- The oldest civilization in Mesoamerica and its society
- Some of their customs and traditions
- References
The oldest civilization in Mesoamerica is the Olmec culture. It was located in the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico, around 1800 BC.
It is considered the Mother Culture of Mesoamerica, although the peculiar aspects of its origin remain an enigma. Olmec, in the Nahuatl language means "inhabitants of the country of rubber."
Their organization was tribal, led by a single chief named Chichimecatl. Its organization chart was known as a dispersed city, in which each community was directed by a priest, and in each one of them several families lived.
The construction of the ceremonial centers was in charge of the population, and these were surrounded by the peasant villages.
The men were in charge of cultivating the land. The women were engaged in pottery, weaving, and caring for children.
The oldest civilization in Mesoamerica and its society
Its economy was based on agriculture, mainly corn. They also cultivated beans, squash and cacao, which were part of their diet, which also included fish meat, venison, turtle and domesticated dogs.
The government was a theocracy, it was run by priests. Olmec society was typically patriarchal, in which the man was the one who made the decisions in his family.
Evidence indicates that their religion was shamanic. In each community there was a shaman or sorcerer who went into a trance, communicated with the spirits and was attributed supernatural powers.
Some of their customs and traditions
By excavations that were practiced in Olmec tombs, it is believed that they believed in a life after death.
This is confirmed by the ceremonial offerings found. They worshiped certain animals in their environment, such as snakes and the jaguar. Representations of clawed snakes have even been found.
Perhaps the most representative art of the Olmecs is the giant spherical heads found. In some cases these can weigh up to 50 tons.
They were transported from far away to their final location. In addition to these stones, figurines, jade beads and axes were found.
The Olmecs also had astronomical studies, calendars and the creation of the ritual game of the ball is also attributed to them.
The oldest recorded Olmec center is that of San Lorenzo, which dates back to 1150 BC, the same year that the Olmec culture flourished.
Most of the sculptures found from this culture come from this site. Some of the large heads were attempted to be destroyed in a looting around 900 BC.
Many were transferred to the La Venta site. Other of the monumental heads were buried, and survive to this day.
The Olmecs had three ceremonial centers: San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes, each in a different era of the Olmec culture.
The writing is also attributed to the Olmec culture. On this point there are discrepancies, since many attribute it to the Zapotecs.
The Zapotecs, it is believed, were the second civilization after the Olmecs. The origin of this culture is unclear. They said they came down from the clouds, and they called themselves "cloud people."
References
- «Olmec» in Wikipedia. Retrieved in October 2017 from Wikipedia at: es.wikipedia.org
- "Olmec" in Mesoamerican Civilizations. Recovered in October 2017 from Monographs: monografias.com
- "Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs" in Mezoamerican cultures. Recovered in October 2017 from IslamChile in: islamchile.com
- "Aridoamérica, Mesoamérica and Oasisamérica" in Indigenous Peoples (September 2011). Recovered in October 2017 from Indigenous Peoples at: pueblosindigenasmx.blogspot.com.arl
- "Mesoamerica" in Mesoamerica and Aridoamerica. Recovered in October 2017 from Mesoamerica and Aridoamerica in:culturesprehispanicas.com.