Mesopotamia and the Olmec

Mesopotamia Vs. Olmec

 Culture and Environment

    Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia grew up in river valleys
• Was dependent on the rivers for agriculture
• Had an open environment which made it easier for travel but vulnerable towards invasion
• Due to the rough environment and foreigners and ecological deterioration they shifted the Mesopotamia  civilization north

    Olmec

•   Along the gulf of Mexico
• Based on agriculture economy
• Had decorated temples, altars, pyramids and tombs of rulers
• Believed to have created the first written language in America
• they sometimes regard America as "mother civilization"

Cities and States

Mesopotamia

• Civilization in the southern Tigres Euphrates region known as sumer
• was organized in  dozen or separated independent city states
• urbanized society
• due to conflict with the environment it eventually left Sumerian cities open to outside forces so stronger people from northern meso took over the sumerian cities
• due to climate conflict it took the Sumerian phase of meso to an end

    Olmec

• Had cities that come from a series of competing chiefdoms which then became ceremonial centers
• Sometimes regarded America as "mother civilization"
• was influenced subsequent civilizations like the maya
• clearly distinctive and independent of its northern neighbors

Interactions and exchange

     Mesopotamia

• interacted near and more distant neighbors
• long distance trade

    Olmec

• Artistic styles
• culture patterns
• urban planning
• game played with rubber balls
• ritual sacrifice
• bloodletting by rulers