The%20olmecs%20and%20chavin%20by%20jackie%20ramirez

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The olmecs and chavin by jackie ramirez
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The olmecs

• Were an awesome civilization in 1200 - 400 BCE

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• exploiting the fertile and well-watered coastal
  areas of the Gulf of Mexico to grow such crops as
  corn and beans
• gathered the plentiful local supply of plant
  food, palm nuts and sea-life, including turtles
  and clams.

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• By c. 1200 BCE significant urban centres
  developed at San Lorenzo (the earliest), La
  Venta, Laguna de los Cerros, Tres Zapotes and Las
  Limas.In La Venta the first mesoamerican pyramid
  was constructed. It was very well planed, for
  example, at La Venta the buildings are placed
  symmetrically along a north-south axis with four
  giant heads facing outwards,as though they were
  gardians. With a huge ceremonial step pyramid, a
  plaza once lined with 2 metre high basalt
  columns, and two smaller pyramids La Venta
  inspired many other Mesoamerican cultures.

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• Typical Olmec trade goods included obsidian,
  jade, serpentine, mica, rubber,pottery, feathers
  and polished mirrors of ilmenite and magnetite

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• Olmec gods stood for things such as the rain, the
  earth, and maize.not much is known about them,
  not even their names.this is why identifiable
  gods in olmec art are refered to with numbers
  instead of names.The Olmecs gave special
  significance to the animals present in their
  environment, they thought divine beings and
  powerful rulers could transform themselves at
  will into fearsome creatures. The Olmecs would
  create many supreme deites such as the
  were-jaguar. they worshipped a sky-dragon
  believed four dwarves held up the sky, possibly
  representing the four cardinal directions which,
  along with other Olmec gods, became so important
  in later Mesoamerican religions.

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• Olmecs are known for their huge stone heads which
  may be considered portraits of actual rulers. The
  heads can be 8 tons in weight and 3 m high. The
  ruler often wears a protective helmet and
  sometimes show the subject with jaguar paws
  hanging over the forehead, posssibly showing the
  pelt worn was a symbol of political and religious
  power.
• Olmecs also left a permenent record found in rock
  carvings and paintings. Often made around cave
  entrances they most typically depict seated
  rulers.
• Jade and ceramic were other popular materials for
  sculpture. A very important jade carving is the
  Kunz Axe, it shows a were-jaguar creature.
  Animals were a popular subject. the Olmecs often
  buried their sculptures, even larger pieces,
  perhaps in a ritual act of memory

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Los chavin!

• 900 250 BCE
• People on the coast would trade a lot of things
  like fish, cute shells for corn, and shellfish
• They were really cool with their extensive
  irrigation and what not. Plus they used llamas
  for their wool and to help transport goods.

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• They had a lot of temples in pyramid to honor
  there gods and rulers
• They shared many religious belifes with the
  olmecs
• Priest would control religious life

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• their social status depended on the amounts of
  gold crowns, breastplates, quality textiles, and
  jewelry they had
• we dont understand their writing at the moment
  ?

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creditsssss

• http//www.ancient.eu.com/Olmec_Civilization/