WHAT CAUSED THE DECLINE OF THE OLMECS? - HISTORY - 2025

It is believed that the main cause of the decline of the Olmecs was the mixture of their traditions and customs with the other cultures that existed in Mesoamerica.

The Olmec culture is described by historians as one of the oldest and most influential Mesoamerican civilizations.

Olmec head found in San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.

It developed in the Gulf of Mexico between 1200 and 400 BC, in the areas known as San Lorenzo, La Venta and Tres Zapotes, later also moving to Monte Albán.

As in almost all ancient cultures that disappeared, researchers such as Gareth W. Lowe (1998) or Christopher Minster (2017) have faced various hypotheses in order to determine what factors led to the disintegration of that civilization.

Only one theory is very clear about the Olmecs, and that is that their strong traditions were mimicked with almost all the cultures that made life in Mesoamerica, being currently considered one of the most influential mother cultures.

Accepted theories about the decline of the Olmecs

The gods abandon us

The most accepted hypotheses converge in that towards 400 BC the four factors that marked the end of the Olmec power would intensify: natural, political, economic and religious events, the latter determining factors for a highly believing culture.

Natural events

Geologists affirm that between 600 and 400 BC the areas inhabited by this culture suffered severe impasses when the Mezcalapa river changed its trajectory and made it impossible for them to continue with its economic activity: the cultivation of the land, especially corn, cocoa and grains..

In addition to this situation, earthquakes and the volcanic activity of Los Tuxtlas 100 kilometers from La Venta, filled its inhabitants with nervousness, who desperately offered sacrifices and massive offerings to the gods in the ceremonial centers asking for their protection and good conditions for the sowing.

The volcanic activity in the Sierra de los Tuxtlas with its expulsion of ash, would also make access to its quarries impossible.

From them the stones used for their daily use materials and also other volcanic rocks used in the elaboration of sculptural pieces for their ceremonies were extracted.

Economic events

The basis of the Olmec economy was the work of the land, using a system called Roza, which consists of modifying the land by making it flat, and always close to the banks of the rivers to take advantage of the floods and irrigate the crops.

When the Mezcalapa River diverted its course to the east of La Venta (which was its most important settlement), they had to face serious difficulties in feeding hundreds or perhaps thousands of people who resided in that place, which could cause famines.

Religious events

It is possible that by not improving the natural conditions, not obtaining a response with their offerings, the inhabitants began to resent an abandonment by the deities they worshiped.

They could also blame their hierarchs for having lost favor with the Mother of the Earth, or the Feathered Serpent (one of their main gods linked to agriculture).

It is also important to note that the Olmec leaders (seen as demigods) forced their settlers to move thousands of tons of rocks over long distances in order to offer offerings to the deities.

It is estimated that these forced labor could also detract from the quality of life of the workers who were entrusted with these tasks, creating a refusal to perform them and later political revolts.

Political events

Signs of this dissatisfaction with their leaders is evidenced in the mutilations recorded in some human figures belonging to the memorials.

It is believed that the objective of these events was to neutralize the power of the rulers, thus trying to ensure that the altars and places of worship could regain their sacredness.

From this evidence it is concluded that political problems also arose in which one or more castes could have been weakened.

By not being able to control the situation of discontent, rebellions, hierarchical changes or conquests could have been started by rival peoples that would take advantage of the social lack of control and finally lead their inhabitants to be displaced to other areas.

The unknowns

Although Olmec inscriptions with information on the lifestyle, religion and even the life of a ruler have been found in stelae, there is no source written by this culture that narrates the reason for the abandonment of their settlements.

The possible causes of the decline of the Olmecs will remain plausible theories, which in turn leave a window open to expand knowledge about this important Mesoamerican culture.

Bibliography

1. Arellano, F. (1988). The Hispanic American Art. Caracas: Editorial Ex Libris.
2. Gombrich, E. (2000). Brief history of the world. Barcelona: Peninsula Editions.
3. Gombrich, E. (2007). The History of Art. New York: Phaidon.