The Rise of the Olmecs

The Rise of the Olmecs

Civilizations also developed on the Americas in this period. Geographic isolation made them more unique but they followed many of the same patterns of civilizations in Afro-Eurasia.

Civilizations also developed on the Americas in this period. Geographic isolation made them more unique but they followed many of the same patterns of civilizations in Afro-Eurasia.

The Rise of the Olmecs

Agricultural villages based on the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash emerged about 3500 BCE. These villages grew into a variety of urban centers around 1200 BCE, the most influential of which was the Olmec culture found in the modern Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco.

The Rise of the Olmecs

Political authority and social stratification developed in these urban areas as a result of agricultural surplus and the need to mobilize large numbers of people to construct irrigation systems, ceremonial buildings, and to drain land for farming.

The Rise of the Olmecs

Sophisticated urban planning based on the movement of the stars, the creation of monumental artwork including several giant Olmec head statues, and the construction of monumental architecture indicate a strong central government able to mobilize the labor of the population over time. Each Olmec city was likely independently ruled by a hereditary monarch who maintained power  by presenting himself as an intermediary to the gods. These rulers assisted by a class of priests, performed awe inspiring rituals on large platforms in the center of each city that included blood letting and human sacrifice. These rituals served to reinforce the power of the state and laid the cultural foundation for the civilization that followed. 

The Rise of the Olmecs

The Olmec economy like other ancient civilizations was dominated by agriculture but sophisticated trade networks and craft production also existed.