Image 1: (900-800 B.C). Colossal portrait of ruler (Monument 9) San Lorenzo. Retrieved from https://library.artstor.org/asset/ARTSTOR_103_41822001424827
Selina Niu Economics Sophmore
Xiaonan Liu Statistics Junior
ABSTRACT:
The Olmec civilization belongs to the pre-Columbian period, which means that it happened before the arrival of Columbus. However, this is not the best term to describe this historical period that the Olmec belongs to, as it only invokes a European explorer but does not refer to any of the sophisticated cultures that flourished during this period. The discussion on the Olmec culture and art has to be mentioned in the context of the great Mesoamerican civilization. Mesoamerica refers to a region and cultural area, which today includes central and south Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. This period occurred from 3500 B.C.E. to 1519 C.E.. The formative period from 1800 B.C.E. to 250 C.E. includes the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Tlatilco, Maya, and Zapotec cultures. The Olmec was the first major civilization in Mexico that lasted from about 1600 B.C.E. to around 350 B.C.E. Its culture influenced and shaped many later civilizations in the form of societal orders, economy, and art. Our podcast will talk about the Olmec Heads as a representation of this great civilization!
Artist or photographer unknown, Colossal Head Monument #1 from La Venta, Source: University of California, San Diego, Exhibited at La Venta Park, Villahermosa, Mexico.
Citation: Colossal Head Monument #1. https://library.artstor.org/asset/ARTSTOR_103_41822001044393.
Artist or photographer unknown, Colossal Head 6 from San Lorenzo, Source: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org, Exhibited at The Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
Citation: Cova, Antonio. Colossal Head from San Lorenzo. Accessed October 24, 2019. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/olmec-colossal-heads-1.htm.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cova, Antonio. Colossal Head from San Lorenzo. Accessed October 24, 2019. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/olmec-colossal-heads-1.htm.
Jimenez, Maya. “What Do ‘Pre-Columbian’ and ‘Mesoamerica’ Mean?” Khan Academy. Khan Academy. Accessed October 24, 2019. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/beginners-guide-americas/a/pre-columbian-mesoamerica.
Kilroy-Ewbank, Lauren. “Mesoamerica, an Introduction.” Khan Academy. Khan Academy. Accessed October 24, 2019. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/beginners-guide-americas/a/mesoamerica-an-introduction.
Mira! 