The great “People of the Rubber Country”. That is what the Aztec people of central Mexico called the Olmec as the Spanish Conquistadors disembarked on the shores of Central America. Though they preceded the Aztecs by well over a millennia, the Olmec were held in high regard with much of their culture adopted by the […]
A “Mother Culture” is a precursor civilization that has a profound influence on the societies that came afterward. The art, architecture, societal structure, even religion of almost every civilization on the planet can be traced back to a Mother Culture, and pre-Columbian Central America was no different.
When it comes to Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, one of the most common topics of discussion is human sacrifice. I can tell you from experience that in the conversations I have had (probably less than five but I’d say that’s too many to be a coincidence) the subject is always a crowd favorite. Often the Aztecs and […]
In the rainy jungles of Tabasco, an ancient monument rises up above the tree-line. From afar it appears to be a hill, covered in grass and extremely out of place. Nature has clearly won out and done its best to conceal what remains of the site. Today, you would never know that some three-thousand years […]
About 45 minutes outside of Mexico City sits the largest ancient pyramid ever built in the Americas. Once the centerpiece of a sprawling trade empire, the monument to the sun god of Teotihuacan is now a popular tourist attraction, inspiring awe and intrigue from thousands of guests each year. Though its golden age has long […]
Introducing Teotihuacan The history of Teotihuacan stands as a testament to the beauty and complexity of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Flourishing between 200 BCE and 650 CE, Teotihuacan was a massive city nestled in the highlands of central Mexico. As the trading capital of the Valley of Mexico, its influence extended far beyond its borders, shaping the […]
Deep in the Olmec heartland of central Mexico reside 17 stones that seem a bit out of place. These stones – boulders rather – are portraits from a bygone era, moved hundreds of miles from their place of origin in the Tuxtla Mountains. Their ‘new’ home is that of the Central American jungle, a land […]
Origins As you push your way through the thick Central American jungle, countless beads of sweat run across your forehead. It is hot. Stupid hot. The heat and humidity this time of year are no joke. Of course, the weather isn’t the only cause for concern. Jungle cats, venomous snakes, and the occasional hostile tribe […]
Being a recently graduated college student from the United States, I am all too familiar with Captain Morgan. The captain was my drink of choice (granted it might have been everyone’s drink of choice) and was often accompanied by the singing of countless sea shanties during my college career. Though those tone-deaf ballads would be […]
If I was to name one pirate that struck fear into the hearts of sailors in the early 1700s, it would be a man by the name of Charles Vane. Now don’t mistake that for a compliment, this dude was a massive prick. In fact, he was such a prick that when he was eventually […]