- The main cultural regions of Mesoamerica
- 1- Mayan region
- 2- Oaxaca region
- 3- Gulf Coast Region
- 4- Central highland region
- 5- Western region of Mexico
- 6- Northern region
- References
The cultural regions of Mesoamerica are the Mayan, the Oaxacan, the Gulf Coast, the central highlands, the western Mexico and the northern. Mesoamerica comprises the southern half of Mexico and countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Mesoamerican cultural regions developed over centuries. They maintained diverse characteristics in terms of their language and ethnic groups, but they were very similar in terms of economy, art and religion, architecture, among other factors.
The main cultural regions of Mesoamerica
1- Mayan region
Around the year 1000 a. C. the first monumental settlement is registered in that region, a fundamental characteristic of its cities.
It represents the largest area of Mesoamerica. The beginnings of its cultural development are located in the south, in what is currently Belize. Then they expanded until they populated the entire Yucatan peninsula, Guatemala and the western area that make up Honduras and El Salvador.
Ceramics were the most developed crafts of this culture, which also stood out for the use of hieroglyphic writing and for its economic development linked to the cultivation of corn, beans, chili or squash.
Another characteristic of the cities located in the Mayan region is the use of calendar systems, human sacrifices and astronomical studies.
2- Oaxaca region
Currently this region would include the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero or Puebla, among others. Important cultures such as the Zapotec, Olmec or Mixtec have passed through it.
The first to settle it were the Zapotec civilization, famous for the elaboration of the 260-day calendar that would spread to all the peoples of the Mesoamerican regions.
Monte Albán became its most important center, being there where the important Olmec civilization was established until its decline, when the area was occupied by the Mixtecs.
3- Gulf Coast Region
It corresponds to the territories known today as Veracruz and Tabasco. It was an area inhabited by the Olmecs, who left an important cultural heritage. Later the area was inhabited by the Huastecas and the Totonacos.
For many researchers, this could be the mother zone of Mesoamerican culture, but there is much evidence that casts doubt on this statement. Considering that in that region the construction of balls in resin for the ball game ritual was devised.
San Lorenzo, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta or Tres Zapotes are some of the most important archaeological remains of the Mesoamerican period on the Gulf Coast.
4- Central highland region
Nowadays, the name of this region has fallen into disuse, since over the years the geographical-scientific division comprises more territories. Currently it is called Mesa del Centro or Mesa Central.
This region comprised the area known as the Mexican highlands and the Valley of Mexico. The most important cultural and archaeological sites were Tlatilco, Zacatenco and El Arbolillo.
The Tlatilco settlement is recognized for being the place where stone figures with anthropomorphic representations began to be made. It is there where the adoration of deities with feline features began and the antecedent of the representation of what would be the feathered serpent was given.
5- Western region of Mexico
It is made up of what is currently known as Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Aguas Calientes and Querétaro.
One of the relevant cultural features of this area is that a diversity of different languages were spoken there at the time of the Spanish conquest. Among other cultural civilizations, the Tarascans and the Caxcanes have been the most representative of this Mesoamerican region.
An example of his advances in architecture is observed in the pyramids of Guachimontones, in Jalisco.
6- Northern region
One of the largest pre-Hispanic cities flourished in this area: Teotihuacán. It had an estimated population of one million inhabitants and was built based on an urban plan that contained monumental buildings and sculptures of great cultural and artistic value.
There are different positions regarding the cultural identity of the founders of that city, since the city was abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Spanish.
It is currently known as Aridoamerica, encompassing many states such as Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua or Sonora.
References
- Chamomile, L. (2001). Ancient history of Mexico. Fundamental aspects of the Mesoamerican cultural tradition. Mexico: UNAM. Retrieved on October 24, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Romero, T. (1999). Mesoamerica: History and reconsideration of the concept. Mexico: Autonomous University of Mexico. Retrieved on October 24, 2017 from: redalyc.org
- Duverger, C. (2007). The first miscegenation: the key to understanding the Mesoamerican past. Mexico: Taurus.
- Wolf, E. (1967). Peoples and cultures of Mesoamerica. Mexico: Ediciones Era. Retrieved on October 24, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Florescano, E. (2010). The origins of power in Mesoamerica. Guadalajara: Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair. Retrieved on October 24, 2017 from: jcortazar.udg.mx