Who• Pre-Mayan and Aztec Culture in

Central America• 2000 yrs older than Aztecs• 1000 yrs older than Mayans

• Called Olmecs by Aztecs• Name means “people of rubber”• First people to develop use of rubber, from rubber

trees

When• Begins between 1600 BC and

1400 BC• Not sure when it started

• Ended between 600 BC & 300 BC• Not sure of end date

• Civilization vanished, influence did not.

Where• Centered in

southeastern Mexico• Along gulf of Mexico• Cities and trade routes

throughout the region.• Some sites along

Pacific Coast

What• Built large number of cities•Made trade routes all over Southeast Mexico• Created system of agriculture to feed people in cities• Three sisters farming• Beans, Corn, and Squash• Still main crops today in Mexico

•Domesticated dogs and turkeys

What• Had theocracy for government• Religious leaders in charge•May have worshipped jaguars

• Created many works of art• Statues, made of jade or stone• Some were 11 feet tall•Used stone from 60 miles away

• System of writing

Why• Influenced many Native American cultures• Mayan, Aztecs, and Toltecs among others

• Three sisters farming• Used all over NA and SA

• First to use rubber• Art and writing copied by others• Religious, economic, and government practices

copied by other groups• Contributions to science and math, including zero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKo9mUeIueM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhQRDrJowuM