Topic:

Early people of the AmericasDo Now: What

characteristics does a society need to have to be considered a complex

civilization? (This should be review!)

How did people get to the Americas? How did they spread around the Americas?

Come up with a theory based on the map!

How did people get to the Americas BEFORE civilizations emerged?

Theories are not fact, but they are explanatory.

One Answer… •Ice Age: Nomads &

animals migrated across the land bridge (Beringia) between Asia and Alaska (30,000 years ago)

•They followed animal herds south towards North and South America

•Agricultural revolution: Nomads domesticated plants/animals--> settled civilizations

Early Human Migrations

What geographic conditions made Mesoamerica possible to settle?

Mesoamerica stretches from central Mexico into Central America.

The First Civilization in the Americas:The Olmecs

•In Groups:–Use the note sheet

you picked up (I need this back).

–Work with a partner to describe the types of complex civilization that existed in Mesoamerica

Major Olmec Cities

La Venta’s Urban Plan

La Venta• La Venta was inhabited by the Olmecs from 1200 BCE until 400 BCE after which the site was abandoned.

• It was an important center for religious rituals.

La Venta’s Ceremonial Significance

• The city contained tombs of Olmec leaders.

• It also had numerous altars and carvings that have religious significance.

• The carved altar and jade figurines both show religious ceremonies in action.

Olmec Ritual Symbols

Tres Zapotes Urban Plan

Tres Zapotes’ Calendar Stele

These markings indicate dates expressed in bars and dots.

The Giant Heads of Tres Zapotes

• The heads probably depict powerful Olmec Rulers.

• The largest ones weigh up to 40-50 tons. The small ones weigh 6 tons. They were c. 9 feet tall.

• They range in dates from 1,500-400 BCE.

Customs•Most Olmecs did NOT live in cities, which were for religious ceremonies.•The lived in agricultural villages as farmers & hunters.

Agricultural Practices

• 2 Main Methods: – 1) plant on river banks after flooding.– 2) slash and burn: cut trees and vegetation,

burn them, and let the ashes replenish the soil.

A Diverse Diet!

Maize

Squash Manioc

Cacao

The Olmecs also hunted deer, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, and wild pigs.

The 5 Points of Olmec Religion• 1) There was a cosmos shared by gods and

men.

• 2) There were many gods who interacted with mortals (polytheism).

• 3) There was a shaman class of people.

• 4) Specific rituals had to be performed.

• 5) The rituals had to take place at sacred sites in Olmec cities.

The Jaguar was revered & worshipped.

A Shaman as Jaguar

6 Main Olmec Gods• 1) The Banded-eye God• 2) The Shark Monster• 3) The Bird Monster• 4) The Dragon• 5) The Serpent• 6) The Man-Jaguar

Pay Attention: Which is Which?

Answer Key• 1) The Serpent• 2) The Shark Monster• 3) The Bird Monster• 4) The Dragon• 5) The Man-Jaguar• 6) The Banded-eye God

Olmec Writing? The Cascajal Block

• The block has 62 symbols and dates back to circa 1,100-900 BCE.

• It has not been deciphered.

Olmec Glyphs/Pictograms

• If the Olmecs did not have an alphabet, they definitely had pictograms with deciphered meanings.

Summary QuestionWrite on Index CardCan the Olmecs be

properly classified as a “complex civilization”?

Explain.