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Several Olmec artifacts have been found of pottery sculptures depicting infants and their behaviors.

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The Olmec were best known for their giant and masterfully carved heads. Their use or symbolism has always been unsure, but many Archaeologists would speculate that they're either warriors, rulers, gods, etc. However, there are other kinds of art that are just as interesting such as small figures and paintings. Such as sculptures accurately representing the unique looks and behaviors of babies, most humans seem to wear helmets including the infants. Most of their work also depicts animals or important warriors/rulers. These Olmec styles are significant since they will become the foundation and popular standard of most Mesoamerican art.

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A carved jade pendant, it could possibly be traded.

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Olmec trade was often centered for a variety of things, jade and feathers for example were big for decoration. And other items for practical use such as mica, serpentine,  rubber, pottery, animal skins, and obsidian. However it is unknown if the Olmec traded their food or received other food, for now it is only aware that they had an interest in luxury and decorative items. Most of their trading routes appeared to reach south and the civilizations down there have had Olmec items and sometimes even share similar religions. Which is why even trade was so influential, Olmec resources had left an imprint on several cultures.

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Olmecs had a great interest for math, representing it in their art and even creating one of the earliest ¨0´s¨. This was incredible for not only and age that lacks math, but to form it without much of a former language. Their love for calculations only reached out further as they built their architecture. The pyramids they built were based off what their calculating to make sure they line up perfectly while being semetrical.

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A more arid and dry area of Mesoamerica, but there is still clear biodiversity.

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Mesoamerica is surrounded mostly by the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, and the Pacific Ocean. While this region is above the equator, there is a fair amount of lush rainforests, reefs, and humidity. But also it isnt as green of wet as lower south, many areas. Each group of mesoamericans adapted to different habitats that have benefited them. For example the Mayans settled in dense jungles that served as protection from an invasion and they also made use of cenotes (sinkholes with fresh water).

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Jaguars are largely popular big cats from Mesoamerican forests, yet are endangered.

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The wildlife of Mesoamerica is so large and biodiverse that it makes up 7% of all wildlife on the planet. Familiar species to name would be spider monkeys, jaguars, quetzals, golden eagles, and the tapir. Many of these animals were definitely encountered by the Mesoamericans, being either useful to prey, feast, and use their coats on. Or can create dangerous encounters. Yet no matter how the animals affected the people within their territories, they are either respected or feared as civilizations would base most of their gods, legends, and mythology off of the animals met.

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Most inhabitants and empires would grow in the more southeast area of Mesoamerica, near the Gulf of Mexico.

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The exact origins of Mesoamerican people and how they got there is for now a mystery. However what is known in that the people first appeared along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The history of these early civilizations started out as small villages without a unified ruler, either battling or providing trade. The first large Mesoamerican civilizations were the Olmec, planting the seeds and culture for the next generations and empires to come.

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Only the elite of Mayan society could read the language. This picture shows examples of some of the glyphs.

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Mayans are well known for their well-thought writing system made of hieroglyphs, a writing system was not common in Mesoamerica and much less a complex one. What has also brought its attention is the signs themselves, they were not letters but instead represent their own sound and meaning. These signs could be like mixing and matching, but still their writing was so different and complicated that only 85% of the glyphs have been deciphered. While there are 800 Mayans used in total. Much of the writings were also burned by the Spanish, however what is left behind gives great insight on Mayan life, priorities, and culture.

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At one point, the Hero Twins once died yet gained some kind of powers, and regenerated from catfish to boys.

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Mayans believed in a animism and polytheistic religion, which means they worshiped multiple gods/deities based off of natures and its values. This religion of course branches off into their mythology. They are also tales about personified parts of nature with mythical monsters/animals, supernatural beings, and its heroes. One of the most famous myths were the Hero Twins, who defeated and killed the underworld lords through a ball game and trails. Later on being promoted into the moon and the sun.

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The Mayan understanding of astronomy was beyond anything seen in other ancient cultures. Considering that they didnt use the same tools as Europe or Asia had, it is incredible that they had a far accurate understanding of science. The Mayan seemed to be captivated by space and astrology, the cosmos are even a common theme in their mythology. That the Earth was the center, and everything from planets, events, stars, and their movements were Gods. They were also infamous for the 365 day calandar, which was also accurate and Mayans were even confident to predict future cycles and events with it.

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Quetzalcoatl has been prominent in several Mesoamerican cultures and mythologies.

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Similar to many other Mesoamerican religions, the Toltecs were polythiestic and has a creator god. For this civilization that god was Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. The Toltecs seemed to dedicate most of their city of Tulum to their religion, with the pyramids they left behind being full off relief sculptures dedicated to the gods. They could of possibly been religious centers for the people. Ball game courts were also one of these, as the game holds large religious importance to Toltecs. These centers would have probably been dedicated to sacrificing too, the style of Toltec rituals could of perhaps inspired the Aztec ones.

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Toltec architecture would have had the basic needs most civilizations wanted: pyramids, ball courts, and palaces. Yet they were also special for being craftsmen at relief sculptures, which are figures carved in yet a background is left like it is a scene and not stand-alone. Their building style would have been noticed by the tall pillars they carved, each representing what could be warriors or gods. Their highly decorated works is more created for temples that worshiped gods or exist for the sacrificial rituals.

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Chichen-Itza is known to be a prime example for Aztec knowledge of doing strong yet beautiful buildings.

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Aztecs were one of the most incredible builders, capable of creating a giant city that is able to stay above a lake safely along with its own irrigation system and agriculture. Their buildings were also colorful, well made, and strong. What was even more astonishing is that Aztecs mostly used stone tools to make it all. But its not only the architecture that was impressive; floating gardens, techniques for fertile soil, knowledge in medicine, and also science. Most of their ideas have been from other empires such as the Olmecs and Mayans, yet the way they incorporated it has helped them thrive for so long and stand out from the rest. Giving inspiration and connections with people from the New World once they arrived.

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The Toltecs have not created monuments for their history, however what exists does allow their culture to shine through.

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Little has been known about Toltec culture because of their cities being burned down and their artifacts being severely looted. What little is could help were the Aztecs who wrote about them, but even then most of them were also burned by different groups. Despite all of this though, there is for now a general understanding of Toltec history. They were seemingly at first a smaller group, yet were forced to move. Where they had gone and created was Tula which would be next to the Aztec empire that comes after them. There the civilization was finally thriving with large urban buildings and households. Yet as said before, all was destroyed by invading Chichimecs.

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The double-headed serpent is a popular piece that shows their woodcarving work along with jewelry work.

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The Aztecs loved to sculpt, paint, and carve jewelry. What they focus on though usually varies, some remains show large and smooth sculptures. Or textile art made to tell stories of legends, rituals, rulers, and warriors. Unfortunately though as the Spanish conquered, a lot of the art made from silver and gold was melted for money. Even so that a lot of artworks were destroyed, it is the art that continues to give the best insight on Aztec life. Making their few remains being the most important to discover Mesoamerican life and empires, especially getting to learn about an ancient yet magnificent one such as the Aztecs.

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The picture depicts the city with high walls, urban homes, and the floating gardens on the outside.

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The Aztec city of Tenochtitlan is so large and thriving with achievements and culture that its design cannot be ignored. The area is said to be larger than any European city at the time, when remembering that European cities were already big it is surprising to imagine what the Aztecs lived in. Unlike European cities as well, they had transportation through canal systems. The canals that also cut through the city serve a purpose in preventing the place from sinking. Around the lake there were also floating gardens, which were made out of woven reeds and mud and are surrounded by the water so crops can grow without constant looking for hydration. These techniques and achievements for a city would make Archaeologists ponder about their knowledge today, and inspire many from the past.