MESOAMERICAN CULTURES THAT DEVELOPED BEFORE AND AFTER CHRIST - HISTORY - 2025

There are various cultures that due to their geographic location in the American continent are called Mesoamerican and that developed over a period of thousands of years that span before and after Christ.

In the ancient world, a great variety of civilizations developed that had great boom and influence at the time and whose cultural legacy contributed in a transcendental way to universal culture.

Mesoamerica Map

Mesoamerica is determined by the cultural region that covers part of the territory of what is currently Mexico at its southernmost end, Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador, to some areas located west of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras.

The different archaeological finds show their significance and historical importance only contrasted with the surprisingness of the disappearance of some of them.

Main Mesoamerican civilizations before Christ (BC)

The Olmecs (early and middle pre-classical period)

It is one of the first known Mesoamerican civilizations that saw its birth around the year 1,800 BC It developed in the territory of what is currently the Mexican Republic, more specifically towards the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Olmec culture is considered the forerunner of all other Mesoamerican cultures.

Their social organization was in tribes led by a shaman or chichimecatl;; their belief system was of the polytheistic shamanic type. The members of the tribe attributed supernatural powers to their shamans or sorcerers.

They even had the belief that they could transform themselves into animals with supernatural powers called nahual.

They began the construction of stepped pyramids, which unlike the pyramids of Egypt, the priest could climb on them.

In relation to artistic manifestations, there are the gigantic sculptures found in the town of La Venta.

The Olmecs were a patriarchal society also characterized by being great farmers of corn, beans and cocoa, among others.

The Mayans (pre-classical period)

The Mayan civilization developed over a fairly long period of history. The oldest carbon-tested finds in what is now Belize date back to 2,600 BC

It was during the pre-classical period when they contributed to Mesoamerican culture with their artistic gifts for the elaboration of clay and ceramic figures.

Their religion was polytheistic and they were organized into clans.

Around 500 BC and 250 BC they built cities that came to possess paved streets, pyramid complexes, altars, and stelae.

Main Mesoamerican civilizations after Christ (AD)

The Teotihuacan civilization

The Teotihuacán culture developed in the city known as Teotihuacán, which means "city of the gods." It was located in present-day Mexico.

This civilization is one of those that gathers the greatest amount of mystery and it disappeared before the arrival of the Spanish.

The city of Teotihuacán represented in its splendor the strategic reference point of culture and commerce of the Mesoamerican region.

The Teotihuacan culture was fundamentally characterized by colossal constructions, very well distributed and organized, having the temples of the Sun and the Moon as the main exponents linked by large avenues.

The Zapotecs

This civilization developed in the region of the isthmus of Tehuantepec and what currently corresponds to the territory of Oaxaca - Mexico.

Their culture gave rise to around 15 languages ​​that are currently in danger of disappearing due to their diminishing use.

They were mainly engaged in work related to agriculture in addition to hunting and fishing as a means of subsistence.

They developed mathematical computations and a structured writing system and on the other hand it is said that they were the inventors of chocolate.

The Mayans (Classic and Postclassic Period)

During the period the Mayans built great cities and monuments, they created a long count calendar.

During this period the use of glyphic writing spread, including, for example, records of dynasties and other political actions such as alliances with other cities.

On the other hand, they became involved in the creation of large and extensive trade routes throughout Mesoamerica, which encouraged long-distance trade.

Tarascan or purepecha culture

Settled in the Michoacán area (Mexico), it was a polytheistic and theocratic culture led by a governor.

They were contemporaries with the Aztecs as well as enemies.

The Purepecha were mostly potters, sculptors, architects, painters, farmers, and fishermen.

Mixtec culture

They were called "The People of the Clouds" due to their geographic location in the mountainous regions of Oaxaca.

Their economy was based on agriculture, growing crops such as corn, chili and beans, and they also developed large irrigation systems.

They were artisan merchants whose works in stone and different metals were outstanding, as well as the decorated polychrome pottery, the feather mosaics, the weaving and embroidery of fabrics.

They left records in paintings of military and social history, genealogy records as well as demonstrating an excellent mastery of goldsmithing.

Toltec culture

Located in the current municipality of Tula de Allende, Hidalgo (Mexico), in a period in which Central Mexico still lived in instability derived from a strong migration of different groups to the area that would eventually become its capital called TULA.

The economy was based on the cultivation of corn, amaranth and beans surrounded by canal systems.

They excelled in sculpture and goldsmithing.

Aztec Mexica culture

They developed from the city of Tenochtitlán on Lake Texcoco, where Mexico City is currently located. They came to form the great Aztec empire supported by activities such as agriculture and commerce.

The most important aspect of this culture was concerning religion, which was polytheistic, where they made human sacrifices permanently.

They built truncated pyramids such as The Pyramid of the Sun, which constitutes the maximum reference for their architectural art.

The calendar is one of his great cultural contributions in addition to sculpture within architecture.

References

1. David Webster and Susan Toby Evans (nd) Penn State College of the liberal Arts, Department of Anthropology. Recovered from anth.la.psu.edu
2. History of Mesoamerican Civilization (nd). History World. Recovered from historyworld.net
3. Encyclopedia Britannica (nd) Mesoamerican civilization. Recovered from britannica.com
4. Mesoamerican Chronology (sf) In Wikipedia, retrieved on July 23, 2017 from es.wikipedia.org
5. Pueblo Purepecha (nd) In Wikipedia, retrieved on July 23, 2017 from es.wikipedia.org
6. Aníbal Gonzales (sf) Teotihuacan Culture, Universal History. Recovered from historiacultural.com.