The Olmecs - Book Review

by Hourly History 



A Civilization That Came Before the Maya

The Olmec is an ancient civilization that existed around 1,600 BCE. They abruptly came and settled in Mesoamerica. But they just disappeared as mysteriously as they appeared, baffling many historians. However, the most important legacy the Olmec civilization left behind is the massive stone heads with unique facial features.

Hourly History presents a concise history of an ancient civilization that settled in Mesoamerica around 1,600 BCE. In The Olmecs: A History From Beginning to End, the author introduces a people called Olmec. It’s a tribe that existed even before the Maya came.

What’s fascinating about these people is that they just disappeared as mysteriously as they came. Even to this day, the Olmecs’ abrupt arrival and disappearance in Mesoamerica leaves baffling questions. Fundamental disagreements arise among mainstream historians regarding these people’s origins. Some of them believe the Olmecs developed from the indigenous people who arrived in the Americas through the Bering Land Bridge. However, others argue based on the findings at the archaeological site in El Manati near present-day San Lorenzo.

On the El Manati site, they found the earliest traces of the Olmecs around 1,600 BCE. From this place, archaeologists further discovered the movements of the same people. They found that somewhere around 1400 - 1200 BCE, the Olmecs had spread across Mexico to the Pacific Coast. Evidence also showed their presence in Central America and parts of present-day Guatemala, Honduras, and other neighboring places. 

Legacy of the Olmecs

Nevertheless, regardless of what the different historians posit, they agree on some significant facts. They share the same opinion that the Olmecs brought with them a new religion and specific architectural styles. They also agree that these ancient people came before the Maya. Historians further agree that the similarities between the Olmec and Mayan cultures is due to the former’s influence on the Maya.

Meanwhile, the Olmec civilization is known for its massive stone heads that they carved in basalt. The stone heads display facial features that historians believe to represent actual rulers of the period.

From hereon, I leave the details for you readers, to discover the important historical journey of the Olmecs.

The Book and The Olmecs’ Author

The Olmecs: A History From Beginning to End is a concise history book. The reader can read it within an hour but not without gaining tons of information. I appreciate Hourly History for this concept of presenting historical events in a way that does not bore the reader.

Therefore, I give the book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it to readers of all ages. History students and teachers may find it a useful reference material.

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