The Mesoamerican Era

prospered in the Pre-Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE and is considered the forerunner of all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures, like the Aztecs and the Mayans. The Olmec culture flourished along Mexico's gulf coast from 1200 to 400 B.C. Known best today for their carved colossal heads, the Olmecs were an important early Mesoamerican civilization which had influenced later cultures such as the Mayans and the Aztecs. One of the most important archaeological sites associated

Since the early 1400s BCE, people of this era have played one of the earliest known forms of a sport that involves two teams and a rubber ball played on a court. Based on archaeological evidence, Tlachtli (which translates in English to “ball game”) is thought to have been played by the civilizations of Mesoamerica including the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, and Toltec. The game was more than a sport to these people. It was a means of settling conflicts and maintaining social harmony, it was a very important

D. and eventually carried to Toltec Tula by his priest-kings. Eventually, the cult of Quetzalcoatl has expanded across the eastern and southern highlands of Mexico reaching to Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala. Pre-Toltec cultures and associated Mesoamerican tribes believe in the role of Quetzalcoatl in advancing their society. Influences of the cult have gained significant hold in the society of Ancient Olmec society expanding to the general Latin America. Eventually, the intense affinity of the ancient

The Preclassic Maya The founding years of the Mayan civilisation are known as the Preclassic era, stretching from 2000 B.C.E to roughly 250 C.E lasting about 2250 years. The Preclassic era is subdivided into three subperiods, each focused on one or two necessities required for the empire 's growth. The Early period consisted of mainly refining agricultural methods and building foundations, the middle period was a time of rapid population growth as well as the later period, a time for social and religious

(Ramirez, Stearns, Wineburg, 2004) The Olmecs may have predated the Mayans using their calendar. It was then updated and used by many Mesoamerican civilizations. (Newman, 2012) The Olmecs had long-distance trade networks. They had resources to go long-distances to receive expensive and much needed items. (Minster, 2016) The ritual ball game Ulama, was popular game that is still played in

Religious Syncretism and its Consequences in Mayan Society When Spaniards first set foot on Mesoamerican shores in the early sixteenth century, they encountered not the godless mass of natives they believed they found, but a people whose rich spiritual traditions shaped and sustained them for thousands of years. These diverse spiritual practices legitimized nearly every aspect of Mesoamerican daily life, from science and architecture to art and politics (Carmack 295), in many of the same ways

The belief in the afterlife involved with this holiday is very similar to that of the mesoamericans. The aztecs in particular had a month long celebration, very similar to that of Day of the Dead, in which they honored and delivered offerings to the deceased. When the spaniards arrived they did a fair job of popularizing their faith among the mesoamericans. The mesoamericans moved their month long celebration of death to coincide with the catholic holidays of All Saints and All

Steven Hermosillo Professor Duran History 101 23 May 2016 The History and Development of Mesoamerica According to Module 4, “America’s Pre-Columbian populations evolved into highly developed communities which by the time of the European invasion and conquest in the 16th century had engendered some of the world’s most highly evolved civilizations, in both North and South America.” Module 4 states that “Shortly after Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in 1492-1493, other Europeans made their way to

thousands every year when it was played? In Mesoamerica, there was a game that fit that description perfectly. This game was simply called the Ball Game. It is a very simple, yet powerful sport. The game served as a way to not only give the people of Mesoamerican civilizations a hobby, but it was also used to settle conflicts of any size. The ball game was more than a game, it was life or death. Each game had a huge significance whether it be for personal, emotional, or spiritual reasons (Andrea). People

achievements. Although Maya civilization shared many characteristic “with other Mesoamerican civilizations due to the high degree of interaction and cultural diffusion” (Maya civilization, n.d.), it cannot be denied that Maya was the most successful and advanced civilization with various accomplishments in art, astronomy, architecture and writing system. 2.1. Art. It is undeniable that Mayan art during the Classic era (from 250 AD to 900 AD) “is of a high level of aesthetic and artisanal sophistication”