Mesoamerican Civilizations
Server costs fundraiser 2024.
Ancient Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico and Central America) witnessed an extraordinary flourishing of cultures from the beginnings of the Olmec civilization around 1200 BCE, through the Maya civilization and on to the catastrophic fall of the Aztec civilization in the 16th century CE. Great cities were built with towering pyramids , empires were forged and fine art was produced in everything from turquoise to exotic seashells.
In this collection, we examine some of these great peoples of the Americas. We consider their origins, religion , warfare , material culture , and their final respective downfalls due to war , the whims of climate, and, ultimately, the arrival of foreigners from across the sea. While each culture was unique, many threads weave their way through these civilizations such as their creation myths, gods, religious practices, art and architecture . Combined, these peoples have left behind one of the richest and most original cultural legacies in world history.
Mysteriously, around 600 CE, the major buildings of Teotihuacan were deliberately destroyed by fire, and artworks and religious sculptures were smashed in what must have been a complete changing of the ruling elite. The destroyers may have been from the rising city of Xochicalco or from within in an uprising motivated by a scarcity in resources, perhaps acerbated by extensive deforestation, soil erosion, and drought. Whatever the reason, after this climatic event, the wider city remained populated for another two centuries but its regional dominance became only a memory.
Articles & Definitions
Olmec Civilization
Maya Civilization
Toltec Civilization
Zapotec Civilization
Tarascan Civilization
Aztec Civilization
Teotihuacan
Chocolate in Mesoamerica
The Ball Game of Mesoamerica
Cortés & the Fall of the Aztec Empire
External links, questions & answers, what are the 4 mesoamerican civilizations in order, what are the 3 notable mesoamerican civilizations, is mesoamerican the same as aztec, what was the first civilization in mesoamerica, about the author.
Free for the World, Supported by You
World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide.
License & Copyright
Uploaded by Mark Cartwright , published on 22 January 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike . This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
- History & Society
- Science & Tech
- Biographies
- Animals & Nature
- Geography & Travel
- Arts & Culture
- Games & Quizzes
- On This Day
- One Good Fact
- New Articles
- Lifestyles & Social Issues
- Philosophy & Religion
- Politics, Law & Government
- World History
- Health & Medicine
- Browse Biographies
- Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
- Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
- Environment
- Fossils & Geologic Time
- Entertainment & Pop Culture
- Sports & Recreation
- Visual Arts
- Demystified
- Image Galleries
- Infographics
- Top Questions
- Britannica Kids
- Saving Earth
- Space Next 50
- Student Center
- When did Mayan civilization begin?
- Where did the Maya live?
- Were the Maya polytheistic or monotheistic?
Mesoamerican civilization
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
- Khan Academy - Mesoamerica
- The History Files - The Mesoamerican Connection
- UNESCO - ELOSS - Mesoamerican Civilization: Pattern And Process
- Arizona Museum of Natural History - Mesoamerica
Mesoamerican civilization , the complex of indigenous cultures that developed in parts of Mexico and Central America prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th century. In the organization of its kingdoms and empires, the sophistication of its monuments and cities, and the extent and refinement of its intellectual accomplishments, the Mesoamerican civilization, along with the comparable Andean civilization farther south, constitutes a New World counterpart to those of ancient Egypt , Mesopotamia , and China .
A brief treatment of Mesoamerican civilization follows. For full treatment, see pre-Columbian civilizations .
Archaeologists have dated human presence in Mesoamerica to possibly as early as 21,000 bce (though the dating of the Valsequillo finds on which that early date is based remains controversial). By 11,000 bce , hunting-and-gathering peoples occupied most of the New World south of the glacial ice cap covering northern North America . The cooler climate of this period as compared with that of the present day supported a grassland vegetation, especially in the highland valleys, that was ideal for large herds of grazing animals. The shift toward sedentary agriculture apparently began after about 7000 bce , when a dramatic global warming caused the glaciers to retreat and tropical forests to overtake the Mesoamerican grasslands.
The gradual domestication of successful food plants—most notably a mutant corn (maize) with husks, dating to c. 5300 bce —over succeeding millennia gave rise to more or less permanent village farming life by about 1500 bce . In addition to corn, crops included beans , squashes , chili peppers , and cotton . As agricultural productivity improved, the rudiments of civilization emerged during the period designated by archaeologists as the Early Formative (1500–900 bce ). Pottery , which had appeared in some areas of the region as early as 2300 bce , perhaps introduced from Andean cultures to the south, took on varied and sophisticated forms. The idea of the temple-pyramid seems to have taken root during this period.
Corn cultivation in one area—the humid and fertile lowlands of southern Veracruz and Tabasco , in Mexico—was sufficiently productive to permit a major diversion of human energy into other activities, such as the arts and commerce. Struggles for control of this rich but limited farmland resulted in a dominant landowning class that shaped the first great Mesoamerican civilization, the Olmec .
San Lorenzo , the oldest known Olmec centre, dates to about 1150 bce , a time when the rest of Mesoamerica was at best on a Neolithic level. The site is most noted for its extraordinary stone monuments, especially the “colossal heads” measuring up to 9 feet (nearly 3 metres) in height and possibly representing players in a ritual ball game ( see tlachtli ).
The period known as the Middle Formative (900–300 bce ), during which the La Venta urban complex rose and flourished, was one of increased cultural regionalism. The Zapotec people, for example, attained a high level of development at Monte Albán , producing the first writing and written calendar in Mesoamerica. However, at this site, as well as in the Valley of Mexico, the Olmec presence can be widely detected.
In the subsequent Late Formative and Classic periods, lasting until about 700–900 ce , the well-known Maya , Zapotec, Totonac , and Teotihuacán civilizations developed distinctive variations on their shared Olmec heritage. The Maya, for example, brought astronomy , mathematics , calendar making, and hieroglyphic writing , as well as monumental architecture, to their highest expression in the New World. At the same time, Teotihuacán, in the Valley of Mexico, became the capital of a political and commercial empire encompassing much of Mesoamerica.
Teotihuacán power diminished after about 600, and for the next several centuries numerous states vied for supremacy. The Toltec s of Tula , in central Mexico, prevailed from about 900 to 1200 (the Early Postclassic Period). Following Toltec decline, a further period of unrest in the Late Postclassic Period lasted until 1428, when the Aztec defeated the rival city of Azcapotzalco and became the dominant force in central Mexico. This last native Mesoamerican empire fell to the Spaniards, led by Hernán Cortés , in 1521.
AP World History (McCormack) - Unit 2: Topic 2.2 - The Mongol Empire and the Making of the Modern World
- Topic 2.1 - The Silk Roads
- Topic 2.2 - The Mongol Empire and the Making of the Modern World
- Topic 2.3 - Exchange in the Indian Ocean
- Topic 2.4 - Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
- Topic 2.5 - Cultural Consequences of Connectivity
- Topic 2.6 - Environmental Consequences of Connectivity
- Topic 2.7 - Comparison of Economic Exchange
|
Unit 2: Networks of Exchange, 1200 - 1450
Amsco Reading
Writing Workshop
Other Reading
Essential VocabularyVocabulary - Topic 2.2 Miscellaneous LinksLearning objectives / ced.
Video: Heimler 2.2 - The Mongol EmpireCrash Course VideosMiscellaneous Videos
MesoamericaThe historic region of Mesoamerica comprises the modern day countries of northern Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and central to southern Mexico. For thousands of years, this area was populated by groups such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec peoples. Cultural traits that define the region include the domestication of maize, beans, avocado, and vanilla, and a common architectural style. Anthropology, Archaeology, Social Studies, World History, Human Geography, Geography Syllabus Number: 876162v1 All Subjects AP World - Period 2 Review (600 BCE to 600 CE)5 min read • july 11, 2024  Amanda DoAmaral Period 2: Organization & Reorganization of Human Societies (600 BCE-600 CE)In AP World History, period 2 spans from 600 BCE to 600 CE. The following guide will be updated periodically with hyperlinks to excellent resources. As you are reviewing for the classical era, focus on the key concepts and use the essential questions to guide you. Check out the AP World History Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart . Period 2 Dates to KnowSTUDY TIP: You will never be asked specifically to identify a date. However, knowing the order of events will help immensely with cause and effect. For this reason, we have identified the most important dates to know. 500s BCE - Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism 221 BCE - Qin unified China 206 BCE - 220 CE - Han Dynasty 32 CE - Beginnings of Christianity 476 CE - Fall of Rome 570 CE - Birth of Muhammad (founder of Islam) Period 2 Essential QuestionsSTUDY TIP: Use the following essential questions to guide your review of this entire unit. Keep in mind, these are not meant to be practice essay questions. Each question was written to help you summarize the key concept.
Past Essay Questions from Period 2STUDY TIP: Content from the classical era has appeared on the essays five times. Take a look at these questions before you review the key concepts & vocabulary below to get a sense of how you will be assessed. Then, come back to these later and practice writing as many as you can! ** The AP World History exam was revised in 2017, so any questions from before then are not representative of the current exam format or rubric. You can still use prior questions to practice, however DBQs will have more than 7 documents, the LEQ prompts are worded differently, and the rubrics are completely different. Use questions from 2002-2016 with caution. 2018 - LEQ 1: Spread of religions 2010 - LEQ: Compare classical era politics 2007 - DBQ: Han & Roman attitudes toward technology 2006 - LEQ: CCOT culture and politics in classical empires 2004 - DBQ: Responses to the spread of Buddhism Period 2 Key Concepts - Course OutlineThe following outline was adapted from the AP World History Course Description as published by College Board in 2017 found here . This outline reflects the most recent revisions to the course.* 2.1. Religion & Culture⚡ Watch: AP World History - 🎥 World Religions
2.2. States & Empires⚡ Watch: AP World History - 🎥 Classical Civilizations
⚡ Watch: AP World History - 🎥 Silk roads, Trans-Saharan Trade Networks , and Indian Ocean Trade Networks
Concepts & Vocabulary from Period 2STUDY TIP: These are the concepts and vocabulary from period 2 that most commonly appear on the exam. Create a quizlet deck to make sure you are familiar with these terms!
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.Ap® and sat® are trademarks registered by the college board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.. |
COMMENTS
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like why was civilization building hard, Olmecs, mother civilization and more.
Finals Study Guide - World History (Not Finished - Unit 7 and 1/2 of Unit 8) 52 terms. Hi_828. Preview. US HISTORY TO 1877 EXAM #1. 20 terms. delaneyharmon2004. Preview. US History Midterm Notes. 13 terms. Aubrey_Peoples9. Preview. history exam 1. 29 terms. Tiffany1Roberts. Preview. The Interwar Years. 15 terms.
World History Section 2.3. 10 terms. GabbMcGill. Preview. Influence of Greek and Roman government. 10 terms. Wolfie7176. Preview. Global test 2 Hammurabi's code - China. 71 terms. ... Mesoamerica vocab. 12 terms. mariagarcia1231078. Preview. Persian Civilization - Quiz 8/31/23. Teacher 15 terms. hadley_davis79. Preview. Terms in this set (14)
Start studying World History 2.5: Mesoamerica. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
CHAPTER 11: PEOPLES AND CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS, 600- CLASSIC-ERA CULUTRE AND SOCIETY IN MESOAMERICA, 200- No political integration, only unified by similar culture Olmecs built a foundation of achievements for later groups Achievements depended on the competence of rulers+ Teotihuacan Teotihuacan was a significant city state of central Mexico.
Collection. Ancient Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico and Central America) witnessed an extraordinary flourishing of cultures from the beginnings of the Olmec civilization around 1200 BCE, through the Maya civilization and on to the catastrophic fall of the Aztec civilization in the 16th century CE. Great cities were built with towering pyramids ...
Maya. Olmec. tlachtli. Mesoamerican civilization, the complex of indigenous cultures that developed in parts of Mexico and Central America prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th century. In the organization of its kingdoms and empires, the sophistication of its monuments and cities, and the extent and refinement of its ...
AP World History Homework Assignment Sheet Textbooks World Civilizations, The Global Experience (AP Edition) - 7th Edition ... Section 12.1 - Postclassical Mesoamerica, 1000-1500 C.E. Section 12.2 - Aztec Society in Transition Document - Aztec Women and Men
Introduction. This lesson is an introduction to Mesoamerica and its cultures. We will take a brief look at four of the great civilizations of ancient Mexico and examine many of the cultural characteristics, products and practices that were common throughout Mesoamerica, and that changed the rest of the world in ways unimaginable before the ...
Networks of Exchange, 1200-1450. AP World History (McCormack) - Unit 2: Topic 2.2 - The Mongol Empire and the Making of the Modern World
Mesoamerica. Refers to the region from the central portion of modern Mexico to Honduras and El Salvador. Maize. Staple crop of Mesoamerica. Olmecs. Predecessors of Maya; located around the Gulf of Mexico; "rubber people"; first ceremonial center c. 1200 BCE at modern-day San Lorenzo--served as capital for 400 yrs; ceremonial centers at La Venta ...
The historic region of Mesoamerica comprises the modern day countries of northern Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and central to southern Mexico. For thousands of years, this area was populated by groups such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec peoples. Cultural traits that define the region include the domestication of maize, beans, avocado, and ...
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Mesoamerica, arbitration, farming and more.
Students also viewed. World History Notes Unit 3; Unit 4: 4.4-4.6; Unit 2: 2.1-2.4; AP World History - Industrialization and Global Integration; Amsco UNIT 2.1 Notes(The Silk Roads from circa 1200 to circa 1450)
The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, 2nd edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001 [CR1a] b. Primary sources: [CR1b] Textual: World History, A Collection of Primary Sources by Dr. Richard Cruz, Dr. Chris Guthrie and Dr. Janet Schmelzer The Human Record: Sources of Global History, by Alfred Andrea and James Overfield,
When Europeans arrived in Mesoamerica, the Aztecs were one of the most powerful Empires of the Americas, ruling an extensive area in central and southern Mexico and south into Guatemala. ... A World Perspective of Art History: 1400CE to the 21st Century (Gustlin and Gustlin) 1: The Changing World (1400-1600) 1.7: Mesoamerica - Aztecs, Mixtec ...
SPICET chart of 2.5-2.6 in AMSCO cece rainman period ap world history cultural consequences of connectivity environmental consequences of connectivity social ... Assignments. 100% (53) 6. Copy of Unit 4 Silver Trade DBQ Practice. AP World History ... Ch 20 Comparison Chart - Mesoamerica Andean Oceania; Ellis Island - NOTES; Marvin Ampofo - 4.3 ...
In AP World History, period 2 spans from 600 BCE to 600 CE. The following guide will be updated periodically with hyperlinks to excellent resources. As you are reviewing for the classical era, focus on the key concepts and use the essential questions to guide you. Check out the AP World History Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart. Period 2 Dates to Know