The Teachable Olmecs, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs

Do you like sports? The ancient Olmecs, Mayans, Toltecs and Aztecs of Central America did. One meaning of the word Olmec means rubber. It can be speculated that these natives of Central America took the rubber they discovered from the trees near by and made the first rubber ball. The Olmecs appear to be the oldest of the four civilizations but they all played ball. Some of them also believed in human sacrifice but others did not. One common group characteristic appears to be their love for ball games. With this ball it is further hypothesized that the Olemlecs invented a game. We could call it baseball. Look closely at the picture to the right above. Now use your imagination. Can you imagine this statue as a monument outside of a baseball stadium? Maybe this person is an ancient Babe Ruth or Henry Aaron.

The more I study these cultures the more confused I become. These four ancient civilizations are similar but different. Sometimes the older civilization appears to be more advanced than the newer ones. Reverse progress? How did they get to Central America? Did they come by boat? Did they cross over from Gondwanaland or did they evolve separately in the Americas. These Civilizations are very old. It can be speculated that the Olemecs go back in time to a similar date to civilizations we have already discussed. So my time line would appear like quite a mess right now. Most of my students naturally like to place civilizations into a sequence around the theme of progress. These civilizations do not make any sense that way. So it will keep you up at night if you try to figure it out. I know this from personal experience.

Besides baseball the four civilizations had something else in common. In the Aztec civilization he is called Quetzalcoatl. He is depicted as a god in the picture to the left at the top of the beginning of this reading. He was called the father of the Toltecs and Kulkulcan by the Mayans. He is the great feathered serpent and it is also believed that the Olmecs and Incas worshiped him. The natives of Central America had myths that would give animal attributes to men so we can see combinations of snake, bird and man in the drawing above. He is actually described in their writings as a white man with a beard. When the Spanish conquistador, Cortez, came to visit the Aztecs; Montezuma thought he was the returning god. These people did not grow facial hair so seeing Cortez would have been quite a novelty. Cortez took full advantage of his situation and plundered the Aztecs. The combining of men and animals is a major them among these tribes. The Jaguar in particular has been attached to men to give them divinity in statues honoring their other gods. Quetzalcoatl is the God of knowledge. He brought the knowledge of growing maize to the natives which established a food surplus. He taught them about medicine, fire, a calendar and how to induce drunkenness and hallucinations in religious ceremonies. So I guess we could say he was the first teacher.

Since he was a teacher then could this civilization be labeled as teachable? Teachablity is a wonderful virtue that is very important component of leadership. It may explain why these civilizations reached such incredible development while the natives in the islands surrounding them remained in the Stone Age. It is believed that in 2012 Quetzalcoatl will return. It is my sincere hope that all my students become more teachable before that time. Teachabilty is made up word in English but it is an adjective and noun in the language of virtue.

-- Myth has it that Quetzalcoatl did the following for humanity:
Named all of the landmarks of the Earth (mountains, seas, etc.) Discovered maize Created fire (in the guise of Mixcoatl) Established the maguey culture -- octli brewing and ceremonial drunkenness Gave instruction of music and dance Cured eye ailments, blindness, coughs, skin afflictions gave the priests the practice of curandero, the diagnostic casting of lots ( a sort of medical divination ) Helped with fertility problems Sired royal lineages Established the priesthood gave proper instruction of sacrifice and created the Tonalmatal (Book of the Destiny Days) Domesticated animals. (source)
The Tultecs and Aztecs of Mexico called him Quetzalcoatl, the Incas called him Viracocha. To the Maya he was Kukulcan, who brought them all their laws, also their script, and was worshipped like a god by the entire people.
"They could do practically anything, nothing seemed to difficult for them; they cut the greenstone, they melted gold, and all this came from Quetzalcoatl - arts and knowledge." - Fray Bernandino Sahagun.
The numerous legends of the great White God say that he brought the Indians all their sciences, knowledge of engineering, laws, and their higher level of civilization. (source)