Olmec's Influence On The Americans

Misra (2017) perpetuates his nationalistic views and provides little literary evidence to support the parallels between Olmec statues and Hindu-Buddhist culture. Firstly, yoga had spread throughout Asia during the decline of the Olmec civilization. Moreover, Buddhism arrived in China long after the collapse of the Olmecs. Secondly, Misra’s association with an earlier dynasty which likely never existed brings further doubt to his claims. The closest representation of the supposed Xia dynasty, the Erlitou, lived in central Asia without access to the sea and were capable of forging bronze, unlike the Olmec. Lastly, archaeologists have found significant evidence of pre-Olmec artifacts indicating a long history of development in the region rather than a sudden appearance that migration would have caused, had it occurred. Altogether, Misra’s claim of Olmec yogis who migrated from China is highly unlikely. Needless to say, it is more likely that the development of the first great Mesoamerican civilization was purely Mesoamerican, and without influence from Asian

The Olmecs were farmers, traders, artists… innovators. The Olmec culture first emerged in the Isthmus region of Tehuantepec. The site of San Lorenzo, which sits on the Coatzacoalcos River, sheds the most light on this mysterious culture. During this time period, The Initail Formative, food surplus sparked an increase in population and career specialization. With the increase of specialization and sedentism came the environment for complex culture.

This explains why there are sculptured scenes of people emerging from caves. This cosmogony does not pertain only to the Olmec but also to Teotihuacan and “later pan-Mesoamerican” (Diehli, 134). But it is not limited to just caves scholars have suggested that pyramids and mountains are symbols associated with birth, origins, and celestial realms. In Teotihuacan we see caves, pyramids, and mountains all of which have a kind of god or goddess illustrating birth and origins. Another similarity found between the Olmec and Teotihuacan were the rituals although each had a distinct form of religion there were noticeable rituals that were common between the two. Two common rituals found between the two were sacrifices and bloodletting. Reilly explains that blood “was a magical substance opening the portal between the natural and supernatural cosmic

The Native Americans once thrived on the rich land of the Americas, and they built a long-lasting civilization with the help of nature, gods, and organized roles within the tribes. However, the thriving population plummeted after their encounter with diseases and forced labor brought upon them by the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores. Although at first the conquistadores mistreatment of Native Americans seem shallow and unethical, their conquest of the Americas only partially reflects the claims of the English Black Legends..

Upon Columbus’s arrival, approximately 30 million Native Americans populated North America. Since then, 90 to 95% have been wiped out. Throughout the 1700’s, a number of wars broke out between Native Americans and whites. A population of 200 million people inhabiting the Americas found themselves subject to the will of foreigners who happened to have relatively lighter skin tones than them. The barbaric subjugation of indigenous peoples by whites is illustrative of the impact

Beginning hundreds of years ago, Native Americans experienced an invasion. Perpetrated first by European explorers, then conquerors, and, finally, colonists, the first people to inhabit the Americas experienced a devastation of their land, culture, and dignity from people who hungered for their land and resources. Despite these tribulations, the Native American identity could never truly be destroyed. The novels Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown explore this truth by recounting the oppression of Native Americans and illustrating the incoming of the white man through the indigenous

For more than 300 years, since the days of Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Government, an attempt of genocide of the Native American Indian has existed. From mass brutal murders and destruction by Spanish and American armies, to self-annihilation through suicide, homicide, and alcohol induced deaths brought about because of failed internal colonialism and white racial framing. Early Explores used Indigenous inhabitants upon first arriving to the America’s to survive the New World and once they adapted, internal colonialism began with attempts to convert the Indians to Christianity, repressing their values and way of life, forcing them into slavery, and nearly exterminating an entire culture from existence.

The Anglo considered Indians “animals” (Almaguer 113). When Anglos encountered Indians, just a few “recognized” them as human beings” because of the difference in cultures (Almaguer 108). The first and pivotal thing the Anglos noticed about the Indians was the different color of skin. Indians “sported tattooed bodies and scarred faces and wore little more than animal skins and grass shirts,” which was seen as uncivilized (Almaguer 107). Their skin color was their main disadvantage. Indians were referred to as “‘chocolate brown,’ ‘dark mahogany,’ or simply as ‘very dark’ or ‘black’” (Almaguer 112). The color of their skin made them appear dirty. Because the Indians were not white, they were not considered human.

The Spanish were said to have unleashed unspeakable cruelty on the Indians, which spawned the term “The Black Legend”. The Black Legend was a portrayal of the Spaniards that accused them of

The Olmec were mesoamerica's first civilization, who became advanced and prospered. The Olmec lived along the gulf of Mexico, in San Lorenzo and La Venta; with a population of 10 thousand people. Due to their environmental factors they became sedentary, meaning they stayed in one location and depended on agriculture to obtain their food. The Olmec farmed maíz ( corn), squash and beans; all which provided them with the necessary nutrients

Olmec made mounds out of soil that replicated mountains and volcanoes. They would also paint on cave walls, carved out sculptures in the material called jade. These jade sculptures where used for ceremonial purposes. These Olmec didn’t use jade for carving utensils, instead they used stone to make drills to use for carvings. This region also made pyramids that are aligned with the north and south axis. These people were also known to paint human and animal figures and postures in many

Artifacts serve as a road map of the past, subsequently they offer data and a detailed accounts of important historical elements. Civilizations leave behind different kinds of evidence proving their existence and such evidence lead historians to the Olmec civilization. They suddenly appeared upon the world stage and successfully existed for hundreds of years, moreover this was confirmed with the discovery of ancient artifacts and it was later discovered to be the first civilization in the Americas. The Olmecs have impacted the Americas with their artistic innovations and these innovations can be observed in their architectural structures, writings, and stone monuments.

The figures were built by the ancient Olmecs of Mexico, known as the Xi People. The term "Olmec" was first used by archaeologists since the giant stone heads were found in a part of Mexico with a large number of rubber trees. The Maya word for rubber was "olli,” and so the name "Olmec," was used to label the people represented in the faces of the stone heads and found on hundreds of terracotta figurines throughout the region (Barton). Olmec heads can measure up to nine feet and four inches in height and weigh several tons. The Olmec figures strongly resemble Africans from the Ghana area which has led historians to believe that Africans founded or influenced the Olmec

The Toltec were mostly known for their metalwork and pottery. The Aztecs even would call their metalwork ‘Toltec’. They were nature masters, they would go to hunt and come back with crops and cotton. They would also mine lots of glasslike volcanic rocks from Pachuca.The Olmec and the Toltec were both mainly known for the things they do best and both of them would kinda of do pottery.

The large Olmec heads distinctive artistic creations. They were all sculpted from basalt rock and it is believed that they were made to resemble rulers. They built these large human heads to showcase the wealth and beauty that lay within the ceremonial