...Jose Beltan Beltran 1 Dr. Karanovich History 100 August 2007 Mesoamerica: The land that witnessed it all, the peoples, the culture, and the conquest. The land referred to as Mesoamerica runs west from a point on the Gulf coast of Mexico above what today is the port of Tampico, then expands south to the central desert of highland Mexico, meeting the Pacific coast. On the southeast, the land extends from northwestern Honduras on the Caribbean across to the Pacific shore in El Salvador. About half of Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador are included in Meso-America. This land has great history to it, it is the land that fostered great civilizations and cultures, it is the land where great artifacts were built, where agriculture flourished to support thousands of civilians, and where a brutal and macabre conquest took place. This land witnessed it all. It is important that we understand the history of this land, because if we do, we can understand who founded its cities, who dominated this region, and what Gods influenced its peoples, and who explored it, invaded and colonized this land. It is very uncertain when we speak about the Mexica (people of Mesoamerica) people, because we know very little about them. Much of the information that has been gathered about them comes from large scale excavations, and archeological endeavors that have found ancient ruins, sculptures, temples and the like. But, the things that we...
Words: 1466 - Pages: 6
...The ancient "Olmec’s" of Mexico and Mesoamerica are one of the most intriguing civilizations of the Americas. In fact, they are the first civilization in Mexico and it was from them that all other civilizations in Mesoamerica followed. There society emerged from around 1200 B.C. to about 400 and they settled in the forests, savannas, and rivers of the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, the theories of the Olmec’s origins strike a controversy that’s baffling between many scholars. Studies done by researchers such as Ivan Van Sertima have presented evidence that identifies the Olmec’s with the Mandé people of West Africa. According to Betty Meggers of the Smithsonian Institution the Olmec civilization originated due to Shang Chinese influences around 1200 BC. The ancient Olmec’s of Mexico and Central America were a fascinating people. Upon the discovery of colossal stone heads in Mexico during the early part of the twentieth Century, there was no doubt that the facial features and hair texture (including cornrows) represented in the colossal Olmec sculpture represented African people. The assertion that the Olmec came from Africa is supported with scientific evidence via genetics, writings, religion, language and archaeology. To elaborate, the Olmec’s were not Indians with "baby faces," or Indians who looked like Blacks. They were Africans no different from Africans found in the Mende regions of West Africa. Studies done by Ivan Van Sertima show that the Olmec’s used the Mende script, a writing...
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...survive after the arrival of the Europeans. But during the earlier years, the Aztec became one of the most advanced civilizations because of their religion, war, and agriculture. The Aztecs gained an infamous reputation for their bloodthirsty human sacrifices with explicit tales of the beating heart being ripped from the still-conscious victims, decapitation, skinning and dismemberment. All of these things did happen but it is important to remember that for the Aztecs the act of sacrifice was a strictly ritualized process that gave the highest possible honor to the gods and was regarded as a necessity to ensure mankind’s continued prosperity. The Aztecs were not the first civilization in Mesoamerica to practice human sacrifice; human sacrifice was practiced to some extent by many peoples in Mesoamerica and around the world for many centuries. But it was the Aztec empire that really took the ritual to new heights. Although early reports undoubtedly exaggerate the number of human sacrifices that happened during the Spanish Conquest, probably to justify the Spaniards own brutal treatment of the indigenous peoples. Nevertheless, it is thought that hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of victims were sacrificed each year at the great Aztec religious sites and it cannot be denied that there would...
Words: 4995 - Pages: 20
...Mesoamerica Notes * The moon is normally represented as female * Lots of rulers in the Olmec period were expressed with gender ambiguity * Shamanism is basically the representation of trance state through art * All the Mesoamerican peoples were using the same ingredients in their cooking because there was interaction over distance Reading Notes 1/31/16 * Traits of Mesoamerica * Food via cultivation * Basic crops * Corn * Beans * Squash * Avocado * Papaya * Animals * Fattened voiceless dog (I cry everytime) * Duck * Economic Practices and Materials * Industries and tools * Construction of stone or clay * Ceramics * Stonepolishing of obsidian * Metallurgy * Textiles and basketry * Exchange * Markets * Transport * Hanging bridges * Gourd rafts * Military organization and gear * Wars for purpose of sacrifice victims * Ritual Practices and Materials * Deities: a series of divinities, ie “Tlaloc” * Sacrifice-related practices * Human sacrifice * Removing the heart form living persons * Head trophies * Canabalism * Some kinds of self-sacrifice * Ritual use of paper and...
Words: 534 - Pages: 3
...In Aztec times, their self made weapons changed dramatically after the arrival of the Spanish. The Spanish gave The Aztecs stronger and more reliable weapons which intern made hunting, sacrificing and protecting themselves more efficient. There are a few long and short term effects between the Aztecs and the Spanish. This essay will explain the short and long term effects of the arrival of the Spanish, the weapons, gold and Aztec warfare. The Aztecs worshiped many gods, one of these gods, was Quetzacotl. The Aztecs believed that on his birthday, he would appear before them on their Island of Mesoamerica in the flesh. Consequently when Hernando Cortez and his ships arrived on shore on the birthday of Quetzacotl, the Aztecs believed, “Quetzacotl”...
Words: 661 - Pages: 3
...As we may all know the Aztec empire has been around for many years. It is one of the oldest civilizations in ancient history. The Aztec empire was one of those environment’s where they were in a jungle with thousands of animals and canopies. In this research paper I will be discussing the history of the Aztec empire, the religion, and the architecture & art. The Aztec civilization was established around the 13th century. Some historians believe that the Aztec empire existed between 1345 and 1521 CE. Historians also, believe that before the Aztec empire existed they believe that they started out as a northern tribe. The northern tribe homeland was called Aztlan known as the white land. The Aztecs were also, known as the Tenochtitlan. The Aztec...
Words: 327 - Pages: 2
...expanded by conquest or commerce. Conquest is when you take over people by force. Commerce is when you take over people by negotiation/deals. The city of Tenochtitlan at its peak had over 140 000 people and the city was the most populated city in Mesoamerica. The Aztecs, the Texcobans and the Tacubans formed an alliance to conquer the Tepanecs’ city, Azcapotzalco. Tepanec is later then taken over by the Spanish to form their new colony of Cuba. 3) Positive – Statement - SS The Aztecs had a legend. The Aztecs believed that Huitzilopochtli,...
Words: 1332 - Pages: 6
...peoples of the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia all experienced similar cultural changes from hunting and gathering to an agricultural way of life. Between the years of 8000 BCE and 2000 BCE known as the Archaic Period, the people began to become more settled and hunted small animals and cultivated different crops mostly maize, beans, and squash. After 2000 BCE huge groups of civilizations started to become more developed and distinct. Called the formative period, villages combined into urban centers, monumental architecture as erected, and craft specialists developed. Two distinctive areas of civilization are Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America) and Andean Region of South America. Found in the Formative Period are the Olmec’s. Found mostly in the low lands of Mexico’s Gulf Coast. They had public buildings, extensive pavements, a drainage system, and a major Mesoamerica ball court. These people also created massive basalt stone heads said to be portraits of their rulers. They were believed to have been carved 65 miles away and brought there on rafts. In the Classic Period were the Teotihuacán’s. They had huge city that rivaled the largest in the world at the time. At its height in500 CE the...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...Land Bridge- a connection between two landmasses that allowed humans and animals to colonize new territory before it was cut off by the sea Mayas- The Mesoamerican Indian people living in southeast Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize (300-900 AD). The Maya are best know for their architecture and city planning, their mathematics and calendar, and their hieroglyphic writing system. Aztecs- A nomadic tribe in northern Mexico, arrived in Mesoamerica around the beginning of the 13th century emerged as the dominant force in central Mexico, developing an intricate social, political, religious and commercial organization that brought many of the region’s city-states under their control by the 15th century. The Spanish conquistadors overthrew the Aztecs...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
...major breakthrough in both Mathematics and Astronomy. The Mayans were the first to calculate the number of days in a year accurately by observing how the start and planets move. Doing this, they helped create the calendar as we know it today. The Mayans also had a strong hand the Art and Crafts, they made large statue of solid rock to represent an important leader (Called a Stele). Not only did they represent important leader, but they represented a written record of his accomplishments in the formed of carved stone glyphs. Aztecs Even though the origins of the Aztecs are not necessarily clear, we know that they did adapt from the Mayan ways. One of their achievements was building their city called Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs appeared in Mesoamerica–as the south-central region of pre-Columbian Mexico is known–in the early 13th century. Their arrival came just after, or perhaps helped bring about, the fall of the previously dominant Mesoamerican civilization, the Toltec. Aztec education was an important part of their culture. The Aztecs were very advanced scientific thinkers and...
Words: 561 - Pages: 3
...the art was made (historical, cultural, social, etc. Did the object have a particular function?) 4) How does the medium affect the content of the work? 5) How do the visual elements and principles contribute to the content of the work and/or its function? 6) Attach a sketch of the work to your essay (Size: 8.5x11, no larger; trim if necessary.): Making a sketch while you are in front of the art will actually help you to observe more carefully. You will not be graded on the quality or skill of this drawing, as long as you make a serious effort. **Also include a photo of your artwork at the end of your essay.** 7) If necessary, add a page for works cited. ! Ancient American Jade was used in two ancient American regions in Mesoamerica where is was use to simple make beads around 1500 B.C, also in Costa Rica where the first sculptural forms were carved about 1,000 years later. Coasta Rica was a tropical country and biological diversity located between Nicaragua to lower Central America. With the first evidence of worked jade as a pendant excavated in a burial on the Nicoya Peninsula in 700 A.D it eventually died out and been replaced by a fashion for ornaments of gold. The Bird Pendant that Archaeological evidence suggest, was made and treasured in 500 B.C. ! Ancient American Jade was made up of multiple semiprecious hard stones.Its compact structure, hardness and admirable surface gleam was preferred for statues. Jade was a beautiful color when worked...
Words: 351 - Pages: 2
...ritual, which included ritual cannibalism that developed part of the cult. The Indian civilization did not do sacrifices. This was one of the few differences in both of these religions. However both civilizations held ceremonies and performed rituals to worship the gods. India for instance attacked the conventional Brahman view of what the religion should be, such as a set of proper ceremonies that would lead to good things in this life and the rewards in the afterlife. The Upanishads advanced the idea of mystical contact with a divine essence. Reincarnation; afterlife was very important to these civilizations. Lastly Aztec and Incas, just like the Indians, had many gods that stood for various things, such as the traditional deities of Mesoamerica, the gods of rain, fire, water, corn, the sky and the sun that had been worshiped at the time of Teotihuacan. Some of these gods may have had different manifestations, just like the Hindu Avatars in their deities. The political structures of these two civilizations were made up of groups of people, relied on their armies...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...The Inca, Maya, and Aztec all lived around the same place, Mesoamerica or Middle America. Meso-america Includes Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. All 3 tribes have harsh punishments, have very unique lifestyles, and many other similarities and differences. This essay will be about the similarities and differences of all 3 tribes. The differences are their treatment of humans, and the similarities are their Religion. The inca, aztec, and maya based everything on religion. The food they ate, the clothes they wore, how they celebrated, and even how they raised their children was all guided by what they believed in. All three tribes had similar beliefs, they all believed in many gods (Polytheism). They did not only have believe in 1 god, they believed in multiple gods. They all felt that human sacrifice was the best way to appease the god if something happened, If something happened at a festival or someone broke the rules, they would sacrifice random people or sacrifice the people who did the crime. A sacrifice was never about the blood, or the organs, it was always about the gods or the sacrifice, they never wanted to kill the people, but they needed to appease the gods. They all had gods of weather, They had the sun god, moon god, rain god, and many other gods. Those are the similarities between the 3 tribes...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3
...In the period shortly before the discovery of the Americas there were two great civilizations flourishing in Central and South America. They were the Inca and the Aztec. Although neither Empire would last long after Europeans came into the picture they were still the dominating powers in Mesoamerica. These two empires shared a number of similarities in many aspects of their life, culture and politics. However one must know about each group separately before similarities are noticeable. First, the Aztec civilization grew out of the Valley of Mexico. After the fall of the Toltec Empire the center of political power and population changed to the Valley of Mexico which contained a number of lakes in which settlements were built around. Many groups...
Words: 845 - Pages: 4
...The coast of the Gulf of Mexico was inhabited between 250 and 500 C.E. Here, many different sculptures were created to represent different aspects of the people of that time. The Winged Bat Figure (fig. 1) is an example of this from a region of Mexico that is now known as Veracruz. The Winged Bat Figure shows how the people of Veracruz were a very mythologically-oriented society who created objects for situations that pertained to death and had funerary purposes. This terracotta sculpture depicts a seated bat with its wings extended. It has oblong ears on its round face. The bat’s left ear is chipped while the right is very well intact. Its wide-set eyes are two dark, small circles. Beneath its left eye is a black diamond shaped marking. The center of its face is marked by a vertical indentation. The lips of this creature are large; so large that they protrude off its face. Its two front dull fangs are askew. The abdomen of the bat is shaped like the top half of a wine bottle and its neck is disproportional to the rest of its body; it is a fraction longer than it should be. Its tongue sticks out and ends at the part of its chest where the two decorative bands meet. Together, the bands form a shape that looks very similar to the bat’s tongue. Below these bands is a horizontal strap that separates this double band formation from the single band that covers the bat’s genital area. The bulbous decorative features on the top right and bottom left of each wing resemble...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
