Olmec Civilization and Culture

The video explores the Olmec civilization, the earliest known Mesoamerican culture, which thrived from 1500 BCE to 400 BCE. It highlights their agricultural practices, such as slash-and-burn farming, and their diet, which included crops and native animals. The Olmec were pioneers in developing a calendar, compass, and written language, influencing later cultures like the Maya and Aztecs. They may have originated the Mesoamerican ballgame. The Olmec engaged in extensive trade and left behind significant artifacts, including colossal heads, which provide insights into their society.

Which civilization is considered the earliest of the Mesoamerican cultures?

• Inca

• Olmec

• Aztec

• Maya

What farming method did the Olmec most likely use?

• Crop rotation

• Slash-and-burn

• Terrace farming

• Hydroponics

Which of the following was NOT part of the Olmec diet?

• Beans

• Sweet potatoes

• Maize

• Rice

What is significant about the Olmec written language?

• It was the first written language in the Eastern Hemisphere.

• It was the oldest written language in the Western Hemisphere.

• It was written on papyrus.

• It was only used for religious texts.

Which of the following is NOT an achievement attributed to the Olmec?

• Developing a calendar

• Using a compass

• Building pyramids

• Creating a written language

What was the Mesoamerican ballgame played with?

• A stone ball

• A leather ball

• A wooden ball

• A solid rubber ball

What is known about the rules of the Mesoamerican ballgame?

• They were written in the Olmec language.

• They were similar to modern soccer.

• They have largely been lost to history.

• They are well-documented in historical texts.

What does the presence of Olmec artifacts throughout Central America and Mexico suggest?

• They were a nomadic tribe.

• They had an extensive trading network.

• They conquered many regions.

• They were isolated from other cultures.

What was obsidian used for by the Olmec?

• Building houses

• Making durable tools with sharp edges

• Creating jewelry

• Writing on

What do the Olmec colossal heads most likely represent?

• Olmec rulers

• Common people

• Olmec gods

• Mythical creatures