Artistic Expressions and Writing Systems In Early Societies of Mesoamerica and South America

Outline of Lecture

Key points

1. Olmecs and the beginnings of an artistic cultural expression: Olmecs colossal heads, jewelry and paintings.





2. Mayans: The development of a phonetic writing system with examples from stellae and codices.





3. Paintings and Pottery of the Chavín Cult and the Mochica





4. Observations of the Mayan views on the creation of the world and human beings in the Popul Vuh (T & E, 145).

Terms, Names and Dates

1. Bering Land Bridge
2. Mesoamerica: Middle America
3. Olmecs: 1200 B.C.E-100 B.C.E
4. San Lorenzo: 1200-800 B.C.E.
5. La Venta: 800-400 B.C.E
6. Tres Zapotes: (400-100 B.C)
7. Colossal Olmec Heads
8. Maya: 100 B.C.E-1492 (preclassic Mayan period: 100 B.C.E.-300 C.E, classic Maya period: 300 C.E-1000 C.E.; postclassic Mayan period: 1000-1492.
9. Preclassic or Formative era: 2500 B.C.E-100 C.E
10. Classic era: 100 C.E-1000 C.E.
11. Postclassic era: 1000 C.E-1492.
12. Codex
13. Mayan ceremonial center
14. Tikal
15. Chichén Itzá
16. Mayan Writings: ideographs and phonetic symbols
17. Popul Vuh
18. Early Andean Societies Chavín Cult (900 B.C.E- 300 B.C.E) and the Mochica (300-700 C.E).

Web Resources:

• Global Consortium: Olmec
• Global Consortium: Maya
• Global Consortium: Moche
• Images:
  • pyramids
  • Olmec ruler
  • Maize god [Alt Mayan maize god]
  • Mayan Ball Courts
• Mayan Sacrifice
• Mayan Calendar (part of Calendars through the Ages)
• Mayan Astronomy
• Maya Archaeology (Palenque)
• Journey through Tikal (requires QuickTime)
• Mayan Codices
• Mayan Glyphs
• aesthetic values