Religion played an important role in these civilizations as well. Temples and pyramids were build to represent the gods and powers of the region. Ceremonial centers were the main factor of Mesoamerican settlement. These civilizations were also polytheistic which means that they worshiped more than 1 god.
The Olmecs were the first major civilization in Mexico and were around from 2000BC-200BC. They were the ones who developed hieroglyphic writing. Their temple focused in the city type and the jaguar was the symbol of their chief deity. They were also known for the Mesoamerican ballgame and realistic artwork. La Venta was the first example of a temple that focused on the city type. The ceremony center was composed of the Great pyramid of earth, ball court, smaller pyramids, burial grounds, and giant stone heads. The giant stone heads were sculpted from basalt boulder and weighed from 40-50 tons. Their artwork consisted of delicate carvings of jade, rock crystal, and less valuable stone. Ax heads, masks, and decorative objects were also a form of their art, as well as mural paintings and pottery.
Social life consisted of elites who lived in highly decorated homes and wore elegant jewelry and clothing, and commoners who lived in homes made of sticks and mud. They had a diverse diet and food sources for commoners were reliable. Shamans, people who believed they had a direct contact to a deity, gave advice about agriculture and periodic rain to leaders.
Their specific religion was comprised of the belief of multiple deities and gods. People became close to the gods from bloodletting and human sacrifices. Small ceramic figurines, stone carvings, and utilitarian pots were associated with religious beliefs.
The Teotihuacan empire reigned from 250BC-900AD and was named "Place of the gods." The city was laid out in a grid and was abruptly deserted. Their ceremonial center was 2 miles in length, had a central spine which was also referred to as the road of the dead, and included the Temple of the Feathered Serpent and the Pyramid of the Sun/Pyramid of the Moon. The ruling elite were on raised platforms in the city; beyond that was the houses of artisans and peasants. They did not have city walls which was a sign of a powerful society without enemies. Their art was decorative and utilitarian pottery. Some of their decorative motifs included birds, butterflies, flowers, and abstract signs.
The Mayans were around from 300BC-1521AD and flourished for 1,800 years. They occupied the high and lowlands of the areas that are current day Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Unfortunately, they were destroyed by the Spanish conquest of 1519.
The Aztecs lived around 1150-1520 AD. This was Tenochtitlan's center capitol of Aztec civilization. Some major structure and pyramids from the Aztecs are Templo Mayor which was 2 temples that worshiped the god of war and the god of agriculture, Pyramid of the Sun and moon which were made from stone and brick, Montezuma's throne, and floating gardens. Their architecture expressed their thoughts and beliefs, and the creation of art was their thoughts on life.
Finally, the Incas were around from 1200-1572CE and were the largest empire in Pre-Columbia America. They were known for their architecture and were masters of stone cutting. Machu-Pichu was located in a seismically unstable area, yet is the most notable area in Peru. It was built wihtout mortar and included a royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti. The empires were isolated and had a deep connection to the metaphysical world. Their concepts were that of open spaces and its relationship to buildings.
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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_k0Tl3x0A&list=PL5D2191207A1D7105
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