Mokaya who settled in what is now southeastern Chiapas. There is now evidence of the Olmec society coming into contact with civilizations in Central America in what is now present day Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Olmec people also spread to present day Morelos where the ancient city of the Chalcatzingo was. The Chalcatzingo people are said to have been relatively close with the Venta-era Olmec’s, and the Tlatilco civilization which originated in central Mexico (present day Mexico City) was also in direct contact with the Olmec people.
As stated in Germs, Guns, and Steel, one’s geographical location can mean the failure or the success of an entire civilization. There is no denying that the Olmec’s were geographically blessed when it came to cultivation and transportation. The fertile lands, and rivers surrounding their settlements are what helped their civilization thrive. The land provided plenty of food and their rivers served as a mode for transportation which ultimately helped spread their settlement and culture through the creation of their trading routes.
The little that is known of the Olmec people brings yet another mystery about their civilization. Many historians have asked the same question, “What caused the Olmec civilization to disappear?” Many of the remains of the Olmec civilization have not survived the test of time. What truly happened to the Olmec’s is based on theories. It is possible that the Olmec’s were forced to relocate due to the overusing of the land, famine, or a natural disaster could have also claimed the civilization due to their proximity to the gulf coast. The Olmec’s could have also been victims of Germs, Guns, and Steel. A disease could have wiped out their entire civilization, or a war could have killed off all the Olmec people. Some historians believe that the Olmec’s may have just relocated to adapt to changing environments or that they simply transformed into the civilizations that followed them, after all they were in fact known as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica.
The Olmec civilization also had a very complex religion system. The Olmec’s believed in divine beings and gods. They had a priest or shaman that was there to interact with both the Olmec people and their gods. They worshiped animal creatures like the jaguar and they believed in human sacrifice. Temples were built for worship, and many of their sacred rituals were performed in their major cities.
The Olmec were the most advanced civilization of their time. They developed trading and writing systems to transfer goods and communicate. They also pioneered the concept of the calendar and created the foundation for future religions and societies. The second reason for the Olmec’s success was their proximity and extensive contact with other civilizations. Although Olmec cities were densely populated, their people along with their culture and art spread across Mesoamerica and Central America. Settlements of Olmec people and culture spread to civilizations like the Mokaya who settled in what is now southeastern Chiapas. There is now evidence of the Olmec society coming into contact with civilizations in Central America in what is now present day Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Olmec people also spread to present day Morelos where the ancient city of the Chalcatzingo was. The Chalcatzingo people are said to have been relatively close with the Venta-era Olmec’s, and the Tlatilco civilization which originated in central Mexico (present day Mexico City) was also in direct contact with the Olmec people.
As stated in Germs, Guns, and Steel, one’s geographical location can mean the failure or the success of an entire civilization. There is no denying that the Olmec’s were geographically blessed when it came to cultivation and transportation. The fertile lands, and rivers surrounding their settlements are what helped their civilization thrive. The land provided plenty of food and their rivers served as a mode for transportation which ultimately helped spread their settlement and culture through the creation of their trading routes.
The little that is known of the Olmec people brings yet another mystery about their civilization. Many historians have asked the same question, “What caused the Olmec civilization to disappear?” Many of the remains of the Olmec civilization have not survived the test of time. What truly happened to the Olmec’s is based on theories. It is possible that the Olmec’s were forced to relocate due to the overusing of the land, famine, or a natural disaster could have also claimed the civilization due to their proximity to the gulf coast. The Olmec’s could have also been victims of Germs, Guns, and Steel. A disease could have wiped out their entire civilization, or a war could have killed off all the Olmec people. Some historians believe that the Olmec’s may have just relocated to adapt to changing environments or that they simply transformed into the civilizations that followed them, after all they were in fact known as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica.
Additional Sources
This website titled Olmec Civilization provides a large range of information about the Olmec people. In this article you will find information about the Olmec heartland their origin, and information on their trading systems. This website is also a great reference to use when studying Olmec art and traditions.Visit http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html for more in depth information about the Olmec people and their culture.
Although the first settlement in Mexico where of Olmec decent, there were many settlements that followed he Olmec civilization. This website is a great source for information regarding the settlement patterns that came after the Olmec people. Please visit http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379167/Mexico/27379/Settlement-patterns for more information on the dense population settlements of Mexico.
Although the first settlement in Mexico where of Olmec decent, there were many settlements that followed he Olmec civilization. This website is a great source for information regarding the settlement patterns that came after the Olmec people. Please visit http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/379167/Mexico/27379/Settlement-patterns for more information on the dense population settlements of Mexico.
Population Pyramids
Just as the Olmec's population skyrocketed and then suddenly disappeared, the population of ancient Mexico and present day Mexico is always changing. Below you will find two different population pyramids, these pyramids will serve as a visual representation of how the population of mexico has changed from the 1950 to 2015.
The population change will certainly not stop here, global and regional changes will continue to happen as time advances. Visit populationpyramid.net to see what the projected population will like in the future.
Citations
Cartwright, M. (2013, August 30). Olmec Civilization. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://www.ancient.eu/Olmec_Civilization/
Olmec cultural influence. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015 from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~izapa/cs-mm-Fig.%2058.gif
Olmec Sites and Trade Routes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015 from, http://www.fofweb.com/Electronic_Images/Maps/AK-101OlmecSitesTradeRoutes.gif
Mexico Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/mexico/mexico-timeline
Minster, C. (n.d.). Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/The_Olmec/p/Ancient-Olmec-Trade-And-Economy.htm
The Ancient Olmec Civilization. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.aztec-history.com/olmec-civilization.html
Olmec cultural influence. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015 from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~izapa/cs-mm-Fig.%2058.gif
Olmec Sites and Trade Routes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015 from, http://www.fofweb.com/Electronic_Images/Maps/AK-101OlmecSitesTradeRoutes.gif
Mexico Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/mexico/mexico-timeline
Minster, C. (n.d.). Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/The_Olmec/p/Ancient-Olmec-Trade-And-Economy.htm
The Ancient Olmec Civilization. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://www.aztec-history.com/olmec-civilization.html