- Mesoamerican civilizations and their duration over the centuries
- Mayan culture
- Olmec culture
- Teotihuacan culture
- Zapotec culture
- Toltec culture
- Mixtec culture
- Aztec culture
- References
The Mesoamerican civilizations lasted 37 centuries. The historical records of Mesoamerican civilizations indicate that their origins date back from 2000 BC to the end of the 17th century AD, a fact that represents more than 3700 years of existence.
Mesoamerica was made up of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, western Honduras, and the current Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Chiapas.
There, pre-Hispanic civilizations came to life, highly recognized for their high political order, and the technological, astronomical, social and cultural advances of the time.
Mesoamerican civilizations and their duration over the centuries
Mayan culture
It developed in southern Mexico, predominantly in the Yucatan Peninsula. They also lived in Guatemala, Belize, part of Honduras and El Salvador.
The Mayans lived for 3700 years, from 2000 BC (pre-classical period), until 1697 AD, after the conquest of Mesoamerican territory by the Spanish colonists.
Olmec culture
The study of the life of the Olmecs was divided into three sections, namely:
- Olmec period I: from 1500 to 1200 BC
- Olmec II period: from 1200 to 400 BC The historic center of San Lorenzo was developed there, destroyed in turn in 900cc and replaced by La Venta. The latter was a key city in the development of Central America for more than 5 centuries.
- Olmec III period: covers from 400 to 100 BC The center of economic and political activities during this period took place in the cities of Tres Zapotes and Cerro de las Mesas.
Teotihuacan culture
It was developed between 100 BC and 700 AD, approximately. They were located in the Teotihuacán Valley, north of the central highlands of Mexico.
At its peak, this civilization had more than 125,000 inhabitants, and laid the foundations for the development of later civilizations such as the Aztecs.
They were located in the current states of Veracruz and Tabasco, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Zapotec culture
From 1400 BC to 1200 AD Descendants of the ancient Zapotecs still prevail today in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Veracruz and Oaxaca.
Toltec culture
The Toltec people developed between the 9th and 12th centuries AD in the current Mexican state of Hidalgo. After the invasion of the Chichimecas, the remnant of the Toltec people was recruited by the Mayans.
Mixtec culture
It flourished in southern Mexico in approximately 1500 BC, and came to an end in the early sixteenth century AD. The Mixtec people made life in the current Mexican states of Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca.
Aztec culture
It was a civilization that reigned in central and southern Mexico, from 1325 to 1521 AD.
The Aztecs have been widely studied for the order of their political structure and their elaborate war strategies.
References
- Mesoamerican Cultures (2012). Mexico DF, Mexico. Recovered from: historiademexicobreve.com.
- Gonzáles, A. (2010). Mesoamerican cultures. Recovered from: historiacultural.com.
- History of Mesoamerican Civilization (2012). London, United Kingdom. Recovered from: historyworld.net.
- The Civilizations of Ancient America. Mesoamerican cultures: Olmecs, Mayas and Aztecs. (2003). Santiago de Chile, Chile. Recovered from: islamchile.com.
- Merrifield, W. (2017). Mesoamerican Indian. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. London, UK. Recovered from: britannica.com.