Archaeologists have discovered two great Olmec cities: San Lorenzo and La Venta, in the present-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco respectively. This implies that trade routes were blocked, or perhaps nearby groups had grown hostile, creating a crisis. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008. The calendar used for centuries in Mexico may also have originated with the Olmec. The Olmec people’s enduring legacy was their colossal head statues, detailed rock carvings, and writing system. They also made great strides forward in writing, astronomy, and calendrics. The Olmecs started it, the Maya tweaked it, and the Aztecs nailed it. The Epi-Olmec culture is a link of sorts between the classic Olmec and the Veracruz Culture, which would begin to thrive to the north of the Olmec lands about 500 years later. They were probably obsess with the timing of religious ritual, as the Mayans and Aztec would be after them.Even the ritual ball game so popular among the Aztecs is believed to have been played in the ancient Olmec civilization. They arose suddenly and with no apparent prior gradual development. Around 400 B.C. Jades, sculptures, and pottery in the Olmec style and with distinctly Olmec motifs were no longer created. Email. Sort by: Top Voted. When the Olmec culture went into decline, it didn't disappear entirely. These are not the original names the Olmec knew them by: those names have been lost to time. The End of the Olmec Civilization San Lorenzo flourished on a large island in a river from about 1200 to 900 B.C., at which time it went … Over the next 500 years, they migrated north toward a city dubbed Tres Zapatos, carrying on the tradition of their forebears while continuing to develop their writing and awareness of astronomy. The End of the Olmec Civilization San Lorenzo flourished on a large island in a river from about 1200 to 900 B.C., at which time it went … For example, a volcanic eruption could coat a region in ash or change the course of a river: such a calamity would have been disastrous to the Olmec people. Pre-contact Americas. The Olmecs: America's First Civilization. Archaeologists speculate that the depopulation was caused by environmental changes, specifically by the silting-up of rivers, which choked off the water supply. Over-farming and agricultural troubles could have contributed to the demise of the Olmec, as well. The Olmec civilization was one of the oldest (if not the oldest) civilizations that rose in Mesoamerica. One of the biggest clues we have regarding the downfall of the Olmec is their sculptures: La Venta, where much of their art was produced, started re-using old stone from previous sculptures. With the fall of La Venta came the end of classic Olmec culture. The Decline of the Olmec Civilization. Not all of the Olmec sites were abandoned, but Olmec culture gradually changed and ceased to dominate … It likely was a combination of natural ecological changes and human actions. It has been speculated that the Olmecs derived in part from the neighboring Mokaya or Mixe–Zoque cultures. These… The Olmec are among a few civilizations, such as the Sumerians, regarded as "pristine," meaning that they arose independently with little external cultural or economic influence. The Olmec. The Olmec were the first great Mesoamerican civilization. The Olmecs also had a cross between a ritual and a sport. The Olmecs are the earliest known civilization in the Americas to have used mathematics and had the concept of zero. Internal strife is also a possibility. The Olmecs practiced basic agriculture using the technique of"felling and burning", in which overexploited land parcels were burned. After the height of the Olmec civilization diminished, the descendants of the faded empire still lived on in an era referred to as Epi-Olmec, as per Thoughtco. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. It is now called the Olmec Ball Game. The extensive trade networks the Olmecs had used fell apart. They did, however, go on to trade heavily with surrounding regions, and in this way their culture spread. It is primarily known through the study of their architecture and stone carvings. No one knows precisely what happened. Well, the Olmecs were a Mesoamerican people, and its culture converged into the Mayan. The most agreed upon theory is that, because of their unique physical features and the difficulty and cost involved in their creation, they represent Olmec rulers. Although the descendants of the Olmecs still lived in the region, the culture itself vanished. Best known today for their carved ?colossal heads, the Olmecs were an important early Mesoamerican civilization which had much influence on later cultures such as the Aztecs and the Maya. Although they had a healthy diet with this limited number of foods, the fact that they relied so heavily on them made them vulnerable to climate changes. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-decline-of-the-olmec-civilization-2136291 (accessed February 7, 2021). and is considered the "mother culture" of societies that came later, such as the Maya and Aztec. Human actions likely played a role as well: warfare between the La Venta Olmecs and any one of a number of local groups could have contributed to the society's downfall. The Olmec were talented stonemasons, who built structures and aqueducts. The Olmecs are the lesser-known cousins to the Aztec and Maya, and predate them as the oldest Mesoamerican civilization on record. 6th Edition. The ball that they used was a six to ten pound ball of rubber. It is … What happened to the Olmecs? The first calendar in long count format was discovered in the Olmec region of Tres Zapotes on the lower half of Stela C. Olmec, Maya, and Aztec writing and calendar systems. Olmec stylistic influence disappeared after about 400 bce. These Olmec inhabited southern Mexico, and are regarded as the Mother Culture of the Americas – that is to … Two great Olmec cities are known: San Lorenzo and La Venta. The Olmec had been relying on a diet of beans, squash, corn, and … Corn was a olmec diet basic food , although it is possible that it was introduced late in the development of its cultivation. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004. The Olmec culture was Mesoamerica's first great civilization. "The feared and revered shaman would conduct rituals and heal the sick." What happened to the Olmec civilization? The Olmec. Timeline Search. Less dramatic climate changes, such as a drought, could severely affect their favored crops. They didn’t build any major cities, but they were widespread and prosperous. Following a progressive development in Soconusco, they occupied the tropical lowlands of the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Ulama. In short, the Maya came first, and settled in modern-day Mexico. According to Thoughtco, from about 1775 BC to 400 BC, they built an empire that spanned from modern day Veracruz to Tabasco in Mexico, had four main cities full of plazas and surrounded by farms, a rich religious and political life full of shamans, kings, bloodletting, infant sacrifice, and a national sports game played with a rubber ball. "The Decline of the Olmec Civilization." The Olmec had been relying on a diet of beans, squash, corn, and various protein sources since at least 5000 BC. Search through the entire ancient history timeline. For the next four months, visitors will be able to see treasures that have never before been permitted to leave Mexico. The Olmecs fished in nearby lakes and rivers, and clams, allig… What happened to the Olmecs? rivers to take advantage of the floods and to irrigate the sowings. The Olmec civilization was named after the Aztec word for their descendants, who inhabited Olman, or the "land of rubber." Although Tres Zapotes never reached the grandeur of San Lorenzo or La Venta, it nevertheless was the most important city of its time. In fact, the name "Olmec" is an Aztec word that means "rubber people," as described by Khan Academy, implying that the Olmec may have been among the first to figure out to harden and shape latex from rubber trees. They thrived along Mexico’s Gulf coast, mainly in the present-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco, from about 1200 to 400 B.C., although there were pre-Olmec societies before that and post-Olmec (or Epi-Olmec) societies afterward.The Olmec were great artists and traders who culturally dominated early Mesoamerica from … ThoughtCo. Practice: Ancient Andes. Specify between which dates you want to search, and what keywords you … The Olmec's lived in what is now the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz. The Olmec culture developed in the centuries before 1200BC (BCE), and declined around 400BC.We know far less about the Olmecs than we do about, for example, the Aztecs and Mayans. The most important Epi-Olmec city was Tres Zapotes, Veracruz. La Venta went into decline and was eventually abandoned altogether. The Olmecs are frequently forgotten entirely, and the rest are often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct. It is known that between 400 and 350 BC, the population of the eastern portion of Area Nuclear Olmeca decreased strongly, and this area would remain sparsely inhabited until the nineteenth century. Oliver J Davis Photography / Getty Images. (Author provided) the great Olmec city of La Venta went into decline, taking the Olmec Classic era with it. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the ​Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Olmec religion centered around the Shaman. There are very few written records to tell u… The cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes near the Gulf of Mexico served as their major urban centers. The Olmec's 17 giant head sculptures are their most well-known archaeological artifact: 40-ton heads, each one of a specific person, composed of basalt transported from fifty miles away. Over-farming and agricultural troubles could have contributed to the demise of the Olmec, as well. The Olmecs flourished for the next 1200 years, spreading throughout southern, western, and central Mexico and present-day Guatemala. 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 to feed hundreds or perhaps thousands of people who lived in that place and could cause famine. Although the Olmec had a writing system of sorts, no Olmec books have survived to modern day. Today, even though the Olmec themselves are long gone, their impact on the world, as one of the six original cradles of civilization, remains intact. Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. It’s a game where the object is to knock a ball through a hole and you can only use your … We know very little about the Olmec - a mysterious culture considered by many as the Mother Civilization of Mesoamerica, that laid the foundation for the Mesoamerican cultural traditions. Because this civilization declined two thousand years before the arrival of the first Europeans into the region, no one is absolutely certain which factors led to its downfall. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-decline-of-the-olmec-civilization-2136291. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. ThoughtCo, Oct. 2, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-decline-of-the-olmec-civilization-2136291. Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica, Tres Zapotes (Mexico) - Olmec Capital City in Veracruz, The Olmec Capital of La Venta - History and Archaeology. some people could focus on other tasks such as pottery, weaving, priests … Their astronomy was also carried on by later groups. The Olmec population declined sharply between 400 and 350 BCE, though it is unclear why. They were great traders and had connections with contemporary cultures all over Mesoamerica. By 400 BC, though, the Olmec civilization was all but abandoned. The stone head sculptures of the Olmec civilization of the Gulf Coast of Mexico (1200 BCE - 400 BCE) are amongst the most mysterious and debated artefacts from the ancient world. The Olmec culture is thought to have ended around 400 B.C. The ancient Olmec religion revolved around supernatural deities, they worshiped the jaguar-gods, crocodile and snake gods. The … Olmec Timeline. This is the currently selected item. Around 400 B.C. Diehl, Richard A. The Olmecs lived near the Gulf of Mexico, in “swampy, lowland river valleys.” Water drains made out of stone, hieroglyphic writings, and a calendar, were a few of their achievements. Archaeologists are still collecting clues that will unravel the mystery of what caused this mighty civilization to go into decline. Other human actions, such as over farming or destroying forests for agriculture could well have played a role as well. "The Decline of the Olmec Civilization." They were also gifted sculptors, carving stunning colossal heads without the use of metal tools. In exchange for goods such as cacao and crocodile skins, they passed along finely crafted artwork of signature Olmec style, that often incorporated highly stylized human faces. A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Of all the lost civilizations of Mesoamerica, that of the Olmec is the oldest and the most mystifying. What were the Olmecs known for? The Olmecs relied on a handful of crops for their basic sustenance, including maize, squash, and sweet potatoes. Human innovation and the environment. The basis of the Olmec economy was the work of the land, using a system called Roza, which consists of modifying the land making it flat, and always near the margins of the land. Practice: Ancient Mesoamerica. The people of Tres Zaptoes did not make monumental art on the scale of the olossal heads or the great Olmec thrones, but they nevertheless were great sculptors who left behind many important works of art. The End of the Olmec Civilization San Lorenzo flourished on a large island in a river from about 1200 to 900 B.C., at which time it went into decline and was replaced in influence by La Venta. The jaguar was a very important figure to the Olmec. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter. In its accomplishments Mesoamerican civilization was a New World counterpart to those of … Even though they had a robust and well-established history of farming, they had also grown dependent on a very specific set of crops. Many of the intellectual accomplishments of the Olmec, such as a writing system and calendar, were eventually adapted and improved by these other cultures. Rather, it evolved into what historians refer to as Epi-Olmec culture. It is not known with clarity what caused the eventual extinction of the Olmec culture. It was played on courts shaped like a capital 'I', and were usually 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, but some were larger than today's football fields. Their capitol city was San Lorenzo, but It changed to La Venta when San Lorenzo was abandoned. With the fall of La Venta came the end of classic Olmec culture. They had their own religion, with a priest class and at least eight identifiable gods. Ancient Americas. Next came the Olmecs, who also settled Mexico. Their… Olmec Life. San Lorenzo flourished on a large island in a river from about 1200 to 900 B.C., at which time it went into decline and was replaced in influence by La Venta. Over 600 courts have been found. (2020, October 2). The Olmec civilization is believed to have been centred around the southern Gulf Coast of Mexico area (today the states of Veracruz and Tabasco) - further south east than the heart of the Aztec empire. The Olmec culture thrived along Mexico's Gulf coast from roughly 1200 to 400 B.C. Not much is known about the political or social structures of the Olmec, but we think that the giant head statues were those of … Some of the earliest Mesoamerican cultures included the Olmecs, the Mayas, and the Aztecs. It thrived along Mexico's Gulf coast from approximately 1200 - 400 B.C. Titled "Olmec Art of Ancient Mexico," the exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of Olmec artifacts, ranging from palm-size jade carvings to a 10-ton, monumental stone head. Minster, Christopher. Although the descendants of the Olmecs still lived in the region, the culture itself vanished. According to their history, the Olmecs were the first people who settled down in the coastal regions of central America, about 1500 years before Christ was born. Olmec art has numerous forms, the most important archaeological findings are the giant heads, but there are also altars, thrones and stele that are believed to narrate important historical events of the ancient Olmecs. Perhaps the descendants of the Olmec live in the jungle. Minster, Christopher. Pre-contact Americas. It's possible that some natural disaster or shift in weather patterns could have disrupted their fine agricultural balance to an unrecoverable extent. Mesoamerican civilization, the complex of indigenous cultures that developed in parts of Mexico and Central America prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th century. Andean and Chavín civilizations. Their religion caught on, as well, with the most widespread deity becoming Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. The Mayas lived in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico today. Some believe that the sun was a part of their worshipping along with the jaguar. What happened as a result of Olmecs success in farming during the early stages of civilization? Eventually, neighboring cultures … They planted many of the same crops that are seen in the region today, such as squash, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Next lesson. As of 400 BC, the city was mostly abandoned, no new pottery or sculptures were created, no new goods were imported or exported, and the height of the Olmec civilization had passed. Minster, Christopher. 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