The Olmec civilization started between 1500 B.C. and 400 B.C., the Olmec civilization lived along the gulf coast of southern Mexico. They were the first civilization in the Americas with a complex society. They are considered the ‘mother’ of Mesoamerican cultures.

The Olmecs were concentrated around several ceremonial centers where ceremonies were held and business was conducted.

The three main centers of the civilizations were La Venta, Sanlorenzo, and Laguna de los Cerros.

Each center was located near a natural resource. La venta was located near rubber trees, cacao trees, and salt deposits. San Lorenzo had a river nearby, so it took control of the Cerros trade near it.

Laguna de los Cerris was known for its artistic use of basalt stone.

They carved huge heads from the basalt that is called “colossal heads”

The name Olmec means “inhabitant of rubber country”, and this name describes just exactly where they lived. They lived in the vast tropical jungles of coastal southern Mexico.

The region is known for its variety of vegetation. 

The Olmec people used rubber to make some things out of it since they had a lot of rubber trees.

There were several rivers that ran through the Olmec region. These were a major sources of water for the irrigation of crops. They also ate tropical animals and a lot of fish.