Mesoamerica was the area where the Olmecs, the Mayans, and
the Aztecs lived, which is present day Mexico and Central America.
Mesoamerica’s varying topography meant different, independently developed
cultures, as well as different resources in the highlands, which had obsidian,
which could be used for trade, and the coast, which had sea shells and feathers
which were also used for trade. Mountains forced tribes to migrate from the
north to the south. Goods, however, were difficult to move in Mesoamerica due
to the fact that there are no navigable rivers.
The
Olmecs are credited with impressive monumental sculptures, ceremonial
complexes, the first pyramids, which were central areas of ceremony, and
influential sports, most notably ball games. The Olmec calendar system was also
significant. There were two main calendars: the solar calendar, which included
365 days; and the lunar calendar, which included 260 days. These two coincided
ever 53 years.
The
Mayan pyramids differed from the Olmec pyramids in that the Mayan pyramids were
very steep and narrow. Significant amounts of Mayan history were lost because
the writing was undecipherable and the ruins were overgrown with plant life.
Aztecs
were unique from other Mesoamericans in that they were the most successful
expansionists, and they collected tribute from conquered people. This tribute
system was used to get food and other resources from the conquered people to
strengthen the capital. The Aztecs also practiced bloodletting. The Aztecs
believed that the world had been created and destroyed four times before their
existence. They believed that in the dark world, a god jumped into fire to
create the world. However, he required sacrifice before he would make the sun
and moon rise. Sacrifice of women differed from sacrifice of men. Women were
not taken to the pyramid; rather, they danced at the bottom and were then
beheaded. Men were taken to the pyramid and killed, with lots of blood and gory
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