Did you know that Mexico is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, as it was home to the Olmec civilization, which dates back to 1200 BC?
The Olmecs influenced various Mesoamerican cultures in modern-day Mexico and Central America, determining everything from religious practices to urban settlement patterns, architectural styles, and trade routes.
Artifacts found at Olmec sites place the culture among the oldest cradles of civilizations, along with cultures in Iraq, Egypt, India, China and Peru.
Native culture of Central America
Olmec culture, known as the “Mother Culture,” laid the early foundations that influenced later cultures in Mesoamerica. They appeared during the Preclassic Mesoamerican period (2500 BC to 200 AD) in what is today southeastern Veracruz and western Tabasco in the Gulf of Mexico.
Because it is not known how this civilization referred to itself, archaeologists gave the name “Olmec” based on the presence of rubber in the areas where this civilization flourished. It is derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word “olmicatl”, which means “inhabitant of the rubber country.”
The cultural characteristics and artistic style of the Olmecs extended far beyond the Gulf region, spreading from the Mexican states of Morelos to Guerrero and Chiapas to the Pacific coast of Guatemala and Costa Rica. This prevailing influence can be attributed to the extensive trade network established during that period.
Contributions of the Olmecs
art: The Olmecs are famous for their massive basalt heads, measuring 8 to 9 feet tall and weighing 20-40 tons. These unique Olmec monoliths have striking facial features and appear to be wearing helmets.
Other monumental sculptures include altars, stelae (straight panels), and statues.
Sports: As the oldest recorded culture in the Americas, experts believe that the Olmec invented the game of ball or Poke ta poka ceremonial team sport practiced by Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Mayans and Mexico.
Writing and science: The Olmecs are also credited with creating writing and scripts in the Americas, as well as developing calendars, which later influenced cultures such as the Maya and Nahua. Scholars also believe that the Olmecs were the first Mesoamerican people to understand the concept of zero.
religion: The Olmecs introduced the jaguar cult found in all Mesoamerican cultures.
Urbanism: The Olmecs built what archaeologists consider to be the first planned city in pre-Hispanic Mexico: La Venta in Tabasco. In addition to its architectural achievements, famous Olmec heads have been discovered in the city.
In addition, they are credited with discovering the first canal drainage system in the Americas.
La Venta's massive earthen architecture, magnificent sculpture collection, jade artifacts, and monumental displays are unique in the pre-Hispanic world.
Other important Olmec archaeological sites include San Lorenzo (the oldest Olmec city) and Tres Zapotes (the last Olmec city) in Veracruz.
Pre-Columbian cultures were influenced by the Olmecs
Despite the Olmecs' intellectual and cultural achievements, their culture declined significantly between 400 and 350 BC for unknown reasons. However, other cultures emerged after the Olmecs, further enriching Mexico's historical wealth.
Below is a timeline of the most important pre-Columbian civilizations that followed the Olmec in today's Mexico.
Zapotec (200 BC – 500 BC)
The Zapotecs, known in their language as Ben Za (“People of the Clouds”), are the oldest group in the Oaxaca region. Their main city was Monte Alban, now one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.
Maya (400 BC – 200 AD)
This is one of the most famous cultures in Central America. It developed over an approximate area of 325,000 square kilometers, covering parts of Chiapas, Tabasco, the Yucatán Peninsula, and part of Central America.
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World is the Maya archaeological site of Chichen Itza.
Teotihuacan (100 BC – 600 AD)
The Teotihuacan culture flourished in the Teotihuacan Valley, central Mexico. Their city of Teotihuacan is considered one of the most complex cities of the ancient world. This culture is known for controlling deposits of obsidian, the most expensive commodity at the time in Mesoamerica.
Toltecas (800 AD – 1200 AD)
The Toltecs, known as the “Master Builders” of Mesoamerica, took advantage of the decline of Teotihuacan to consolidate their power. Their influence spread throughout the central plateau in what are today Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Ciudad de Mexico, the Mexican state of Morelos, and Puebla.
Mexico (1345 – 1521)
After a group of Mexicas (also referred to as Aztecs) left the mythical region of Aztlan and settled in Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City), the Empire of Mexico was established. This civilization is the most widely documented in all of Mesoamerica and was the largest empire of its time.
The fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521 led to the fall of all other pre-Columbian civilizations to the Spanish Crown. From the ruins emerged the new capital of the colony of New Spain, marking the end of a long line of Mesoamerican civilizations that began with the mother culture of them all: the Olmecs.
Gabriela Solis A Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
