Chapter 12
Classic Period Mesoamerica
WHAP 2013
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Society
Political institutions
Inventions
Culture/religion
Economic system
Introduction/Review
• “Mesoamerica” means “Middle
America” in Greek.
• Chapter 4 introduced “pre-classical”
Mesoamerican civilizations.
• Olmecs in Mexico 1200 - 400 BCE
• Chavin in Peru 900 - 250 BCE
• “Classic civilizations” built on great
traditions created by earlier cultures
Teotihuacan
100 BCE - 750 CE
Olmec
1200 BCE - 400 BCE
Maya
250 CE - 900 CE
Human Sacrifice
• All Mesoamerican
groups practiced
human sacrifice
• A sacred duty
towards the gods
and essential to the
well being of
society.
• Over 60 victims found during the excavation
of the Temple of Quetzalcoatal in Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan
• First civilization of Classic
Period
• Founded 100 BCE
• 450 - 600 CE largest city in
the Americas with 125,000
to 200,000 inhabitants.
• Religious and commercial
center.
• Teotihuacan Overview
Politics
• Ruled by an oligarchy = from the Greek words
"ὀλίγος" "a few” and the verb "ἄρχω” "to rule,
to govern, to command".
• Such states are often controlled by a few
prominent families who pass their influence
from one generation to the next.
• Oligarchy = Rule by a few
Geography
• Historians believe
Teotihuacan was
ruled by alliances of
wealthy families, or
by weak kings who
were controlled by
wealthy families
Economy
• Subsistence farming
and regional trade
• Main trade items
obsidian stone and
pottery.
• 2% of population
made obsidian
weapons and tools
• history of ceramics
Economy
• 2/3 of population
worked in agriculture.
• Swamps drained
• Irrigation and
container gardens
used
• Invented Chinampas
- artificial islands
used to create yearround agriculture.
Religion
• Polytheistic
• Sun, moon, stormgod.
• Quetzalcoatl feathered serpent
god of agriculture
and art.
• Quetzalcoatl
Society
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4 level society
Elites/priests
Warriors
Craftsmen
Peasants
Elite families
lived in separate
housing
compounds.
Society
• Peasants and artisans lived in apartments of stone.
• No paintings or statues of rulers have been found.
Architecture
• Religiously inspired
• Large pyramids dedicated to the sun and moon.
• Over 20 smaller temples to other gods lined a
central avenue.
Pyramid of the Moon
Built without the wheel, iron tools or draft animals!
travel Teotihuacan
Education
• Without a written
language, historians can
only guess.
• Religion
• Trade
• Farming
• Crafts
• ???????????
• Mesoamerican WSU site
Military
• Weapons included
spears, obsidian
knives, shields
made of woven
reeds
• Codex - obsidian
edged flat club
• bow and arrow and
throwing spear
• Woven armor could
include stone tiles
War club
Military
• No walls around city
before 500 CE
• No murals of military
conquest
• Not an imperial state
• Probably used to
expand trade into
Mayan region
Decline
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650 CE
WE DON”T KNOW WHY!
Clues:
After 500 CE population declines and walls
around city are built.
Murals depict a violent time
Temples and buildings pulled down
religious images defaced
Internal conflict or external attack?
End 1
Mayan Politics
• 250 CE early classic period
Mayan Economy
Mayan Religion
• A
• Mayan Religion
Mayan Society
Mayan Inventions
Mayan
Art/Architecture/Entertainment
Mayan Geography
Mayan Education
Mayan Military
End of the Maya
• For some reason the city was
abandoned around 1300.
• If the Spanish had not made it policy
to kill all the Mayan Priests and burn
all their books when they arrived in
Mexico, we would all have more
answers.