Olmec Timeline
Around what year did the Olmecs begin to live in Mexico?
c. 1200 BCE
In which two Mexican states did the Olmecs live?
Veracruz and Tabasco
What nickname is given to the Olmecs in Mesoamerican history?
The "mother culture"
Around what year did the Mayan civilization begin?
c. 2000 BCE
Name one Mexican state where the Maya lived.
Yucatán
When did the Olmec civilization end?
c. 400 BCE
Name one important Olmec archaeological site.
San Lorenzo
What giant sculptures are the Olmecs famous for?
Colossal stone heads
When did the last Mayan city fall to the Spanish?
1697 CE
What famous Mayan city has a pyramid called El Castillo?
Chichen Itza
How many years did the Olmec civilization last?
About 800 years
Which Olmec site is famous for colossal stone heads?
La Venta
What early system did the Olmecs develop to share ideas?
Writing system
How long did the Mayan civilization last?
Over 3,000 years
What subject did the Maya study to understand the stars?
Astronomy
What does BCE mean in history?
Before Christ Era
Name two Olmec sites besides San Lorenzo and La Venta.
Laguna de los Cerros and Tres Zapotes
What game did the Olmecs help create that was played for centuries?
The Mesoamerican ballgame
What does CE mean in history?
Christ Era
What system did the Maya use to write and record ideas?
Advanced writing system
Why is the Olmec timeline important for understanding later civilizations?
It shows how early ideas influenced the Maya and Aztec
Why are Olmec sites important to archaeologists?
They show early art, writing, and games that shaped Mesoamerica
How did the Olmecs influence the Maya and Aztec?
They set patterns in art, writing, and religion that others followed
Why is the long timeline of the Maya important?
It shows how advanced and lasting their culture was
Why are the Maya considered one of the most sophisticated civilizations in the Americas?
Because of their achievements in art, science, and architecture