The Americas

The Americas took place between the periods of 2000 B.C and 1521 A.D. The Aztecs, Incas, Mayans-Toltecs and the Olmecs are just a few major civilizations that make up the Americas.  The Olmecs was the first major civilization in Mexico from 2000 B.C - 200 B.C. They developed the 1st calendar in the Western Hemisphere as well as hieroglyphics writing.  La Venta is one example of the Olmecs temple focused city type. Within this temple, the ceremony center was composed of burial grounds, giant stone heads, ball courts, small pyramids and the great pyramid of the earth.

Olmec art consisted of materials of jade, rock crystal and valuable stone.  Mural paintings, masks, pottery, ax heads and decorative objects are all common art pieces.  During this time, religion was commonly tied in with art.  Stone carvings, small ceramic figurines and some pits, were associated with religious beliefs.  Most people were polytheistic which is the belief in multiple gods.

Teotihaucan is also another city during this time period.  Its name means "Place of the Gods".  It was approximately 2 miles in length and the city was laid out in a grid system.  This allowed for no walls to separate the city which shows signs of a powerful city with no enemies. 

 

The Mayan era took place between 300 B.C. and 1521 A.D.  The Mayans flourished for 1,800 years and consisted of places such as Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and part of Mexico.  Chichen Itza is a ceremonial cite that means " Mouth of the well of the Itza". There is a four sided pyramid that is 75 feet tall.  Chacmool, pictured below, was their ritualistic figure.


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Mayan and Incas Prints/Jewelry