(E3) CH 21 Meso.

Mesoamerica I - ANTH 110

Final Project Sources

  • Sources:

    • Google Books for standard books

    • ScienceDirect, JSTOR, etc. (search engines; do not cite directly)

    • Academic journal articles

Geography & Timeline

  • Mesoamerican Regions:

    • Maya Area (Chichen Itza, Tulum, Tikal)

    • Olmec Heartland (La Venta)

    • Valley of Mexico (Teotihuacan, Tenochtitlan, Tula)

    • Gulf Coast and Yucatan

    • Oaxaca

Periods Overview

  • Archaic (13000 - 1800 BC): Early farming villages an Civilization

  • Pre-Classic (1800 BC – AD 150): Early civilizations, rise of Olmecs, Monte Alban, Teotihuacan's origin

  • Classic (AD 150 - 900): Flourishing of Teotihuacan, Maya

  • Post-Classic (AD 900 - 1521): Toltecs, Aztecs, Spanish arrival

Big Themes in the Pre-Classic

  • Rise of Civilizations and States

    • Development of centralized authority and elite rulers.

  • Long Count Calendar

    • Start Date: August 13, 3114 BC

    • Divided into significant time periods (144,000 days, etc.)

    • Development perfected by Maya; earliest examples from Olmec.

  • Warfare and Agriculture

    • Elite rulers at central sites, large commoner class in agricultural areas.

    • Increased warfare with neighboring groups.

    • Expansion of farmlands and complex agriculture.

  • Trade and Exchange

    • specialized craft production.

    • Long-distance trade networks developed.

Olmec Civilization (800-400 BC)

  • Geographical Focus: Gulf Coast Plain, Southern Veracruz

  • Characteristics:

    • Based on agriculture, exchange, and possibly religious ideology.

    • Known as the "Mother Culture" of Mesoamerica

    • Culture included sculpture (e.g., jaguar figures, colossal heads, stelae, jade art).

  • Key Sites:

    • San Lorenzo

    • San Jose Mogote

    • La Venta

    • Tres Zapotes

    • Monte Alban

  • Factors for decline: environmental stress, loss of trade relations, potential invasions.

Settlement Patterns

  • Olmec settlements located near rivers, resources, and trade routes.

  • Settlements often featured ceremonial complexes surrounded by farming hamlets, aligned on a north-south axis.

San Lorenzo and San Jose Mogote (Olmec Civilizations)

San Lorenzo (800-400 BC)

  • Location: Situated in the southern Veracruz region of Mexico.

  • Significance: One of the most important Olmec sites, often referred to as the first major ceremonial center.

  • Key Features:

    • Known for its massive stone heads and intricate sculptures.

    • Evidence of monumental architecture and extensive trade networks.

    • Had complex drainage systems, highlighting advanced engineering.

San Jose Mogote

  • Location: Located in the Oaxaca Valley, Mexico.

  • Significance: An early Zapotec site that played a crucial role in the development of the Zapotec civilization.

  • Key Features:

    • Noted for the first evidence of social stratification in Mesoamerica, including a ruling class.

    • Development of early writing and calendar systems.

    • Monumental architecture such as platforms and tombs, indicating advanced urban planning.

    • Evidence of agriculture supports the settlement’s growth and complexity.

La Venta (900-400 BC)

  • Site Description: Located on an island in a swamp, key ceremonial site; characterized by a great pyramid and numerous offerings.

  • Notable Features:

    • Complex A with buried greenstone offerings

    • Colossal heads and ceremonial structures

    • Orientation and layout significant for ritual purposes.

Tres Zapotes

  • Important archaeological site containing Stela C, known for its Long Count Calendar and colossal heads reflecting Olmec culture.

  • Seventeen colossal heads have been found to date at four Olmec sites.

Monte Alban

  • Located in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, capital of Zapotec culture. The construction began around 500 BC and continued to thrive until about AD 900.

Settelment pattern:

  • Hilltop and floodplain habitation sites; principal ceremonial centers surrounded and supported by small farming villages.

  • Key Developments:

    • Emergence of writing and calendars (hieroglyphs, bar-dot systems).

    • Monumental architecture and centralized community planning (including defensive walls).

    • Danzantes Sculptures: Represents social stratification and elite burials, significant for understanding the social hierarchy.

Major Structures at Monte Alban

  • Notable Buildings:

    • Grand Plaza, Danzantes Building, Defensive wall, various platforms and altars.

  • Complex organizational layout indicates strong governmental and religious structures in place.

Implications of Olmec Culture on Mesoamerica

  • Olmec culture had significant influence on various Mesoamerican sites, seen through the spread of religious practices, artistic styles, and societal structures.

  • Monte Alban Tomb 7 was an elite burial site.