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Ancient Mexican Culture Ancient Mexican Culture can trace its people back as far as 2000 BC. This was a time when permanent settlements were formed and the Mexican people adopted the practice of agriculture. Along with the settlements came art and technology. When a people no longer are migratory they have time to turn their attention to advancements and creativity. The first peoples to emerge from this period were the Olmecs. This ancient Mexican culture is considered to be the forbearer of the pre-Hispanic people of Mexico. The symbolic jaguar figure appears with metaphysical implications. Many of the artifacts discovered from their settlements contain the jaguar or feline design. It appears their religious center were located in Veracruz and Tabasco. The Mayas The Mayas are an ancient Mexican culture that can be traced as far back as 1500 BC. However their cultural peak occurred well after the Olmec civilization form 600-900 AD. Most of their settlements were located near water. They spent much of their time growing crops such as beans, corn, squash and cacao. The Mayan people were considered extremely intelligent and they had a fully developed writing system as well as extensive knowledge in math and astronomy. By 900 AD most of their settlements had disappeared and were swallowed up by the jungle. The Aztecs The last to settle in Mexico was the ancient Mexican culture commonly known as the Aztecs.(five Confederated Nations) Via pre-cognitive visions, they founded their capital on the island of Lake Texcoco. Tenochtitlan became the center of Aztec culture. At the height of its existence, during the reign of Mectezuma II, the white man was reported to have arrived on the shores of their land. The end of this people was not far behind. From these three great civilizations, the Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs the people of Mexico were born. A culture of beauty, deep-seated faith and colorful character rose up to become the modern Mexican culture we know today. |
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