Mesoamerican Classical Era: Culture & Society Overview

1. Chapter 11 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Aztec_drums,_Florentine_Codex..jpg (http://www.lost-civilizations.net/images/mayan/mayanmap2.gif) Classical Era Culture & Society in Mesoamerica [600 – 900] The Post Classic Period in Mesoamerica[900 – 1500]

2. Classical Era Culture & Society in Mesoamerica [60 0– 900] Mesoamerican Society • Civilization was formed over long periods of time by different people with different languages. • For the most part, Mesoamerican culture, religious beliefs, practices, and society were the same. On the other hand, they did not achieve political equality throughout the regions. • Following the Olmec and other Mesoamerican civilizations of the past, the Mesoamericans developed longer distanced trade, greater cities with more political power and population, and more complexity in their social hierarchy. • The cities of the classic-period typically had platforms and pyramids that had religious functions. Political and religious elites dominated in these cities and had influence over the peasants in the nearby towns and villages. • Agriculture wise , the Mesoamericans used the traditional system of irrigations in places were long dry seasons occurred and used terracing of hillsides. (Bulliet 269) A pyramid, like-wise to the one depicted in the picture to the left, were common in the Mesoamerican cities for religious purposes. (http://www.aboutmexico.net/mexico/img/pyramids.jpg) 1

3. Classical Era Culture & Society in Mesoamerica [60 0– 900] Teotihuacan • Teotihuacan was located in central Mexico due to the large amounts of fish supply. (Barrons Flash Cards 32) • It reached the peak of its power and populations, reaching up to 200,000 people, in 600 C.E, making it the largest city in the Americas and larger than several Eurasian cities. • Within the city there were two enormous pyramid dedicated to the Sun and the Moon, as well as several other small temples down a central road that were dedicated to various Mesoamerican gods. • One of the Teotihuacan gods was Quetzalcoatl, feathered serpent. It was believed that he founded agriculture and the arts. • Human sacrifice was practiced in Teotihuacan because it was believed that it was crucial to human society and it was a duty to the gods. (Bulliet 270) The remains of what was once the great city of Teotihuacan is shown in the picture. http://www.garba.cz/mexiko/90_teotihuacan_b.jpg 2

4. Classical Era Culture & Society in Mesoamerica [60 0– 900] The Maya • The Mayans resembled the Egyptians in the fact that they were both pyramid makers, and used hieroglyphics to write. (Princeton 147) • Within the Mayan civilization were several city-states that were ruled by the same king.(Princeton 147) • There have been two known women rulers in the Mayan civilization, who did play an important role politically. Women conducted religious rituals at home and were healers as well as shamans. They kept family life organized. (Bulliet 273) • The Mayans had two years, a solar year and a ritual year. The solar year for agricultural purposes was 365 days long with 18 months of 20 days, leaving 5 extra days at the end of the year. The ritual year for daily activities was 260 days with 13 months of 20 days. (Barrons Flash Cards 30) • Families had individual garden plots that provided supplements to their diets such as condiments and fruits. Women were often in charge of taking care of these gardens. (Bulliet 272 & 273) (www.geocities.com/wwwtimto/maya.html) Above, a digitized example with added color of a Mayan calendar is shown. At the center the lord of heaven is located. 3

5. The Post Classic Period in Mesoamerica[900 – 1500] The Toltec • The Toltec lived in central Mexico and their capital, which was established in 968 B.C.E, was located at Tula and had several temples and patios. • The population of the Toltec never outnumbered that of the classic-period but the population was highest at Tula. (Bulliet 174) • The Toltec had two kings who ruled together. • They were also very focused on war and their military, which is shown in their decorations of building and public temples. • As in the classic-period, human sacrifice was practiced. (Bulliet 275) • The Tula River provided the Toltec with maize, beans, peppers, tomatoes, chilies, and cotton that supported their population. • The Toltec were also experts in pottery and weaving. (Barrons Flash Cards 129) http://mexicanart.info/Toltecs.htm Above are the remains of the ceremonial cite at Tula. 4

6. The Post Classic Period in Mesoamerica[900 – 1500] The Aztecs • The Aztecs had two capitals known as Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. The development of these capital cities began in 1325 C.E.(Bulliet • The Aztecs had a strong army and expanded to nearby states. Their warriors consisted of the elites of the society. • The areas that were conquered were given the freedom of governing themselves but in turn they would have to give tribute. (Princeton 147) • The Aztecs used roads to connect the large civilization and help trade expand and obtain new ideas from different regions. (Princeton 148) • As the previous civilizations did, the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice and became known as “the cannibal kingdom.” The military was in charge of acquiring humans for sacrifice. (Barrons Flash Cards 130) (Princeton 148) Human sacrifice in the Aztec empire. http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x240/sleepys_album/aztec-indians-3.jpg 5

7. 1) The pyramids found throughout Mesoamerica served the purpose of ______ • A) a gathering place for the elites of the society to meet and socialize • B) providing the people with a shelter to protect themselves from outside attacks • C) town meetings discussing political events, as well as military tactics. • D) schools for the young male children who were commonly the sons of elites. • E) proving their dedication to the gods they believed in and as a place where religious rituals could take place. 6

8. 2) In Mesoamerican civilizations which of the following was NOT unified throughout: • A) Cultural customs • B) Politics • C) Religion • D) Language • E) Society 7

9. Which of the following is NOT a crop hat the Tula River provided the Toltec with? • A) maize • B) peppers • C) tomatoes • D) wheat • E) beans 8

10. Bibliography Books: • Bulliet, Richard. The Earth and Its Peoples. Third Edition. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. • Armstrong, Monty. Cracking the AP World History Exam. 2006-2007 ed. New York: Random House, Inc., 2006. Print. Flash Cards: • Lupinskie-Huvane, Lorraine. AP World History Flash Cards. Hauppauge: Barrons, 2006. Print. Images: • Aztec Drums. Digital image. Wikimedia. Wikimedia. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Aztec_drums,_Florentine_Codex..jpg>. • Digital image. Photobucket. Sleepy's Album. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x240/sleepys_album/aztec-indians-3.jpg>. Image of Toltec Atlantean columns of the Temple of Tlahuizcalpantecuthli. Digital image. Toltecs. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <http://mexicanart.info/Toltecs.htm>. • Map of Mesoamerica. Digital image. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <http://www.lost-civilizations.net/images/mayan/mayanmap2.gif>. • Mayan Calander. Digital image. Maya. Geocities. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <www.geocities.com/wwwtimto/maya.html>. • Mesoamerican Pyramids. Digital image. Pyramids. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. <(http://www.aboutmexico.net/mexico/img/pyramids.jpg>. • Teotihuacan. Digital image. Mexico. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. http://www.garba.cz/mexiko/90_teotihuacan_b.jpg. 9