Olmec Civilization Reading Guide

Where did the Olmec live?

• Central Mexico near present day Mexico City

• Northern Mexico near the present day United States border

• Southern Mexico along the Gulf of Mexico

• Western Mexico along the Pacific coast

What does the name 'Olmec' mean?

• The rubber people

• The stone carvers

• The maize growers

• The jade traders

What is the Olmec known for?

• Building pyramids

• Creating intricate pottery

• Carving colossal stone heads

• Developing a system of writing

Which civilization was noted as influenced by the Olmec?

• Maya

• Inca

• Aztec

• Toltec

What evidence suggests that the Olmec practiced ritual bloodletting?

• Carved stone heads

• Archaeological artifacts

• Written records

• Oral traditions

What materials were used to create Olmec art?

• Gold and silver

• Clay and basalt

• Marble and limestone

• Bronze and iron

What is a common motif seen in Olmec art?

• Smiling faces

• Winged creatures

• Upside-down heads

• Abstract patterns

What were the Olmec colossal heads made of?

• Granite

• Marble

• Basalt

• Limestone

What is one theory for the decline of the Olmec civilization?

• War with neighboring tribes

• Disease outbreak

• Environmental changes

• Religious conflict

What do some believe caused the depopulation of the Olmec?

• Volcanic eruptions

• Famine

• Invasion by foreign powers

• Political unrest