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Essay on native civilization of mesoamerica aztecs olmec
An example of the enduring impact of the olmec on mesoamerican life is
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This Olmec stone mask, from sometime between 900 – 400 B.C. was most likely worn around the neck as a pendant (due to its small size) or in a headdress, and was thought to give the wearer a new identity, perhaps that of an ancestor or god. The mask is carved out of a dark green stone called serpentinite and there are two Olmec glyphs (picture signs) on either side of the mouth. 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
A farmer in the late 19th century, upon plowing his land near Carthage, Alabama, discovered an object buried in the earth. From the soil, he removed a large stone disk, polished and flawlessly round. The disk was about 12 inches in diameter with small-notched edges. One side displayed incised globular lines and the flip side was “a strange engraving showing an open hand with what looked like an eye peering from it. Encircling the hand-and-eye image were two entwined rattlesnakes with horns and long tongues.” The farmer had previously found tools pieces of pottery, but he had never seen an object such as this (Blitz 2008:1).
The mask is part of the ceremony known as "the Dance of the Goats” or La Danza de los Chivos. The mask on masksoftheworld.com is from Chilpancingo, State of Guerrero, Mexico. However, the traditional Dance of the Goats began in Zitlala, State of Guerrero, Mexico. The villagers created the dance after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. After the war, an epidemic took place that eliminated almost all livestock in the area. Even with the epidemic, the people were able to complete the construction of their primary church, but afterwards were left with nothing. They decided to approach the patron saint of the village, St. Nicholas to express their concerns and worries. Once they were before him, they dressed and danced as goats. Afterwards, the villagers believed that Saint Nicholas had performed a miracle. From then on, they perform the ceremony every year on the day of St. Nicholas on September 10th. The dance represents the tradition of rural life that portrays peasant life and the daily struggle to keep the heritage of peasant families alive. The idea is to capture daily life through art. The purpose of the mask used in this dance is to transform the dancers into the character of a goat.
The Olmec had various jobs and roles. Some of the simplest but most important jobs for the Olmec were farming, raising animals, and fishing. This was how the Olmec got the food for their community. You can see these jobs along the river, on the farm, and at the animal farm. Some of the other jobs for the Olmec were making pottery, making religious sculptures, and other various items. These jobs helped the other parts of the community focus on the jobs they needed to do. You can see these jobs in the sculpting area on the corner of the town. The hardest job for the Olmec was the religious and government leader. They were in charge of religious ceremonies, and making decisions for the community. This person can be seen on the top of the temple
The African mask tattoo represents the egwugwu, or the nine masked Umuofia elders. They are seen as ancestral gods and are judges in the community. “And when, as on that day, nine of the greatest masked spirits in the clan came out together it was a terrifying spectacle”. They
The Olmec civilization: Starting from 1400 B.C to an abrupt end to 300 B.C. Many mysteries lie in the Olmec civilization and seem to never be recovered. But, there is a small portion of evidence supporting the existence of a civilization. The history of the civilization this is really broken up. They lived in the tropical lowlands in Mexico known today as Veracruz and Tabasco. They were known as “the rubber people” because they were known for their discovery on natural rubber. They started out like most civilizations: mostly hunting and the only thing they farmed was corn, beans and squash. Later on, they cultivate many more plants. The time of the Olmecs will be divided into four different ages: The Pre-Olmec, the Initial Olmec, the Intermediate Olmec, and the Terminal Olmec. All of which have their unique achievements and will describe their tradition.
Traditionally, Chinese face masks were used in folk art performances before the Song Dynasty, which eventually transform into a facial paint masks in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. During the Qing Dynasty the arrival of European culture and the opera provided a way to merge Chinese and European culture in the use of painted folk art facial masks. The meaning of the mask focuses on the heart and soul of the mythological or fictional character being represented on the stage. In this manner, the design and color of the mask imbues a powerful sense of emotive and symbolic meaning for the audience to observe in the actions of the performers. Certainly, the “heart and soul” of painted facial mask defines the foundation of Chinese folk art culture to project a profound sense of drama in the Beijing Opera medium. In essence, these are the important aspects of the meaning of the Beijing Opera painted facial mask, which define the powerful emotive and cultural transmission of folk art into the modern setting of the European-styled
Many items from neighboring regions were traded by the Olmec. Jade, an extremely sought after stone, “whose blue green color may have been associated with lifeforce” (Evans 2004:131). Obsidian from Otumba, Guadalupe Victoria, and El Chayal were also traded to the Olmec people. Obsidian was used to make knives, pottery and even a “grating device used to process manioc” (Evans 2004:135). Raw materials like basalt and rubber were also traded in the region.
Meso-american civilizations were advanced prior to European contact in ways such as adapting to their geography. One example includes the Incas terrace farming. The purpose for this method is to collect rainwater because the Incas lived in mountainous regions such as the Andes Mountains. Terrace farming is when there are ridges cut into a mountain that resemble steps. It was a type of irrigation system that helped grow crops as well. Another example of how these early civilizations adapted to their environment is the Aztecs way of expanding land. When the Aztecs had run out of space to plant crops, they created artificial islands called chinampas, or Aztec gardens. Chinampas are large islands that are made up of matted weds, covered with mud, brought up from the lake floor, and then anchored to the bottom of the lake by growing weeds. Their purpose was to create more useable space for planting crops. The Mayans adapted to their environment through their slash and burn technique, terrace farming, and raised field farming. The Mayans carried out this technique by cutting down and burning trees, but this method exhausted the soil within two to three years. However, adapting to geography isn’t the only thing the meso-american civilizations were adv...
One can tell the object is a mask because of the prominent facial features, holes for the eyes and mouth, and the nose protrudes. Another indicator is the fabric tie used to fasten the mask to one’s head. Beading makes up the face. The backside is animal pelts, and outlining the face are feathers. This object was most likely sewn together. Vibrancy and texture are added through an assortment of materials. The intricate beadwork shows the peace’s importance. Its composition is symmetrical with a closed silhouette. The animal pelts and feathers bring the eye down and into the face. Diverse designs of triangles, zigzags, lines, stripes, and even circles also bring emphasis to the face. T...
The proximity of the Mesoamerican people to each other in the region led to a high degree of cultural interaction between each other. The consistent interaction between Mesoamerican civilizations within the region created a cultural diffusion that allowed Mesoamericans to
Fagan, Brian M. (2001) "Mesoamerican Civilizations." The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World: Unlocking the Secrets of past Civilizations. New York: Thames & Hudson, 491-509.
The Olmec daily practices helped them live longer and stay healthy. The Olmec had many tactics to grow food every day one of them was the slash-and-burn. Without the slash-and-burn the Olmec would have died because without food they would not survive. On the left wall in the middle. Rivers were also really important to their farming. The only corner in the exhibit. They would eat their diet meal which is called nixtamal together in their homes. They would eat this because it was part of their daily lives. Right side in the middle. They would also wear loincloths when they eat. They would wear this while they eat because they thought that was part of the daily live. In the around the middle. I think the Olmec is the best for daily practices
Archeologists believe this mask dates back to about 1250-1100 BCE. The mask is completely made out of bronze and stands about 66cm high and 138cm wide. This mask consists of many different forms that differ from most of the art we have reviewed in class. It resembles many human and supernatural features such as protruding eyes and halberd-shaped ears. The protruding eyes definitely stand out on the mask and resemble a form that seems celestial. The true purpose to why the eyes protrude is still under debate, but it is definitely something we have not explored in our readings so far. Most of the artifacts we reviewed in class have been mostly human in nature or represent their gods in human forms with animal like features, like the sphinx. The ears are in the shape of a bronze wing or halberd which is a hacking weapon that was commonly used in Northern China during this time. What makes the ears significant in this piece is how they are in the shape of a weapon and not of a human or animal. Besides the ears and the eyes, the entire mask was molded, chiseled, and fused together which is why there are several rectangular holes on the sides and forehead of the mask. The front rectangular hole is possibly believed to once hold a large bronzed conspicuous feather, trunk, or other decoration while the rectangular holes on the sides of the mask were probably once used to fasten
The first culture spanning between 600-175 BC is the Paracas (Stone 56). Their name came from the place they inhabited, the Paracas Peninsula. “ ‘Paracas’ in Quechua means ‘sand falling like rain…’” as Stone quotes (57). Just the name itself shows how dry and arid the area they lived in was. They relied on fishing, farming in the Pisco Valley, and trading in order to make their life prosperous. As their numbers grew they began to bury their dead in “mummy bundles” due to the sandy a...
The Olmecs of Mexico lived in the tropical Gulf of Mexico, where its civilization enjoyed rich agricultural success. The farmers with the highest productivity soon were able to ascend to power above farmers who were not as successful (von Sivers,