There were two great civilizations in ancient Mexico, the Olmec and the Aztec. The Olmec civilization was in its glory period from 1200 BC to 400 BC, while the Aztec civilization came to prominence in the 14th century AD.
Although these two civilizations are separated by hundreds of years, both have left a profound impact on Mexico.
The Olmec and Aztec civilizations are indispensable gems of Mexico's history, located in the tropics and vast territories of present-day Gulf Coast, including present-day Mexico City.
The Olmecs are known for their high skills in agriculture, architecture, carving, pottery making, etc., and their architecture and sculpture are characterized by huge heads, which embody unique aesthetic values.
The Aztec society and culture were equally complex and unique, as were their myths and religious beliefs. They have made very high achievements in the fields of architecture, handicraft making, astronomy, agriculture, etc., and have had a profound impact on later civilizations.
The origins of the Olmec civilization are closely linked to natural disasters along the Gulf Coast, and around 1200 AD, the region experienced a series of ** and volcanic eruptions, which may have forced local people to migrate inland in search of a safer place to live, contributing to the rise of the Olmec civilization.
The Olmec civilization reached its peak between 900 and 400 BC and they achieved extraordinary achievements in architecture, sculpture, pottery making, agriculture, and more, with San Rodríguez and Santa Tapápáx being their main cities.
However, the Olmec civilization did not flourish for long, and around 400 BC, the Gulf Coast experienced another massive volcanic eruption, which may have contributed to the demise of the Olmec civilization.
At the same time, factors such as social and political upheaval, foreign invasions, and other factors may have contributed to the decline of the Olmec civilization. Still, the achievements of the Olmec civilization between 900 BC and 400 BC are still amazing.
They built many breathtaking buildings, the most famous of which is the "Giant's Head" of San Rodríguez, which is 3 meters high, weighs 40 tons, and is carved out of huge stones.
In addition, the Olmecs built many temples and palaces, some of which had elaborate reliefs and frescoes on the walls. Both the Olmec and Aztec civilizations are treasures of Mexican history and culture, and their technological and cultural achievements have had a profound impact on later civilizations.
In the fields of art, agriculture, and commerce, the Olmec civilization displayed remarkable talent. Their sculptures, pottery, and jewelry are highly skilled, and many of their works have mystical and supernatural significance.
The pottery making technology is also very developed, the shape and decoration are exquisite, and the practical value is also very high. In addition, they were skilled in making jewelry, which was one of the highest in the Mexican region at the time.
Using advanced agricultural techniques, the Olmecs have cultivated large tracts of land, built irrigation systems, cultivated crops such as corn, beans, pumpkins, peppers, and raised fish and poultry, providing them with sufficient food and commodities for their lives.
The Olmec civilization also carried out a wide range of activities, exchanging goods such as feathers, animal skins, timber, and salt with its partners in the surrounding area and from afar.
Their ** network was one of the largest in the Mexican region at the time, and made an important contribution to the prosperity and development of civilization. However, the Olmec civilization gradually declined between 400 BC and 200 AD.
During this period, the population and size of the city decreased, and the flourishing of cultural and artistic activities gradually waned. Although the reasons are unknown, researchers have suggested that there may have been factors such as natural disasters, wars and conflicts, and social and political unrest that contributed to the decline of the Olmec civilization.
In addition to this, the decline of the Olmec civilization is also associated with the rise of other civilizations. With the rise of civilizations such as the Mayan civilization and the Toltec civilization, the Olmec civilization was gradually replaced in its position and influence.
The reasons for the decline of the Olmec civilization are complex and varied, and the jury is still inconclusive. But in any case, the end of the Olmec civilization marked the end of a great civilization.
The Olmec are an important branch of indigenous Mexican culture, with unique customs and styles in areas such as religion, art, architecture, and agriculture. Let's take a closer look: The Olmecs believe in polytheism and worship natural forces such as water, land, and jade.
They believe that all kinds of natural phenomena and substances have souls and need to be respected and worshipped. In order to ensure the harmonious functioning of the forces of nature, the Olmecs held rituals in public places, using fire and incense to worship the gods.
The Olmecs are known for their unique artistic style, which is mainly reflected in sculpture and ceramic making. They created a large number of stone statues and ceramics with themes of mythology and the forces of nature.
The Olmec style of sculpture is characterized by muscularity, a plump face, thick lips, and oval eyes. Their ceramics depict the forces of nature and scenes of human life.
The Olmecs built a large number of buildings in cities and villages, including temples, palaces, public squares, and residences, among others. These buildings are usually built with natural materials such as stone, earth, and tree branches, and are both grand and conspicuously decorative and symbolic.
The Olmecs made their living mainly from agricultural production, and they cultivated crops such as corn, beans, peppers, and cotton. To meet the needs of agricultural production, they also use irrigation systems to collect and distribute water resources.
In addition, the Olmecs also kept animals such as turkeys, deer, and wild boar. Overall, the diversity and uniqueness of Olmec cultural practices reflect their strong connection to nature and the environment.
These traditions and customs have had an important impact on the development and formation of indigenous culture in Mexico. Both the Olmec and Maya are representatives of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, and they have deep historical and cultural ties.
Next, we will detail the connection between the Olmec and the Maya. Between 500 and 400 BC, the Olmec civilization flourished along the Gulf Coast.
During this period, the Olmec civilization had a profound influence on the development of other ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, especially the Mayan civilization.
Therefore, the Olmec civilization was not only an important part of the ancient Mesoamerican civilization, but also an important heritage of human civilization.
Between the Olmec and Mayan civilizations, there was a wide range of ** and cultural exchanges. The Olmecs spread their jade, pottery, and *** to the territory of the Mayans; The Maya, on the other hand, spread their jade, feathers, and spices to the territory of the Olmecs through **.
Such exchanges had a profound impact on the Olmec civilization, mainly in religion, art and architecture. The Olmec cult of the sun god deeply influenced the religion and mythology of the Mayans.
The Olmec artistic and architectural styles were also borrowed and developed by the Maya. The Maya architecture, with elements such as Olmec columns, arches, and frescoes, developed a unique style.
In addition to this, there are some similarities between the Olmec and Mayan civilizations in terms of social organization. They all had similar political and social structures, such as political organization with the aristocracy at its core, the formation of city-states, good agricultural production, and complex commercial networks.
However, with the development of the Olmec civilization, the population increased dramatically, and the urban population density was extremely high, which led to an increase in social problems such as the uneven distribution of resources, the intensification of social contradictions and conflicts, and the spread of diseases, which ultimately weakened the social organization and political stability of the Olmec civilization.
During its prosperity, the Olmec civilization saw the emergence of several city-states and political entities, which led to internal contradictions and instability, which was also an important reason for the eventual decline of the Olmec civilization.
In addition to this, the decline of the Olmec was affected by external aggression. According to historical records and archaeological evidence, the Olmec, in its late period, was invaded by external invasions from other Mesoamerican civilizations.
These invaders plundered the Olmec's wealth and resources, further weakening its political and economic power. In addition, foreign invaders brought with them new diseases and cultures that had a profound impact on Olmec society.
Between 400 BC and 200 BC, the Olmec civilization gradually declined and collapsed, and although their cultural and technological achievements had an important impact on later Mesoamerican civilizations, their civilizations completely disappeared and became part of history.