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The Olmecs were one of the civilizations of Mesoamerica, the region that includes the territories that currently belong to southern Mexico and the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and the western part of Nicaragua. There arose several cultures with common characteristics, which differed from other civilizations in North and South America. The Mesoamerican civilizations were based on agriculture, and they cultivated cocoa, beans, corn, avocado and other autochthonous products; they had tamed the dog; they used calendars; they made human sacrifices and used stone tools.
Origin and geographic distribution of the Olmecs
The Olmec civilization developed within what is known as the Mesoamerican Preclassic Period (2500 BC – 200 AD). Although some archaeological findings suggest that the area where the Olmecs settled was already populated in 3000 BC. C., these towns are considered “pre-Olmecs”. Most of the elements found so far correspond to later years, when the Olmec society already had a sophisticated level of organization, around 1200 BC.
The name Olmec comes from the Nahuatl Aztec language word, olmecatl , which means “inhabitant of the country of rubber or rubber.” This name refers to the fact that this culture was characterized by working with rubber. In fact, they created rubber balls and invented one of the first ball games.
The Olmec civilization was established in three main places:
- San Lorenzo (Veracruz). This is the oldest site, around 1500 BC. C., and covers the municipality of Texistepec, in the Coatzacoalcos river basin. This was the oldest site and is believed to have been looted around 900 BC.
- The Sale . It was the most important Olmec settlement, where approximately 20,000 people lived, between 1500 and 400 BC. C. It is considered the first urban planning in Ancient Mexico.
- Three Zapotes . Most of the surviving artifacts and structures to date belong to this later period.
Characteristics of the Olmec culture
The Olmec civilization was one of the most advanced civilizations of its time, both artistically and economically as well as intellectually.
Social organization
One of the most outstanding characteristics of the Olmecs was their social organization. Society was divided into working classes, made up of farmers, artisans, sculptures and scribes; and upper classes, who governed them. It is known that there were priests or shamans, who led religious rituals and enjoyed a superior social status. There was also a military class and another leader, who held power. In fact, it is believed that the head sculptures are representations of different Olmec rulers, who were considered reincarnations of their gods.
economy and trade
The Olmecs were mainly engaged in agriculture and the most common crops were corn, squash, chili peppers, and beans, among others. Also, this civilization was distinguished by the creation of handicrafts, both in stone and in ceramics, rubber and other materials. Likewise, they built aqueducts and drainages to favor the practice of agriculture and established long commercial routes to sell their merchandise and obtain, through barter, other valuable products, such as Guatemalan jadeite or obsidian tools. It is believed that these routes reached, at some point, as far as Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
religion and art
The Olmecs were polytheists. They worshiped various gods who personified natural elements such as the sun, water, volcanoes, and also animals. One of the most important deities was the jaguar, which appeared in the design of statuettes and other objects, sometimes depicted as a were-jaguar.
In addition to the representations of gods, the best preserved works of art from the Olmec culture are the 17 colossal heads carved in stone, weighing around 40 tons; the sculptures known as “The twins of El Azuzul”; the Olmec jadeite mask; and the Olmec serpentine miniature.
language and writing
Although there are not many vestiges of Olmec writing and language, it is believed that they spoke a Mixe-Zoque language, native to the region. They also developed their own writing system and a calendar.
Another interesting fact about the Olmecs is that epigraphic inscriptions dating from 900 BC were found. C. This means that it is the oldest writing system in Mesoamerica known to date.
Disappearance of the Olmecs and rise of the Epi-Olmec culture
The decline of the Olmec culture
Although the Olmec civilization developed for almost a thousand years, its decline began around 400 BC and occurred gradually until about 100 BC. C. Although the exact circumstances and reasons that led to his disappearance are unknown; it was likely due to a combination of several factors, such as the following:
- Climate changes . Although the region where the Olmec civilization settled had a hot and humid climate, with lush tropical jungle vegetation and fertile land, it is possible that climatic conditions changed at a certain point. This could have caused difficulties for agricultural production, the depletion or loss of soils suitable for cultivation, and severe food shortages.
- natural phenomena . There could also have been prolonged periods of drought, floods, volcanic activity in the Sierras de Tuxtla, a change in the course of the Mezcalapa River, or other natural phenomena that had a negative impact on the daily life of the Olmecs and their commercial activities.
- Epidemics . Diseases and epidemics could have been another cause.
- Social conflicts . Another hypothesis suggests that conflicts could have occurred between the Olmecs themselves, disputes between the lower classes and the upper classes, or conflicts with other tribes.
- Influence of other cultures . This theory is based on the possibility that the Olmec culture, already in decline, was greatly influenced by other cultures, until it merged with them and lost its distinctive characteristics. This would be the origin of the Epi-Olmec culture.
One of the hypotheses with the greatest consensus holds that the Olmec culture did not completely disappear, but was transformed into the Epi-Olmec culture, which arose around 300 BC. C., during the decline of the Olmecs. That is why its name carries the prefix epi -, which means “on”. Due to its presence in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, this culture is also called “isthmeña”. The civilization developed during the Late Formative Period of Mesoamerica and existed until AD 250. c.
But due to the great differences between the two, there are still many questions about the relationship between these two cultures.
Characteristics of the Epi-Olmec culture and differences with the Olmecs
The Epi-Olmec culture can be considered as the evolution of the Olmec culture in some respects, since improvements in previous knowledge and techniques were observed. However, the Epi-Olmec culture did not achieve the same level of organization, importance, and influence as the Olmec culture.
Origin and geographic distribution
The Epi-Olmec civilization developed in Tres Zapotes, and later in Cerro de las Mesas, in the state of Veracruz. Although Tres Zapotes was the most important city of the time, it did not have the splendor that the Olmec urban centers of San Lorenzo and La Venta had.
Social organization
The Epi-Olmecs had a less defined but quite similar hierarchy to the Olmecs, which included farmers, artisans, scribes, shamans, and rulers.
economy and trade
The main economic activity of the Epi-Olmec population continued to be subsistence agriculture, but trade was reduced and interest in exotic materials from other regions diminished.
religion and art
The Epi-Olmecs also worshiped similar gods and regarded their rulers as demigods. However, the biggest difference between this new culture and the Olmecs can be easily seen in the works of art that have been preserved to date. Not only was there an obvious loss in quality, but also in detail. The Epi-Olmecs did not create giant sculptures either. His most important works are stelae carved in stones.
language and writing
The Epi-Olmec culture was characterized by greater complexity in writing, the calendar, and astronomical knowledge. This can be seen in the details of the stelae found in the excavations at Tres Zapotes and nearby areas, such as Stela 2 from Chiapa de Corzo, Stela C from Tres Zapotes, and the Stela from La Mojarra.
Contributions of the Olmec civilization
Despite its decline, the Olmec culture had a profound influence on other cultures, and its legacy can still be seen in different ways from other civilizations. In fact, the Olmec culture is considered the “mother culture” of later civilizations such as the Epi-Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec.
Among the contributions of the Olmec culture are included:
- Writing and numbering systems: they created a syllabary with glyphs and invented a vigesimal numbering system, which also incorporated the number zero.
- The calendar: stelae were discovered where the long count calendar of 365 days appears, which was later adopted by the Mayans.
- Epigraphic techniques: with which they made numerous stone inscriptions.
- The construction of temples: for religious rituals, which would later evolve into pyramids and other complex Mayan and Aztec constructions.
- The ball game: the Olmecs created rubber balls and their own game, which could be considered the precursor of current ball games.
- The works of art: that represent animals, children or dwarfs, and the giant sculptures of heads with faces with marked features.
- The Mesoamerican pantheon: the beginning of the worship of gods such as the feathered serpent, the god of corn, and the god of fire, among others.
Sources
- Captivating History. History of Mesoamerica: A fascinating guide to the four ancient civilizations that existed in Mexico: the Olmec, the Zapotec, the Maya, and the Aztec . (2020). Spain. Captivating History.
- Panorama of the Henares. (2020, January 6). Antiquity: The Rise and Decline of the Olmec Civilization . Available here .
- Torres Rodríguez, A. Mesoamerica: Cultural Portrait of the Territory. (2020). Spain. Editions Sill.
- Alcina Franch, J. The pre-Columbian cultures of America. (2009). Spain. Editorial Alliance.
- Ferrero Acosta, L. The jaguar men: the Tenocelome Olmecs. (2005) Mexico. Editorial State University at a distance. Available in pdf here .
- Original towns. Epiolmeca . Available here .
