Shaman: someone who is believed to be able to communicate with the spiritual world. 

Bloodletting: ceremonies where there is a shedding of blood from ears, cheeks, or fingers as praise to their gods. 

Asceticism: sacrifice and self-multilation performed in the name of the gods. 

Pok-a-tok: The Olmec ritual ball game where rubber balls were hit back and forth across a court. 

Contour Rivalry: the aspects of an image can be read in multiple ways, depending on how it is viewed.

 

[Chavin] “Chavin art was the first widespread, recognizable artistic style in the Andes and the temple itself was the most dramatic expression of Chavin style.” (Andean and Chavin civilizations). 

The Chavin is similar to the Inca in their domestication of animals because they both used llamas for trade and a source of food. 

The Olmec is different from the Egyptians in their religious beliefs because Egyptians were heavily polytheistic and the Olmec, while praising multiple gods, focused mainly on the same god with the jaguar face.

The Chavin is different from many of the first civilizations in their settling tactics because they moved inland, away from water, to build their economy, instead of towards water like river valley civilizations. 

Political:All power was held by the elites who were usually priests or relatives to the priests, however the Olmec civilization is thought to have been destroyed by civil war.

Interactions between humans and the environment: Mining of salt deposits as well as the use of trees for rubber was very common amongst the Olmec civilizations.

Cultural: Animism was a large part of the cultural beliefs, animism is the worship of animal spirits as gods. Temples were built around the idea of these beliefs and festivals were also held in the name of these animal spirits.

Economic: Trading powerhouses of their time in Mesoamerica as they were known to have extensive amounts of salt deposits, also access to jade and obsidian through trade. The jade was used to create sculptures while the obsidian was made into weapons. One example of their wealth can be seen in the Moche tombs where extensive amounts of gold and valuable gems were also found.

Political:Much of the political focus of the Chavin was centralized around the need for spreading through military action. The political power was still focused in the elite classes of the priests and lords.

Interactions between humans and the environment: Domestication of llamas took place, the domesticated llamas toiled in the fields as a source of labor. Being a coastal civilization they utilized the sea for fishing and collecting of shells.

Cultural: Seen in both the Olmec and Chavin regions were large heads that possibly resemble gods or leaders that ruled their cultures and civilizations. Religious beliefs focusing on animism are also seen in the Chavin civilization, where temples and shrines were erected as places to worship these gods.

Economic: The trading of the Chavin was predominately seafood that was captured, however it is evident that they traded more than just that with the Olmec’s for example common rituals took place in both societies, indicating that there was a trade of beliefs.