Olmec title picture

The Olmec

By jbeecher22

  • Begining

    Begining
    1200 BCE- 400 BCE:The Olmec civilization began at some time between 5100 BCE and 4600 BCE(The first people were there by around 8,000-400 B.C.)They had the first civilization in the Americas. The Olmec inherited Southern Mexico.

  • Working with stone

    Working with stone
    1200 BCE- 300 BCE: They began working with stone. Their first large cities began to appear. They also started making their “Olmec Colossal Heads.”

  • San Lorenzo

    San Lorenzo
    1200 BCE: San Lorenzo becomes one of the Olmecs biggest cities. One of their first biggest cities. It also became the great ceremonial centre of the Olmec civilization.

  • Moving to new area

    Moving to new area
    1200 BCE: With the building of San Lorenzo, big things began to happen. The civilization began to spring to other parts of the area. The spread from the grouping of ancient villages to along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Ball Game

    Ball Game
    1000 BCE: The game that was called “Ball Game” is the game that the Olmec invented. Even though this game sounds like it would be fun to play, when they lost they were used as sacrifices. Yes, they got their heads cut off when they lost.

  • San Lorenzo Destroyed

    San Lorenzo Destroyed
    900 BCE: The Olmecs first capital, San Lorenzo, is destroyed. Also the monuments that they had there were defaced. Their new capital would be La Venta.

  • Writing System

    Writing System
    650 BCE - 900 BCE: The Olmec might have been the first civilization in the western hemisphere that made up a writing system. People found two symbols in 2002 and 2006. The symbol they found in 2002, had many things shown on it, such as a bird, speech scrolls, and much more.

  • Zazacatla

    Zazacatla
    800 BCE- 500 BCE: In 2007, archaeologists found a city called Zazacatla near Mexico City. It was a city located in Morelos, that was influenced by the Olmec. This city was only 25 miles away from Mexico City.

  • Population Dropping

    Population Dropping
    400 BCE- 300 BCE: The Olmec population dropped many people. Most of the land was unused as well. This might have been caused by very serious changes in the land, that left the land unusable for farmers.

  • End of the Olmec Civilization

    End of the Olmec Civilization
    300 BCE- 400 BCE: Their second capital, La Venta, is destroyed. Also all their monuments were defaced too. This is where the Olmec Civilization ends.