History: The Olmec people lived during the same time as the Mayans. Noone is exactly sure of their relationship. The Olmec people disappeared around 400 BC. No one knows exactly what happened to them.
Geography: They lived in the lowlands of Central Mexico between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
Economy: The Olmecs were farmers. They used a process called "slash and burn" to clear areas of rainforest to grow their crops. They were also artists, mathematicians and astronomers. They were among the first people to discover and use rubber.
Social Structure: The Olmecs had a large army an an advanced system of trading. The center of the city was the Ziggurat, or the temple of worship. Cities were small, but elite.
Government: Kings and royal families ruled the Olmecs. After death they were buried with food and presents. Large temples were built in the center of the cities and the royal families lived there.
Beliefs and Religion: It was once thought that the Olmecs worshipped only one god. Later this was found to be not true. Ancient sculptures have shown that many gods were worshipped. Their religion even had something called the "world tree" which was like the Garden of Eden.
Advancements and Achievements: The Olmec developed the first hyroglyphic system of writing. This was used by many cultures to come. They were also the first to shape their ceremonial temples like pyramids.
Architecture: The Olmecs were the first to shape their ceremonial temple like pyramids. They developed drainage systems shaped like their gods. They did not build big cities, but each city had a pyramid.
Geography: They lived in the lowlands of Central Mexico between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
Economy: The Olmecs were farmers. They used a process called "slash and burn" to clear areas of rainforest to grow their crops. They were also artists, mathematicians and astronomers. They were among the first people to discover and use rubber.
Social Structure: The Olmecs had a large army an an advanced system of trading. The center of the city was the Ziggurat, or the temple of worship. Cities were small, but elite.
Government: Kings and royal families ruled the Olmecs. After death they were buried with food and presents. Large temples were built in the center of the cities and the royal families lived there.
Beliefs and Religion: It was once thought that the Olmecs worshipped only one god. Later this was found to be not true. Ancient sculptures have shown that many gods were worshipped. Their religion even had something called the "world tree" which was like the Garden of Eden.
Advancements and Achievements: The Olmec developed the first hyroglyphic system of writing. This was used by many cultures to come. They were also the first to shape their ceremonial temples like pyramids.
Architecture: The Olmecs were the first to shape their ceremonial temple like pyramids. They developed drainage systems shaped like their gods. They did not build big cities, but each city had a pyramid.