Geography-
- The ancient Olmec civilization is believed to have been centered around the southern Gulf Coast of Mexico
- Further south east than the heart of the Aztec empire.
- Today around the places of Veracruz and Tabasco
Government-
- The great cities of the Olmec's housed the elite but not the workers.
- The really nice houses that would have housed the workers they served as ceremonial centers with religious temples and palaces and had separate areas for trade.
- So instead the common people lived separately from the ceremonial centers in surrounding areas and made their living as farmers
- shaman-kings were believed to have divine powers.