Early societies of Mesoamerica The Olmecs Early Agriculture in Mesoamerica Mesoamerican people began to cultivate manioc, beans, chili peppers, avocados, and gourds. By 4000 B.C.E., maize had become the major staple crop of the region. Tomatoes were later added as a crop that they cultivated. By 3000 B.C.E., agricultural villages started to appear and by 2000 B.C.E. agriculture spread amongst Mesoamerica.
Although Mesoamericans had animals, they did not have cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs, meaning that there was very little protein available to them. They were unable to harness energy of prominent animals of the eastern hemisphere, which included horses and oxen. Since draft animals did not exist in Mesoamerica, they had no need for wheeled vehicles since they had nothing to pull the wagons. Human laborers prepared fields for cultivation and human porters carried trade goods on their backs.
Ceremonial Centers Ceremonial Centers arose alongside the agricultural villages. Some of these centers included pyramids, temples, and palaces. The ruling elite, priests, and a few artisans and craftsmen who tended to the needs of ruling and priestly classes were permanent residents of these ceremonial centers. On special occasions, large numbers of people would gather in the ceremonial centers, then returned to their homes in neighboring villages.
Olmecs: “The Rubber People” The earliest known agricultural village and ceremonial center appeared on the Gulf of Mexico, which emerged as the nerve of Olmec society. The Olmec did not have a proper name. The name Olmec means rubber people. They are called the rubber people because of the rubbers trees that are in the region that they lived in. Olmec culture traditions influenced all of the complexes of the Mesoamerican society until the sixth century B.C.E., when the Europeans arrived. San Lorenzo was the home to the first ceremonial center, which arose around 1200 B.C.E. and served as the capital for approximately 400 years. After San Lorenzo, influences were passed on to La Venta (800-400 B.C.E.) and Tres Zapotes (400-100 B.C.E.) The Olmecs also built drainage systems to divert the water that could cause a flood or destroy their settlements. Some are still around today.
Olmec Society Probably authoritarian in nature The construction of the ceremonial centers included thousands of laborers who participated. A portion of the common subjects’ harvests were delivered to the people living in the ceremonial centers. Common subjects also provided their labor for the various construction projects including temples, tombs, pyramids, altars, and stone sculptures. Trade in Jade and Obsidian
Olmec influenced reached as far as Guatemala and El Salvador and most of the central and southern regions of Mexico. Most of their influence was spread by the military. Olmecs produced numerous objects made of jade which they imported. Since there was a lack of metal technology, they also created objects out of obsidian, some which included knives and axes. Obsidian came from the Gulf Coast, much like jade did. They were imported, and in exchange the Olmecs traded animal skins, ceramics, basalt, and small works of art that were made of jade.
The Olmecs destroyed their ceremonial centers in San Lorenzo and La Venta and then deserted both sites. Many scholars believe that the Olmecs destroyed their capitals on purpose, and they think it might have something to do with civil conflicts or doubts about the effectiveness of the ruling class. By 400 B.C.E., Olmec society had fallen and other Mesoamerican societies eclipsed it all together. Ritualistic human sacrifice and their ball game were later adopted by later Mesoamerican societies. They also made a calendar and a system of writing. Heirs of the Olmecs: The Maya
Over the next thousand years following the demise of the Olmecs, several Mesoamerican complex societies arose. The population grew rapidly and ceremonial centers had evolved into genuine cities that attracted large populations of residents, had large markets, embarked on programs of construction, and supported increasing specialization of labor. Long distance trade routes extended their influence across Mesoamerica. The Maya
Earliest heirs of the Olmec, the Maya created remarkable societies in the now regions of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and southern Mexico. Permanent villages started to appear in the third century B.C.E., the most prominent of them being Kaminaljuyú. Kaminaljuyú was more of a ceremonial center rather than a city, but it still dominated lives of other communities in the region. Later, it fell under the reign of Teotihuacan and lost most of its influence in Mayan Society. The Maya built terraces designed to trap silt, which increased agricultural growth in their land. They harvested huge abundances of maize, cultivated cotton, and also raised cacao (source of chocolate) which was a commodity consumed mostly by the upper class in Maya society. The Maya used cacao beans as money because they were so valuable. Tikal
Maya built over 80 ceremonial centers between 300-900 C.E. in the lowlands. Some of the larger ones attracted a great population and evolved into actual cities. Among those 80 cities was Tikal, which was the most important Maya political center between the fourth and ninth centuries C.E., and at its height (600-800 C.E.) Tikal was a wealthy thriving city with a population that was almost 40,000. The Temple of Giant Jaguar represented Tikal’s control over the region and it stood almost 154 feet tall. The region that Tikal controlled was approximately 500,000 people. Tikal was probably the largest city-kingdom that was created by the Maya.
Maya Warfare Maya kingdoms constantly fought each other, and victors generally took over the ceremonial centers of the people they defeated. Maya warfare was more for the idea of capturing people and not to kill enemies. When captives from other kingdoms were brought, the warriors were praised. Most of the captives died as slaves or as a sacrifice to the Maya gods. Chichén Itzá
Gained power in the ninth century C.E., was a state in the northern Yucatan Peninsula, and established a larger political frame for Maya society. They took captives into their own society instead of sacrificing them. From nine to the eleven C.E., Chichén Itzá organized a loose empire that brought political stability to the northern Yucatan peninsula. Maya Decline
Most Maya civilizations had abandoned their cities around 800 C.E., majority of the society had diminished besides the northern Yucatan. Possible causes of decline include invasions, internal dissension, epidemic diseases, natural disasters, failure of the water control system, and the problems caused by the destruction of the forest. Maya Society and Religion
The Maya society was a hierarchy, with priests, kings, and hereditary nobility at the top. Merchants came from ruling and noble classes, and they served as traders and ambassadors to nearby lands. There were many distinct social classes, one that included professional architects and sculptors and artisans. Another was the large class of peasants and slaves who provided physical labor. Priests studied astronomy, developed a calendar, and also a writing system. They could predict eclipses and plot planetary cycles. Invented the concept of zero and made a symbol to represent it mathematically. They were able to calculate that there were about 365.242 days in a solar year. The Maya Calendar
Developed by priests who calculated that there were approximately 365 days in a solar year. Intertwined two types of years together (the solar year and ritual year). Had 20 months that had 13 days in each month. Believed that each day had certain specific characteristics from its position in both calendars that combined, each day would determine the activities done. Maya Writing
The Maya created the most sophisticated and flexible early American system of writing Contained ideographic elements and symbols for syllables History, poetry, myths, genealogical, administrative, and astronomical records kept Only 4 books remain after they were all burned in the 16 century C.E., the books contain astronomical and calendrical matters. Maya Religious Thoughts
Popul Vuh: Maya creation myth that states that the gods had created humans with maize and water which then became human flesh and blood. Due to this, agriculture played a fundamental role for the Maya. Priests taught that human sacrifices to the gods are what keep the world going. Bloodletting Rituals
Most important part of the sacrifice was human blood being drawn, which was believed to tell the gods to send rain to water their crops Before decapitation of the victim, the ends of their fingers were cut off to get a good supply of blood for the gods. They lived in a world that the creators expected honor from their worshipers. The Maya Ball Game
Inherited from the Olmecs, was played for gambling, sporting, and religious sacrifice. The loser was taken away right after the game and used as a sacrifice to the gods. Often played by men one on one, but teams of 2-4 people played. It was a ritualistic game. Heirs of the Olmecs: Teotihuacan
The lakes in the valley of central Mexico had abundant supplies of fish and birds who allured human settlers to the area. Also served as a source of freshwater and transportation. The City of Teotihuacan
In the highlands of Mexico. Large agricultural village by 500 B.C.E. that expanded rapidly after 200 B.C.E., had a population of approximately 50,000 people by the end of the millennium. Had two monuments, the colossal pyramids of the sun and the moon that dominated the skyline. Pyramid of the Sun was biggest single structure in Mesoamerica. Home to approx. 200,000 people (400-600 B.C.E.). Majority of records about authority perished at the same time as the city did. Priests were most likely the ones governing in the name of the gods.
The Society of Teotihuacan Society was dominated by priests and rulers. The population included cultivators, merchants, and artists.