Notes on Mesoamerican Arts and Cultures

Overview of Arts in the Americas

• Arts of The Americas are less explored than those from Europe and Asia.

• Focus on Mesoamerica, Central America, and South America (Andes), plus North America.

Theories of Human Migration

• Prevailing theory: humans migrated via a land bridge during the Ice Age.

• This theory is debated, but it remains the most explored.

Mesoamerican and Central American Cultures

• Key civilizations include the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs.

• These cultures were interconnected through language, culture, and trade.

Classification of Time Periods

• Three broad time classifications mainly apply to the Maya but also provide context for other cultures.

• These classifications reflect later historians' judgments, not a perfect fit with the artistic developments.

• Pop culture often conflates Maya, Aztec, and Inca cultures, overlooking their complexity.

Major Distinctions Between Maya and Aztec

• Maya:

  • Collection of loosely affiliated city-states.

  • Modern descendants still retain aspects of culture, like the Maya calendar.

• Aztec:

  • Centralized empire lasting only a few centuries.

  • Teotihuacan, an older city, is often mistakenly associated with the Aztecs.

The Cosmic Ball Game

• A significant cultural game in Mesoamerica, played on specially constructed courts.

• Players used hips and legs to maneuver a rubber ball, aiming to pass it through posts.

• The game may have had ritual significance, possibly serving as a surrogate for war.

• The Popol Vuh (Maya creation myth) features hero twins playing the game in the afterlife.

Ball Court Structure

• Size of courts varied (30 to 80 meters), but design remained consistent.

• Resurgence of the game noted in modern times, often played in traditional attire.

The Olmec Culture

• The Olmec are known for their colossal basalt heads, primarily found in three sites: San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes.

• The heads may represent individual rulers, possibly ball players as suggested by their helmets.

La Venta Site

• Important site for Olmec civilization featuring a ceremonial center and the Great Pyramid (approx. 100 ft tall).

• Found jade offerings and figurines depicting figures with elongated craniums, reflecting standards of beauty.

Teotihuacan

• Occupied from the 1st century CE, its original name and language are unknown; later Aztecs used the term.

• Population at its peak: around 25,000, with residential complexes akin to modern apartments.

• The Avenue of the Dead extends approximately 4 miles, used for celebrations and processions.

Architectural Features

• Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Sun are prominent structures.

• The Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent) features a talud tablero style, decorated with representations of gods.

• Human sacrifice observed, but often sensationalized; serves a religious purpose for the Mesoamerican cultures.

Maya Glyphs and Writing System

• Advanced writing system includes ideographs and logosyllabics, allowing for sound representation and concept depiction.

• Example: glyph for "jaguar" showcases intricate representations.

• The Maya developed an accurate calendrical system, enabling precise translations from their carvings to modern times.

• Extensive libraries existed, but many were destroyed during Spanish colonization, leading to significant loss of their literature.