The three main Indian empires in Mesoamerica were the Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec. These intriguing cultures had three very different religions and origins, but there were some similarities. In all three cases, they built their cities mainly as religious centers, and had some similar forms of worship. All of their societies revolved around their separate religions. The Olmecs are the earliest known Mesoamerican civilization. Around 1200 B.C. the Olmecs originated as a primitive people living and farming on the shores of Mexico (Stanton 91). Soon, however, they began to build cities such as San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Monte Alban. These “cities” were religious centers where people gathered to worship, and were not populated (Stanton 91). The first of these centers, San Lorenzo, was built c. 1150 B.C., on a flat topped, man-made mountain. It was mysteriously abandoned 200 years later (Stanton 92-93). La Venta, built between 1000 and 600 B.C., sat on an island in a swamp (Stanton 93). Later, around 500 B.C., Monte Alban, which was used as a religious center even after the Olmecs faded, was built on an immense mountain (Stanton 93). The cities were made up of temples and plazas, and decorated by monumental stone heads, which weighed up to 50 tons (Stanton 93)! These heads probably represented their early kings and had distinct helmets (Kingfisher 32). It is incredible how the Olmec people transported the stone from the distant mountains to La Venta, near the shore, without the aid of work animals or carts. It appears that the Olmecs did this grueling work for their gods willingly, as there is no evidence of forced labor (Stanton 93). The Olmecs probably worshipped the jaguar, as it appears so often in their artwork. There are also many e... ... middle of paper ... ... (Schweikart 5-6). The Aztecs’ greed for sacrificial hostages turned these Indian neighbors against them (Kingfisher 196-197). The Aztecs were defeated, partially because they had been weakened by smallpox, but also because the Spanish fought together as a single force, while Aztecs fought as individuals (Schweikart 6-7). These three civilizations were focused on their religions, causing some similarities. They all built cities as religious centers. Both the Mayas and the Aztecs worshipped their gods through human sacrifice. The Olmecs were so dedicated to their gods that they transported 50 ton boulders from the mountains to the shore. For the Mayas, even their games were related to their religion. The Aztec society was constantly at war for the sole purpose of making sacrifices to their many gods. Religion dominated the cultures of these Mesoamerican empires.
The ancient Aztecs had many gods that were associated with lots of different things that were important to their culture and their survival. They also held lots of ceremonies to celebrate and appease the gods, who were temperamental. If you displeased the gods they would make you suffer. Alot of their ceremonies involved sacrifice, they were a gory civilization. A few of their more major gods were: Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, Ometecuhtli/Omecihuatl, and a few more minor gods like Tlaloc. (The beginning story and god description paragraphs)
The Spanish defeat of the Aztecs has been extensively criticized for many years. Religion was a motive for discovery, enabled the Spanish to enter the heart of the empire, and was used as justification for torture of the natives. The centrality of religion as a force in Spanish conquest is undeniable. Virtually all of Aztec culture was destroyed and the Spanish victory has had lasting effects for both natives and Europeans up to and including the present-day.
Present day Mexico finds itself in a state of shambles. All one ever hears on the news is about how all the corruption and violence has thrust Mexico into a state of chaos. Being of Mexican descent and having grandparents that still live in Mexico it is tough to see and hear that Mexico is barely a step above of being a third world country. What some people might forget is that present day Mexico was once home to one of the Americas greatest civilization. When the Aztec empire was at its peak their territory stretched from what today is Central Mexico to Southern Mexico. It is important to go back and look at what made the Aztec empire one of the worlds greatest. The Aztec Empire flourished because its people came together in aspects of everyday life.
Their beliefs consisted of gods, after-life, sacrifices and rituals. Because of the age of this particular civilization not a lot of evidence has been found about their religion and other elements. Yet, enough evidence has been found to be able to say that the Olmec’s were one of the civilizations that had its own religion. Most evidence of Gods in the Olmec tribe has been lost. Yet there have been enough sculptures and some art to be able to recognize at least 8 gods, they are known as; the Olmec Dragon (represents the Earth), the Bird Monster (represents the agriculture, skies, ruler ship and sun), the Fish Monster (represents the underworld), the Banded-eye God (it is not exactly known to why it was important but it can be found throughout a lot of art pieces from the Olmec’s), the Maize God (The corn god, represented farming), the Water God (represented water, lakes and rivers), the Were-Jaguar and the Feathered Serpent.
he Aztecs believed in over one thousand gods. Due to geographic distances between tribes and cities, there were often distinctive perceptions of the one god. The Aztec gods ultimately composed a distinct amount and further shaped the Aztec culture. For each deity there was a partnered ritual, which would give a desired achievement, such as nourishing life of agriculture, or a plentiful harvest of crops for the season. These gods were further divided into different sub-categories and groups. Each group was known to be culpable for one aspect of human life, such as; the heavens, rain, fertility, farming, war and sacrifice. Although, the Aztecs had multiple agricultural gods as the Aztec culture held a significant portion of farming.The Aztecs believed that their believer’s fate and destiny depended on the will of these gods.
The Aztecs were a very advanced race. A group called “Nahuatl” people moved to northern Mexico. This group built the twin cities of Tenochtitlan and Tlatclolco in the early 1500’s. At the time this empire was not termed “Aztec”, it was termed “Mexica.” The religion of the Mexicas gave them advantages over other groups in Central Mexico. The Mexicas conquered an abundance of cities in a short period of time. War came to be a way to honor the gods and acquire wealth. The Mexicas worshipped many gods and goddesses for different things. The temples, shrines, and altars were kept very clean due to the Mexicas thinking dirt was lead to disorder. The Mexica religion required constant warfare for two reasons; to meet the gods needs for human sacrifice, and to acquire warriors for the next phase of expansion.
The Olmec peoples were the first known civilization to take root in Mesoamerica around 1200 B.C., and for that reason they are called Mesoamerica’s “mother culture.” They settled on the hot, humid, and jungle-covered Gulf Coast. This region had certain advantages that made it an appealing settlement site for the Olmecs. There were deposits of salt, tar, and clay for
They based their gods off of nature and only a few are known of today. Not much is known about them, but we do know that some of the main ones highlighted rain, earth, maize, and the most famous, a jaguar spirit. Although we do not know the names of these gods and possibly godesses, it is believed that they were represented by animals that were at the top of the food chain to represent power. This may also mean that the Olmec leaders might have taken on the persona of the animal spirits to display their power. Throughout many neighboring civilizations, similar gods and concepts are found in them. Another aspect that has been found in other cultures, is the Olmecs symbols for god's. One example of this is that the worshiped and believed in four dwarves that held up the sky. The dwarves that are believed to possibly represent the four cardinal directions, and many other Olmec gods were used in other Mesoamerican cultures and religions.It is also believed that the Olmecs also included human sacrifice in their religion which is later seen in the Aztec and Mayan religous culture. Other input to the Mayan and Aztec religion from the Olmec, are the use of the jaguar, many gods, and temple mounds. This integration of religious gods into other cultures, created blended and influenced cultures throughout
They were believed to be centered on the Southern Gulf coast of Mexico, which are today the states of Veracruz and Tabasco. The earliest Olmec ceremonial center at San Loremzo, was built at the top of a large barrier, three quarters of a mile long, with a stone drainage system running right through the mound. Another center, at La Venta, was built on high ground between rivers. The La Venta buildings are placed symmetrically along a north-south axis with four colossal heads facing outwards at key points, seemingly acting as guardians to the complex. It is at the south end of a large, open plaza aligned by long, low earth mounds. The Great Pyramid is the most well-known trait that’s on an earth mound and rises to a height of 100 feet. “A huge ceremonial step pyramid (now a shapeless mound), sunken plaza once lined with 2 meters high basalt columns, and two smaller pyramids/mounds provide features that would be copied time and again at the major sites of later Mesoamerican cultures with whom equal attention was paid to the precise alignment of buildings. La Venta, as with San Lorenzo, suffered systematic and deliberate destruction of its monuments sometime between 400 and 300 BCE.”
The Olmec’s religion had bizarre beliefs and ways of worshipping gods. The Jaguar was an ancestor and a god. They supposedly had influence on good in bad the world. Rain ceremonies were believed as a way to control weather. When they needed it most, they would smoke to summon rain. When the Olmec’s tribe master died, they would put them in the middle of a burial mound, which can be found in one of the four corners of the exhibit. When he was put in, they would toss in jade jewelry with the body. The Olmec really stood out from the other tribes because they worshipped a half man, half jaguar, stone heads, and other things.
What is the Olmec civilization? The Olmec civilization is one of the earliest civilizations and lasted from 1500 B.C. to 600 A.D. Many other civilizations were influenced by the Olmec, so historians called them the "mother culture" of the Americas. Their most ancient city scientists have found was San Lorenzo, which is located near a river. The reason they were located near a river is that they used it to travel between cities and use it for their very strong trade system.
Taube, Karl. “The major Gods of Ancient Yucatan.” Studies in Pre-Columbian Art & Archaeology 32 (1992): 11-27. Print.
The Olmec built large temples out of stone. One of these temples was one of the first pyramid. These temples were used for prayer, sacrifice, and other religious practices. This was included because religion was a great part of the Olmec civilization. Another great building marvel of the Olmec are their large 40 ton heads of of basalt. None of them are alike and they are crafted with great detail. It is not known exactly why they build these heads, but it is believed that these are heads of the Olmec Elites. This detail was included because the heads are a signature structure of the Olmec civilization. Not only were the Olmec able to make these huge marvels, they were also great artists. They
Olmec of Mexico – The Olmec civilization prospered in Pre-Classical Mesoamerica from and is generally considered the precursor of all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs. Centered in the Gulf of Mexico their influences and trade stretched as far as Nicaragua. Sacred complexes, massive stone sculpture, ball games, as well as animal gods were features of Olmec culture which would be passed on to all those who followed the Mesoamerican civilization.
Architecture within Mesoamerica is some of the most well preserved breathtaking works of art to date. Many of the pyramids in Mesoamerican culture were generally earth mounds with stone designed in stepped form that ascended from the bottom base (being the largest) into a smaller platform or temple. The small platforms / temples were very sacred being that most of the time it was where only those belonging to a privileged community were allowed to set foot. Each individual structure played very important roles during its time serving as symbolic works of art within the culture being that many served as places of ritual worship, sacrifice, observatories and much more.