write 3-5 sentences investigating the cultural, political, technological and economic changes and continuities between the Olmec and Mayan civilizations.

The Olmec civilization, which emerged around 1500 BCE, had a significant influence on the subsequent Mayan civilization. Culturally, both civilizations worshipped similar deities and practiced rituals involving bloodletting. Politically, the Olmec developed complex governance structures with rulers, while the Mayans later adopted this hierarchical system but evolved it further into city-states. Technologically, both civilizations made advancements in agriculture, pottery, and architecture, with the Mayans building elaborate temples and pyramids. Economically, both civilizations relied on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of maize, but the Mayans had a more extensive trade network, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas between different regions.